Left discussion meetings actor ruined (4,3,1,6)

I believe the answer is:

gone for a burton

'ruined' is the definition.
(old-fashioned phrase meaning killed or dead)

'left discussion meetings actor' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'gone' (I've seen this before).
'discussion meetings' becomes 'fora' (plural of 'forum').
'actor' becomes 'burton' (Richard Burton).
'gone'+'fora'+'burton'='GONE FOR A BURTON'

(Another definition for gone for a burton that I've seen is " has got wiped out".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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