Ray Cooney began his theatrical career as a boy actor in Song of Norway at the Palace Theatre in 1946. Following a period in repertory theatres around the UK, he joined the Brian Rix Company at the Whitehall Theatre and it was during this period he began his writing career including the West End hits MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, TWO INTO ONE, OUT OF ORDER, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY, FUNNY MONEY, CAUGHT IN THE NET, TOM DICK & HARRY and many more. In 1983, he formed the Theatre of Comedy at the Shaftesbury Theatre and became its first Artistic Director. In February 2013, the film of his most successful play RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, directed by Ray, had its world premier in Leicester Square and has now come out on DVD.

In December 2020, Ray will have been married to the lovely Linda for 59 years (Aaagh!! says Linda).