Ray Middleton (actor)

This article is about American actor. For Ray Middleton, see Ray Middleton (actor) (disambiguation).

Ray Middleton
Born	(1907-02-08)February 8, 1907 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	April 10, 1984(1984-04-10) (aged 77) Panorama City, California, U.S.
Years active	1933–1982
Spouse(s)	Caroline Maye, Patricia Dinnell Was at one time also married to Carolyn Sombrotto.

Ray Middleton and Mary Martin in South Pacific (1950)

Raymond Earl Middleton (February 8, 1907 – April 10, 1984), known and billed as Ray Middleton, was an American stage, TV, and movie actor.

Biography and career

Middleton was born in Chicago, Illinois. In 1933, he appeared in the broadway play Roberta. Later in 1938, he appeared in the musical Knickerbocker Holiday. 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. 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 original Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun. In 1948, he starred in Love Life with Nanette Fabray.

In 1950, he co-starred with Mary Martin in South Pacific. In 1965, he played the dual roles of the Innkeeper and the Governor in the original stage production of Man of La Mancha.

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, as Colonel Thomas McKean, and in the first TV adaptation of Helter Skelter as rancher George Spahn. 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 ("Blood Brothers", featuring Patrick Swayze), and as grandfather Huey Rush in the comedy Too Close for Comfort.

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
1972	Hec Ramsey	Judge Leroy Tate	1 episode
1972	Ironside	Judge	1 episode
1976	Helter Skelter	Mr. Spahn	TV miniseries
1977	Charlie's Angels	Jardine	1 episode
1981	M*A*S*H	Cardinal Reardon	1 episode

External links

• Ray Middleton at IMDb
• Ray Middleton at the Internet Broadway Database
• Ray Middleton at the Internet Off-Broadway Database