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In Remembrance: Gary Gray
Gary Gray, the child actor who appeared in such films as the western
Return Of The Bad Men (1948) with Randolph Scott and MGM’s
last Lassie film 1951’s The Painted Hills, has passed away on
April 4, 2006 in Brush Prairie, Washington at the age of 69.
Born on
December 18, 1936 in Los Angeles, Gray’s father was Hollywood
business manager Bill Gray. Among the elder Gray’s many clients were
Bert Wheeler, of the comedy duo Wheeler and Woolsey, and radio
comedian Jack Benny. Gray later said that both comics encouraged his
father to put Gary and his younger sister Arlene into motion
pictures.
Gray made his
film debut in a small, uncredited role in 1941’s A Woman’s Face.
Several other small, uncredited roles followed in films such as
Sun Valley Serenade (1941), It’s A Great Life (1943) and
The White Cliffs Of Dover (1944). Gray persevered and soon
began landing more noticeable roles in such films as the western
Return Of The Bad Men. Gray also had his first two juvenile lead
roles in 1948, in the frontier drama Rachel And The Stranger
opposite William Holden and in the crime drama Fighting Back
with Jean Rogers. He also appeared in numerous other films including
The Great Lover with Bob Hope and The Girl From Jones
Beach (both 1949) with Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo. Gray
also starred as David Latham in Monogram Pictures “Latham Family”
B-movie comedy series which ran four installments.
In 1950, Gray
landed a contract with MGM Studios based on his work in the 1950
drama The Next Voice You Hear…. At MGM, he was immediately
assigned to what would be the studios last Lassie picture, The
Painted Hills. Gray already had experience acting opposite a
canine co-star, having been teamed with Flame, The Wonder Dog for
RKO Studio’s short two-reel film series “Pal”- which ran for five
installments from 1948’s Pal’s Return to 1951’s Pal’s
Gallant Journey. Gray and Flame were also paired in the 1948
feature Night Wind. Unfortunately, The Painted Hills
would be Gray’s only film for MGM.
Through the
1950s, Gray began to transition from film to television work,
appearing in such series as Fireside Theatre, Annie Oakley,
Captain Midnight, Studio 57, I Love Lucy and
Man Without A Gun. He still appeared in such films as Teenage
Rebel (1956) and The Party Crashers (1958).
Gray’s final
film before retiring from show business was the 1962 western
Terror At Black Falls. |
