Joe Gray (actor)
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Joe Gray | |
---|---|
![]() Gray in 1970 | |
Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1] | May 5, 1912
Died | March 15, 1971 Durango, Mexico | (aged 58)
Occupation | Actor, stuntman, boxer |
Years active | 1937–1971 |
Relatives | Jon Abrahams (great-uncle)[2] |
Family | Mack Gray (brother)[1] |
Joe Gray (May 5, 1912 – March 15, 1971) was an American boxer, actor, and stuntman.[1][3]
Biography[]
Gray made appearances in over 110 films in numerous uncredited roles, including 10 of Frank Sinatra's films and 32 of Dean Martin's films.[1] He was a technical adviser on boxing films for John Garfield, Elvis Presley, Jeff Chandler, James Cagney, George Raft, Tony Curtis,[1] and Kirk Douglas, among others. Gray also helped with actor, John Derek in the 1956 film The Leather Saint.[3]
As a boxer, he compiled a professional boxing record of 8-3-2 with 3 knockout wins. In his private life he was a close friend of the writer Henry Miller.[4] After Gray's death, Miller dedicated a chapter of his 1973 book, My Bike and Other Friends, to Gray.[4]
Gray was the brother of Mack Gray[1] and uncle of the artist Martin Abrahams and great-uncle of actor Jon Abrahams.[1] Gray died of a heart attack in Mexico, while on location making the film Something Big in Durango, at the age of 58.[1] He was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.[5]
Selected filmography[]
- A Star Is Born (1937) – Garcia (uncredited)
- The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938) – Sailor (uncredited)
- Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938) – Fighter (uncredited)
- You and Me (1938) – Red (uncredited)
- Winner Take All (1939) – Nick – Brawler (uncredited)
- Each Dawn I Die (1939) – Prisoner (uncredited)
- Beau Geste (1939) – Legionnaire (uncredited)
- Golden Boy (1939) – Fighter (uncredited)
- Call a Messenger (1939) – Nail (uncredited)
- City for Conquest (1940) – Cannonball Wales (uncredited)
- Knockout (1941) – Kent, a Fighter (uncredited)
- The Miracle Kid (1941) – Kayo Kane
- Broadway (1942) – Bootlegger (uncredited)
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) – (uncredited)
- Mr. Ace (1946) – 'Gentleman' Gene Delmont (uncredited)
- Mr. Hex (1946) – Billy Butterworth
- Criminal Court (1946) – First Gunman (uncredited)
- Intrigue (1947) – Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Christmas Eve (1947) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- Body and Soul (1947) – Cornerman (uncredited)
- It Had to Be You (1947) – Prizefighter (uncredited)
- The Street with No Name (1948) – Boxer (uncredited)
- Fighter Squadron (1948) – Flyer with Dice (uncredited)
- Whiplash (1948) – Fighter (uncredited)
- The Accused (1949) – Abe Comar (uncredited)
- Fighting Fools (1949) – Fighter (uncredited)
- Champion (1949) – Opponent, Championship Fight (uncredited)
- Sorrowful Jones (1949) – Gambler (uncredited)
- Mighty Joe Young (1949) – Waiter (uncredited)
- The Big Wheel (1949) – Race Car Driver (uncredited)
- Wabash Avenue (1950) – Saloon Patron (uncredited)
- Riding High (1950) – Johnny (uncredited)
- The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) – Dalby (uncredited)
- Love That Brute (1950) – Gangster (uncredited)
- My Friend Irma Goes West (1950) – (uncredited)
- 711 Ocean Drive (1950) – Boxer (uncredited)
- Sunset Boulevard (1950) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- At War with the Army (1950) – Soldier (uncredited)
- Ace in the Hole (1951) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- No Questions Asked (1951) – Policeman (uncredited)
- Iron Man (1951) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- Rhubarb (1951) – Baseball Player (uncredited)
- Flesh and Fury (1952) – Cliff
- Kid Monk Baroni (1952) – Fighter (uncredited)
- Glory Alley (1952) – Fighter (uncredited)
- Sally and Saint Anne (1952) – Crunch (uncredited)
- Off Limits (1952) – Dix (uncredited)
- The War of the Worlds (1953) – Looter (uncredited)
- Scared Stiff (1953) – Longshoreman (uncredited)
- The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) – Longshoreman (uncredited)
- The Caddy (1953) – Pool Guest (uncredited)
- Casanova's Big Night (1954) – Court Guard (uncredited)
- 3 Ring Circus (1954) – Circus Roustabout (uncredited)
- Six Bridges to Cross (1955) – Mobster (uncredited)
- Guys and Dolls (1955) – Spectator at Hot Box Club (uncredited)
- The Square Jungle (1955) – Sparring Partner (uncredited)
- The Leather Saint (1956) – Referee in Gil's Third Bout (uncredited)
- Pardners (1956) – Rodeo Cowboy (uncredited)
- Back from Eternity (1956) – Gambler (uncredited)
- The Ten Commandments (1956) – Palace Guard (uncredited)
- Hollywood or Bust (1956) – Gambler (uncredited)
- Hot Shots (1956) – Sam (uncredited)
- Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957) – Airport Passenger (uncredited)
- Sweet Smell of Success (1957) – Patron at 21 Club (uncredited)
- Loving You (1957) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Joker Is Wild (1957) – Fighter (uncredited)
- Hear Me Good (1957) – Technician (uncredited)
- The Young Lions (1958) – Soldier (uncredited)
- Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) – Doctor (uncredited)
- I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958) – Alien (uncredited)
- The Buccaneer (1958) – Stevedore (uncredited)
- Some Came Running (1958) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- Rio Bravo (1959) – Card Player (uncredited)
- Some Like It Hot (1959) – Mobster at Banquet (uncredited)
- The Great Impostor (1960) – Federal Prison Inmate (uncredited)
- Bells Are Ringing (1960) – Bartender (uncredited)
- Ocean's 11 (1960) – Pit Boss (uncredited)
- G.I. Blues (1960) – Soldier (uncredited)
- The Great Impostor (1960) – Federal Prison Inmate (uncredited)
- Ada (1961) – Reporter (uncredited)
- Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) – Party Guest (uncredited)
- The Comancheros (1961) – Party Guest (uncredited)
- The Errand Boy (1961) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Ladies Man (1961) – Man on Date (scenes deleted)
- Sergeants 3 (1962) – (uncredited)
- Kid Galahad (1962) – Trainer (uncredited)
- The Manchurian Candidate (1962) – Soldier (uncredited)
- Taras Bulba (1962) – Soldier (uncredited)
- Who's Got the Action? (1962) – Pool Player (uncredited)
- 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) – Gambler (uncredited)
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963) – TV Director (uncredited)
- Irma la Douce (1963) – Bar Gangster (uncredited)
- Toys in the Attic (1963) – Man at Bar (uncredited)
- Who's Minding the Store? (1963) – Herman, the Shoplifter (uncredited)
- 4 for Texas (1963) – Cowboy (uncredited)
- What a Way to Go! (1964) – Patron (uncredited)
- Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) – Hood (uncredited)
- For Those Who Think Young (1964) – Club Guest (uncredited)
- Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) – (uncredited)
- None But the Brave (1965) – Soldier (uncredited)
- Von Ryan's Express (1965) – Prisoner (uncredited)
- Harlow (1965) – Director (uncredited)
- Boeing Boeing (1965) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- Our Man Flint (1966) – Security Guard (uncredited)
- The Silencers (1966) – (uncredited)
- The Last of the Secret Agents? (1966) – (uncredited)
- Murderers' Row (1966) – Guard (uncredited)
- Good Times (1967) – (uncredited)
- The Ambushers (1967) – Man (uncredited)
- How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968) – Cab Driver (uncredited)
- Bandolero! (1968) – (uncredited)
- 5 Card Stud (1968) – Cowhand (uncredited)
- The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Killing of Sister George (1968) – Party Guest (uncredited)
- The Wrecking Crew (1968) – Minor Role (uncredited)
- Che! (1969) – (uncredited)
- Airport (1970) – Antonio Piace – Passenger (uncredited)
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) – Bodyguard (uncredited)
- Something Big (1971) – (uncredited) (final film role)
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Freese, Gene (April 10, 2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 112. ISBN 9780786476435 – via Google Books.
- ^ Wallace, Stone (2015). George Raft - The Man Who Would Be Bogart. Smashworlds Edition. p. 6. ISBN 9781311195098 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Capua, Michelangelo (March 20, 2020). John Derek: Actor, Director, Photographer. McFarland. p. 73. ISBN 9781476638126 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Small Press Review: Volumes 9-11. Dustbooks. 1977. p. 10 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Joe Gray". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. March 17, 1971. p. 29. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
External links[]
- 1912 births
- 1971 deaths
- American male boxers
- American stunt performers
- American male film actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- Sportspeople from Brooklyn
- Male actors from New York City
- Boxers from New York City
- Burials at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery