Mack Gray (December 11, 1905,

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

– January 17, 1981,

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

) was an American actor who was the brother of

Joe Gray (actor) Joe Gray (May 5, 1912 – March 15, 1971) was an American boxer, actor, and stuntman. Biography Joe Gray was raised in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Los Angeles in 1936 at the suggestion of his brother Mack Gray, George Raft's associate. Hi ...

and great-uncle of Jon Abrahams. He was given the nickname "Killer" by

Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters; October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 2 ...

due to his roles in films as a tough guy. Longtime friend and confidant of

George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

, and

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...

, who often cast him in their films.(1) (2). Gray was a close associate of Dean Martin for close to 35 years. (2) Nick Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams Doubleday Books 1992

Selected filmography

* ''

Applause Applause ( Latin ''applaudere,'' to strike upon, clap) is primarily a form of ovation or praise expressed by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise. Audiences usually applaud after a performanc ...

'' (1929).... as Slim's Brother * ''

Goin' to Town ''Goin' To Town'' is a 1935 musical comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and written by Mae West. The film stars Mae West, Paul Cavanagh, Gilbert Emery, Marjorie Gateson, Tito Coral and Ivan Lebedeff. The film was released on April 25, 1935, ...

'' (1935).... as Croupier * ''

The Glass Key ''The Glass Key'' is a novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. First published as a serial in '' Black Mask'' magazine in 1930, it then was collected in 1931 (in London; the American edition followed 3 months later). It tells the story of a ga ...

'' (1935).... as Duke * ''

The House Across the Bay ''The House Across the Bay'' is a 1940 film directed by Archie Mayo, starring George Raft and Joan Bennett, produced by Walter Wanger, written by Myles Connolly and Kathryn Scola, and released by United Artists. The supporting cast features Lloyd N ...

'' (1940).... as Doorman/Lookout * '' Diamond Horseshoe'' (1945).... as Mack, the Waiter * '' Nocturne'' (1946) .... as Gratz * ''

Race Street ''Race Street'' is a 1948 American crime film noir directed by Edwin L. Marin. The drama features George Raft, William Bendix and Marilyn Maxwell. It was one of several collaborations between Raft and Marin. Plot When his bookie pal Hal is k ...

'' (1948) .... as Stringy * ''

Take Me Out to the Ball Game "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song ...

'' (1949).... as Gangster Henchman * '' A Dangerous Profession'' (1949).... as Fred, the Taxi Driver * '' Wabash Avenue'' (1950).... as Poker Player * ''

Rhubarb Rhubarb is the fleshy, edible stalks ( petioles) of species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb) of '' Rheum'' in the family Polygonaceae, which are cooked and used for food. The whole plant – a herbaceous perennial growing from short, thick rhi ...

'' (1951).... as Suspect in Polo-coat in Line-up * ''

Love Nest ''Love Nest'' is a 1951 American comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Newman and starring June Haver, William Lundigan, Frank Fay, and Marilyn Monroe. The post- World War II comedy features an early supporting role for Monroe. It is one of t ...

'' (1951).... as Man in Jail * '' Ten Thousand Bedrooms'' (1957).... as Party Guest * ''

Sergeants 3 ''Sergeants 3'' is a 1962 American comedy/Western film directed by John Sturges and starring Rat Pack icons Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. It was the last film to feature all five members of the Rat ...

'' (1962).... as Bartender * '' Who's Got the Action?'' (1962).... as Hood

References

* Martin, Ricci That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin Taylor Trade Publishing 2001 * Tosches, Nick Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams Doubleday Books 1992 *Wallace, Stone George Raft - The Man Who Would Be Bogart. Smashworlds Edition. 2015

External links

* 1905 births 1981 deaths People from Brooklyn American male film actors 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1900s-stub