Star of The Office is suing Disney for £150,000 — claiming he was injured fighting an ogre in a TV show
THE actor who played sexist sales rep Finchy in The Office is suing Disney for £150,000 — claiming he was injured fighting an ogre in a fantasy TV show.
Ralph Ineson — boss David Brent’s obnoxious mate in the smash-hit sitcom — says he suffered permanent shoulder damage shooting a Disney+ sequel to 1980s film Willow.
The gravel-voiced star, 54, was dressed as a knight in armour and battling a nine-foot ogre called The Scourge when he “fell awkwardly”, his lawyers say.
He claims he dislocated his shoulder after catching his foot on a flight of steps and suffered injuries which stop him taking on “physical” roles.
Ineson is now suing the Walt Disney Company Ltd, seeking damages of up to £150,000 claiming his ability to play out parts “involving fighting and horse-riding” has been permanently impaired.
Ineson — known for his deep Yorkshire accent — first found fame as crass Chris Finch in BBC sitcom The Office starring Ricky Gervais in 2001.
He has since appeared in numerous roles including Amycus Carrow in the final two Harry Potter movies and Cleftjaw in Game of Thrones.
The actor suffered his injury in July 2021.
In papers filed with London’s High Court, his barrister David White says Ineson was hurt while filming a night shoot for the episode named The Gales at Dragon Studios in Bridgend, South Wales.
His lawyer claims fake foam gravel was not raked properly because of filming deadline pressure and obscured steps, which caused the actor to fall.
Mr White says in the document: “The claimant caught his right foot on the step, fell and landed awkwardly on his right arm.
“The claimant felt the immediate onset of pain.
“He did not want to ruin the shot, so he stoically kept quiet and waited until the end of the shot, another 20 seconds or so, before speaking up and saying he had suffered injury.”
Disney’s defence against the claim was not yet available.