Aldo Ray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aldo Ray
Ray in 1955
Born	Aldo Da Re (1926-09-25)September 25, 1926 Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 27, 1991(1991-03-27) (aged 64) Martinez, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1951–1991
Spouse(s)	Shirley Green ​ ​ (m. 1947; div. 1953)​ Jeff Donnell ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1956)​ Johanna Ray ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1967)​
Children	4, including Eric Da Re
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1944–1946
Rank	Seaman First Class
Unit	UDT-17 USS Lipan (AT-85)
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Okinawa

Aldo Ray (born Aldo Da Re; September 25, 1926 – March 27, 1991) was an American actor. He starred in many films and TV shows. He was known for his strong build and deep, rough voice. This often led to him playing "tough guy" characters. His career lasted from the 1950s into the late 1980s.

Aldo Ray became famous for his roles in movies like The Marrying Kind and Pat and Mike. For Pat and Mike, he was even nominated for a Golden Globe award. Later in his career, he appeared in films such as The Secret of NIMH (1982) and The Sicilian (1987).

Early Life and Military Service

Aldo Da Re was born in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania. He came from an Italian family and had five brothers and one sister. When he was four, his family moved to Crockett, California. His father worked at the C&H Sugar Refinery there.

Aldo went to John Swett High School. He played on the football team and also coached swimming.

At 18, during World War II in 1944, Aldo joined the United States Navy. He served as a frogman, which is a special diver. He was part of UDT-17 and saw action in the Battle of Okinawa. He left the Navy in 1946.

After the Navy, he returned to Crockett. He studied and played football at Vallejo Junior College. Then he went to the University of California, Berkeley to study political science. He later left college to run for constable in his local area. He won the election at age 23.

Becoming a Hollywood Star

First Steps into Acting

In April 1950, a film company called Columbia Studios came to San Francisco. They were looking for athletes for a movie called Saturday's Hero (1951). Aldo's brother saw an ad and asked Aldo to drive him to the auditions.

The director, David Miller, was more interested in Aldo. He liked Aldo's unique voice. Aldo was also comfortable talking to the camera because of his experience in politics. He got a small role as a football player.

Aldo signed a contract with Columbia Studios. He was still working as a constable at the time. He found the quiet life of a constable "monotonous" after a few months. So, he decided he wanted to act in more movies.

Starring in The Marrying Kind

Columbia Studios wanted Aldo to audition for a small part in a new movie called The Marrying Kind. He went to Hollywood and did a screen test with director George Cukor. The studio head, Harry Cohn, liked Aldo and gave him the main role.

Harry Cohn changed his name from "Aldo Da Re" to "Aldo Ray." Aldo divorced his first wife and left his job as constable in September 1951. His starting salary was $200 a week.

Director George Cukor praised Aldo's acting. He said Aldo had a "certain glow" in his eyes that looked good on camera. Aldo's performance in The Marrying Kind was highly praised. Many people saw him as a natural talent.

Cukor then cast Aldo in a supporting role in Pat and Mike. This movie starred famous actors Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. Aldo's work in Pat and Mike earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe award for Best Newcomer. This helped launch his acting career.

Aldo said that Spencer Tracy told him, "Kid, I don't know what it is that you got... but you can work in this business forever."

Leading Roles at Columbia Pictures

Aldo Ray on the Twenty Questions TV show in 1954.

Columbia Pictures boss Harry Cohn liked Aldo Ray. He wanted Aldo for a big role in From Here to Eternity (1953). However, another actor was chosen instead. Still, Aldo got many other good roles.

Aldo starred with Jane Wyman in Let's Do It Again (1953). He also acted opposite Rita Hayworth in Miss Sadie Thompson (1953).

He was loaned to Warner Bros. for the movie Battle Cry (1955). This film was a huge success and one of Aldo's most popular movies. However, it also led to him often playing similar "tough soldier" roles.

Aldo then starred in Three Stripes in the Sun (1955). He also worked with Humphrey Bogart in We're No Angels (1955).

Moving On from Columbia

After Harry Cohn died in 1958, Columbia Studios did not renew Aldo Ray's contract. He decided to leave Hollywood for a while. He spent time filming in England, Spain, and Italy.

In 1959, he starred in Four Desperate Men, filmed in Australia. He also appeared with Lucille Ball in an episode of Desilu Playhouse. He said he earned more money from these two projects than he had in his first eight years of acting.

He made films like The Day They Robbed the Bank of England in the UK and Johnny Nobody in Ireland. However, these films were not widely seen in America.

Later Career and Final Years

Returning to Hollywood

Aldo Ray (center) with William Lundigan and Lucille Ball in a 1958 TV episode.

Aldo Ray returned to Hollywood in 1964. He had a small role in Sylvia (1965). He also appeared in movies like What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? and The Green Berets (1968). In The Green Berets, he played Sergeant Muldoon alongside John Wayne.

He also made several guest appearances on television shows. In 1966, he played a deaf character named Jake in an episode of "The Virginian."

Career Changes

As the 1960s ended, the types of roles Hollywood offered Aldo Ray changed. He continued to work steadily in the 1970s, but his roles were often smaller. He was usually cast as a rough, gravelly-voiced character.

By 1976, Aldo Ray faced financial difficulties. He continued to take on acting roles to help with his health insurance costs. He returned to Crockett, California, in 1983.

Even though he mostly appeared in lower-budget films during this time, he still had some notable roles. He provided the voice for Sullivan in the animated film The Secret of NIMH (1982). He was also cast in David Lynch's 1984 film Dune but was later replaced.

Last Films and Passing

In 1986, Aldo Ray's membership in the SAG (the actors' union) was briefly stopped. This happened because he acted in a film that was not a union production. However, he still received his union pension and benefits.

He appeared in two more well-known films: Michael Cimino's The Sicilian (1987) and Blood Red (1989). In these films, he played supporting roles that highlighted his Italian background.

In 1989, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. His last film, Shock 'Em Dead, was filmed in 1990.

Aldo Ray passed away on March 27, 1991, at the age of 64. He died from complications related to throat cancer and pneumonia. He was cremated, and his ashes were buried in Crockett, California.

Personal Life

Aldo Ray was married three times:

• Shirley Green (1947–1953). They had one daughter, Claire.
• Jeff Donnell (1954–1956).
• Johanna Bennet (1960–1967). She is now known as Johanna Ray, a respected casting director. They had two sons, Paul and Eric. Their son, Eric Da Re, later acted in the TV series Twin Peaks.

Legacy and Influence

Aldo Ray's acting style left a mark on Hollywood.

• Author Richard Matheson said that his famous book, The Incredible Shrinking Man, was inspired by a scene in Aldo Ray's film Let's Do It Again.
• Director Quentin Tarantino has mentioned Aldo Ray's influence. He said that Aldo Ray would have been perfect for the character of Butch in Pulp Fiction (1994). The look of Butch in the film was inspired by Ray.
• Tarantino also named a character "Aldo Raine" in his 2009 film Inglourious Basterds as a tribute to Ray.
• Aldo Ray even appears as a character in Tarantino's 2021 novel Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

The Crockett Museum has a display about Aldo Ray's life. Film historians often talk about how actors like Aldo Ray brought a new, natural style of acting to Hollywood in the 1950s.

Filmography