Edward Louis Grady (August 31, 1923 – December 10, 2012) was an American stage, film and television actor and teacher.

Ed Grady
Born(1923-08-31)August 31, 1923
DiedDecember 10, 2012(2012-12-10) (aged 89)
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A.)
Years active1979–2005
Spouses
Diana Jayne Elliott
(m. 1951; died 1984)
Carolyn Frances Ramsay
(m. 1985)
Children2

Early life

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Grady was born to Eddie Jones Grady and Maude Clara (née Hodges) Grady on August 31, 1923, in Kinston, North Carolina.[1][2] He graduated from Grainger High School in Kinston.[1] Grady enlisted in the Army Air Force during World War II and trained as a cryptographer. He served on Ie Shima (Iejima) during the war, and was awarded the Soldier's Medal for rescuing the pilot of a P-47 which was on fire.[1]

Grady received a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater and English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) after World War II.[1] He was the member of the Carolina Playmakers at the Playmakers Theatre while studying at UNC.[1] Grady later became an English teacher in New York City, where he also taught a photo workshop held at Columbia University.[1][2]

Acting and teaching

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Grady's film credits included A Simple Twist of Fate in 1994, Lolita in 1997, and The Notebook in 2004.[1] His television roles included the 1993 television miniseries, Alex Haley's Queen; the 1993 Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie, To Dance with the White Dog; as well as a string of series including In the Heat of the Night, I'll Fly Away, Matlock, and Dawson's Creek, in which he had a recurring role as Gramps Ryan.[1]

Grady's theater roles included three seasons at Unto These Hills, an outdoor Cherokee historical drama staged in Cherokee, North Carolina.[1] Grady portrayed Drowning Bear in the play, which follows the story of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.[1]

In addition to acting, Grady taught television production and English at Freedom High School in Morganton, North Carolina, during the 1970s[2] and Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina.[1] He was a resident of Columbia, South Carolina.[1]

Death and legacy

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Ed Grady died at Palmetto Health Richland hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, on December 10, 2012, at the age of 89.[1] His first wife, Jayne Elliott Grady, had died previously. He was survived by his second wife of 27 years, Carolyn F. Ramsay; two children, Marta and Sean; and two stepchildren, Caroline Hattrich and Stephen Hattrich.[1][2]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Brings Plenty, Scott M. (December 13, 2012). "Edward Louis "Ed" Grady – obituary". The Cherokee One Feather. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Former teacher passes away". The News Herald. December 13, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
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