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In Remembrance: Gary Gray
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. |
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.