Raymond Earl Middleton (February 8, 1907 – April 10, 1984) was an American singer and stage, TV and movie actor.
Ray Middleton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Middleton in 1952 | |
| Born | February 8, 1907 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 10, 1984 (aged 77) |
| Years active | 1933–1984 |
| Spouse | Caroline Maye |
Early years
editMiddleton was born in Chicago, Illinois,[1] and attended the University of Illinois.[2]
Career
editSoon 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.
At the New York World's Fair, July 3, 1940 was declared "Superman Day" and Superman was featured at the World of Tomorrow exhibit as the "Man of Tomorrow." At the event, Middleton became the first actor to portray Superman in public.[5]
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]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| 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 | |
| 1975 | Tubby the Tuba | The Great Pepperino | Voice |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | The Jackie Gleason Show | J.J. Marshall | 2 episodes, uncredited |
| 1954 | The Colgate Comedy Hour | Carlos, the Miller | adaptation of Revenge with Music |
| 1954 | The Best of Broadway | Nick Bullett | adaptation of Cole Porter's Panama Hattie |
| 1955 | Shower of Stars | Fred/Ghost of Christmas Present | 2 adaptations of A Christmas Carol |
| 1967 | Damn Yankees! | Joe Boyd | TV movie |
| 1967 | Coronet Blue | Chief Loomis | episode "The Rebels" |
| 1972 | Hec Ramsey | Judge Leroy Tate | pilot episode |
| 1972 | Ironside | Judge | episode "Buddy, Can You Spare a Life?" |
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. | Gregory Kenyon | episode "Strike Force" |
| 1976 | Helter Skelter | George Spahn | TV movie |
| 1977 | Charlie's Angels | Hal Jardine | episode "I Will Be Remembered" |
| 1981 | M*A*S*H | Cardinal James Reardon | episode "Blood Brothers" |
| 1981 | Border Pals | Old John | TV movie |
| 1984 | Too Close for Comfort | Huey Rush | 4 episodes |
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Ray Middleton was the first actor to portray Superman in public, Superman Homepage, retrieved 2024-03-19