Ray Middleton (actor)
Ray Middleton | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1907 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 10, 1984 (aged 77) |
| Years active | 1933–1984 |
| Spouse | Caroline Maye |
Raymond Earl Middleton (February 8, 1907 – April 10, 1984), known and billed as Ray Middleton, was an American singer and stage, TV, and movie actor.
Early years
Middleton was born in Chicago, Illinois,[1] and attended the University of Illinois.[2]
Career
Soon after he graduated from college, Middleton sang with the Detroit Civic Opera Company, after which he sang with the St. Louis Opera Company and the Chicago Civic Opera. He declined to join the Metropolitan Opera Company, preferring a career in film.[3]
In 1933, Middleton appeared in the Broadway play Roberta. Later in 1938, he appeared in the musical Knickerbocker Holiday.[1] During the early 1940s, he appeared in the movies Gangs of Chicago, the original Hurricane Smith (playing the title role), and Lady for a Night, which starred Joan Blondell and John Wayne.[4] He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, appearing in the Air Forces show Winged Victory. In 1946, he co-starred with Ethel Merman in the Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun. In 1948, he starred in Love Life with Nanette Fabray.[1]
In 1950, he co-starred with Mary Martin in South Pacific, succeeding Ezio Pinza.[2] In 1965, he played the innkeeper in Man of La Mancha.[1]
In television, Middleton's appearances included The Ed Sullivan Show (once as a guest host), the Colgate Comedy Hour, and Chrysler's Shower of Stars in the 1950s. He co-starred with Phil Silvers and Lee Remick in a 1967 TV adaptation of Damn Yankees!.
During the 1970s, Middleton appeared in the TV movie Hec Ramsey as a judge, in the musical movie 1776,[4] as Colonel Thomas McKean, and in the first TV adaptation of Helter Skelter as ranch-owner George Spahn.[4] He also voiced the character Pepperino in the cartoon Tubby the Tuba.
Middleton's last appearances were as Cardinal Reardon in an episode of M*A*S*H[4] ("Blood Brothers", featuring Patrick Swayze), and as grandfather Huey Rush in the comedy Too Close for Comfort.[4]
Middleton died in Panorama City, California at the age of 77.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | You and Me | Salesman | Uncredited |
| 1940 | Gangs of Chicago | Bill Whitaker | |
| 1941 | Lady from Louisiana | Blackburn 'Blackie' Williams | |
| 1941 | Hurricane Smith | 'Hurricane' Smith | |
| 1941 | Mercy Island | Warren Ramsey | |
| 1942 | Lady for a Night | Alan Alderson | |
| 1942 | The Girl from Alaska | Steve Bently | |
| 1952 | I Dream of Jeanie | Edwin P. Christy | |
| 1953 | Sweethearts On Parade | Cameron "Cam" Ellerby | |
| 1954 | Jubilee Trail | Charles Hale | |
| 1955 | I Cover the Underworld | Police Chief Corbett | |
| 1955 | The Road to Denver | John Sutton | |
| 1972 | 1776 | Col. Thomas McKean (DE) | |
| 1975 | Tubby the Tuba | The Great Pepperino | Voice |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Coronet Blue | Chief Loomis | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Hec Ramsey | Judge Leroy Tate | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Ironside | Judge | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Helter Skelter | George Spahn | TV miniseries |
| 1977 | Charlie's Angels | Jardine | 1 episode |
| 1981 | M*A*S*H | Cardinal Reardon | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Too Close for Comfort | Huey Rush | 4 episodes |
References
- ^ a b c d "Ray Middleton". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Perry, Lawrence (November 19, 1950). "New York Skylines". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. p. Section 4-1. Retrieved January 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Majestic". Shamokin News-Dispatch. Pennsylvania, Shamokin. June 27, 1940. p. 8. Retrieved January 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Ray Middleton". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
External links
- Ray Middleton at IMDb
- Ray Middleton at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ray Middleton at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
 | This article about an American theatre actor born in the 1900s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about a United States film and television actor born in the 1900s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- Male actors from Chicago
- 1907 births
- 1984 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American singers
- Actors from Illinois
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
- American theatre actor, 20th-century birth stubs
- American screen actor, 1900s birth stubs