Charles Edgar Ray (March 15, 1891 – November 23, 1943) was
an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Ray rose to fame
during the mid-1910s portraying young wholesome hicks in silent comedy films.
Ray was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and moved to
Springfield as a child where he attended elementary school. He then moved to
Arizona for a time before finally relocating to Los Angeles where he finished
his education. He initially began his career on the stage before working for
director Thomas H. Ince as a film extra in December 1912. He appeared in
several bit parts before moving on to supporting roles. Ray's break came in
1915 when he appeared opposite Frank Keenan in the historical war drama The
Coward.
Ray's popularity increased after appearing in a series of
films which cast him in juvenile roles, primarily young hicks or "country
bumpkins" that foiled the plans of thieves or con men. In March 1917, he
signed with Paramount Pictures and resumed working with director Thomas H.
Ince. By 1920, he was earning a reported $11,000 a week. Around this time, he
left Paramount after studio head Adolph Zukor refused to give him a pay raise.
Zukor later wrote in his autobiography The Public Is Never Wrong, that Ray's
ego had gotten out of hand and that Ray "...was headed for trouble and did not care to be with him when he found
it." After leaving Paramount, Ray formed his own production company,
Charles Ray Productions, and also used his fortune to purchase a studio in Los
Angeles where he began producing and shooting his own films.
On November 23, 1943, Ray died of a mouth and throat
infection at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles for which he had been
hospitalized six weeks prior.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Charles
Ray has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6355 Hollywood
Boulevard.
Charles Edgar Ray (March 15, 1891 – November 23, 1943) was
an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Ray rose to fame
during the mid-1910s portraying young wholesome hicks in silent comedy films.
Ray was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and moved to
Springfield as a child where he attended elementary school. He then moved to
Arizona for a time before finally relocating to Los Angeles where he finished
his education. He initially began his career on the stage before working for
director Thomas H. Ince as a film extra in December 1912. He appeared in
several bit parts before moving on to supporting roles. Ray's break came in
1915 when he appeared opposite Frank Keenan in the historical war drama The
Coward.
Ray's popularity increased after appearing in a series of
films which cast him in juvenile roles, primarily young hicks or "country
bumpkins" that foiled the plans of thieves or con men. In March 1917, he
signed with Paramount Pictures and resumed working with director Thomas H.
Ince. By 1920, he was earning a reported $11,000 a week. Around this time, he
left Paramount after studio head Adolph Zukor refused to give him a pay raise.
Zukor later wrote in his autobiography The Public Is Never Wrong, that Ray's
ego had gotten out of hand and that Ray "...was headed for trouble and did not care to be with him when he found
it." After leaving Paramount, Ray formed his own production company,
Charles Ray Productions, and also used his fortune to purchase a studio in Los
Angeles where he began producing and shooting his own films.
On November 23, 1943, Ray died of a mouth and throat
infection at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles for which he had been
hospitalized six weeks prior.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Charles
Ray has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6355 Hollywood
Boulevard.