Joe Gray (actor)

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Joe Gray
MWSnap00862.jpg
Gray in 1970
Born(1912-05-05)May 5, 1912
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1]
DiedMarch 15, 1971(1971-03-15) (aged 58)
Durango, Mexico
OccupationActor, stuntman, boxer
Years active1937–1971
RelativesJon Abrahams (great-uncle)[2]
FamilyMack 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[]

References[]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Wallace, Stone (2015). George Raft - The Man Who Would Be Bogart. Smashworlds Edition. p. 6. ISBN 9781311195098 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Capua, Michelangelo (March 20, 2020). John Derek: Actor, Director, Photographer. McFarland. p. 73. ISBN 9781476638126 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b Small Press Review: Volumes 9-11. Dustbooks. 1977. p. 10 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Joe Gray". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. March 17, 1971. p. 29. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. open access

External links[]

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