Person
Charles Ray
Jacksonville, Illinois, USA
From Wikipedia Charles Edgar Ray (March 15, 1891 – November 23, 1943) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Ray rose to fame during the mid-1910s portrayin…
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From Wikipedia Charles Edgar Ray (March 15, 1891 – November 23, 1943) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Ray rose to fame during the mid-1910s portraying young wholesome hicks in silent comedy films. Ray was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and moved to Springfield as a child where he attended elementary school. He then moved to Arizona for a time before finally relocating to Los Angeles where he finished his education. He initially began his career on the stage before working for director Thomas H. Ince as a film extra in December 1912. He appeared in several bit parts before moving on to supporting roles. Ray's break came in 1915 when he appeared opposite Frank Keenan in the historical war drama The Coward. Ray's popularity increased after appearing in a series of films which cast him in juvenile roles, primarily young hicks or "country bumpkins" that foiled the plans of thieves or con men. In March 1917, he signed with Paramount Pictures and resumed working with director Thomas H. Ince. By 1920, he was earning a reported $11,000 a week. Around this time, he left Paramount after studio head Adolph Zukor refused to give him a pay raise. Zukor later wrote in his autobiography The Public Is Never Wrong, that Ray's ego had gotten out of hand and that Ray "...was headed for trouble and did not care to be with him when he found it." After leaving Paramount, Ray formed his own production company, Charles Ray Productions, and also used his fortune to purchase a studio in Los Angeles where he began producing and shooting his own films. On November 23, 1943, Ray died of a mouth and throat infection at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles for which he had been hospitalized six weeks prior. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Charles Ray has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6355 Hollywood Boulevard.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1961
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1943
Slightly Dangerous
Movie Opera patron (uncredited)
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1942
Mrs. Miniver
Movie Man getting on Bus (uncredited)
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1942
The Mad Martindales
Movie Barbershop Customer (uncredited)
-
1942
Rio Rita
Movie Hotel Guest (uncredited)
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1941
Appointment for Love
Movie Butler (uncredited)
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1941
The Lady from Cheyenne
Movie Bit Role
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1941
The Man Who Lost Himself
Movie (uncredited)
-
1936
Hollywood Boulevard
Movie Charlie Smith - Assistant Director
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1935
Just My Luck
Movie Homer Crow
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1935
Welcome Home
Movie Andrew Carr
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1934
Ticket to a Crime
Movie Courtney Mallory
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1934
By Your Leave
Movie Leonard Purcell
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1934
The Camera Speaks
Movie Self (archive footage)
-
1934
Ladies Should Listen
Movie Henri
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1934
School for Girls
Movie Duke
More credits
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1931
Stars of Yesterday
Movie Self
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1931
The House That Shadows Built
Movie (archive footage)
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1928
The Count of Ten
Movie Johnny McKinney
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1928
The Garden of Eden
Movie Richard Dupont
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1927
Vanity
Movie Lt. Lloyd Van Courtland
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1927
Getting Gertie's Garter
Movie Ken Walrick
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1927
Nobody's Widow
Movie Honorable John Clayton
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1927
The American
Movie Bill Smith
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1926
The Fire Brigade
Movie Terry O'Neil
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1926
The Auction Block
Movie Bob Wharton
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1926
Paris
Movie Jerry
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1926
Sweet Adeline
Movie Ben Wilson
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1925
Bright Lights
Movie Tom Corbin
-
1925
Some Pun'kins
Movie Lem Blossom
-
1925
Percy
Movie Percival Rogeen
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1924
Dynamite Smith
Movie Gladstone Smith
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1923
The Courtship of Miles Standish
Movie John Alden
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1923
The Girl I Loved
Movie John Middleton
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1922
A Tailor-Made Man
Movie John Paul Bart
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1922
Alias Julius Caesar
Movie Billy Barnes
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1922
The Deuce of Spades
Movie Amos
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1922
Gas, Oil and Water
Movie George Oliver Watson
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1921
Two Minutes to Go
Movie Chester Burnett
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1921
Scrap Iron
Movie John Steel
