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Ralph Elliott Margetts was born in Salt Lake City on March 7, 1909, to an already well-known acting family. His first professional acting roll came in 1926 when he was featured in "Pictures in the Hallway," at the Salt Lake Theatre. One year after completing high school he served a mission for the L.D.S. Church in France and Belgium, from 1928 to 1931. While there he learned to speak French. This ability later helped him launch his acting career. Upon his return, he went to work for an uncle in Aspen, Colorado, as a gold miner. Two years later he returned to Salt Lake City to attend L.D.S. Business College. After completion of his study of stenography, he made a trip to Hollywood where he met a friend who encouraged him to audition at the Gateway Theater. Because he was able to speak with a French accent, he got a part in Orson Welles' play "The Ideal Husband." Since this role was not salaried work, he worked as a shoe salesman to support himself. Later he was to supplement his income by working as a make-up artist for Max Factor at some of the leading studios.

When the United States entered World War II, Margetts joined the Navy and was assigned to a station in San Francisco. While in the Navy he met and married Winnifred Snell, who was also in the Navy. They were married on March 13, 1943. He served in the Navy until 1947. Attending the University of Utah on the G.I. Bill after the war, Margetts earned his B.A. and M.A. After completing his studies, he taught French, Speech, and Theater at the University for two years. In 1953, Margetts joined the faculty at Chico State College in California, where he was director of the theater. Later he served on the faculty at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. He returned to the University of Utah in 1957 to teach Speech and Drama, and to direct at the University Theater. Margetts received his Ph.D. in 1959 from the University of Utah. He retired in 1976.