Gene Raymond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Raymond
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Studio portrait of Raymond, c. mid-1930s
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Raymond Guion
August 13, 1908 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | May 3, 1998 (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
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| Years active | 1921–1975 |
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| Associated acts | Jeanette MacDonald |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
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| Years of service | 1940–1968 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
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| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Legion of Merit |
Gene Raymond (born Raymond Guion; August 13, 1908 – May 3, 1998) was an American actor. He starred in many films, TV shows, and plays during the 1930s and 1940s. Besides acting, Gene Raymond was also a singer, writer, director, producer, and a skilled military pilot. He even wrote music!
Contents
Early Life and First Steps
Gene Raymond was born on August 13, 1908, in New York City. He went to the Professional Children's School. While there, he acted in plays like Rip Van Winkle.
When he was 17, he made his first appearance on Broadway. This is a famous theater district in New York. The play was called The Cradle Snatchers and ran for two years. Famous actors like Humphrey Bogart were also in the cast.
His Acting Career
Gene Raymond's first movie was Personal Maid in 1931. He also appeared in If I Had a Million. This film featured many directors and stars like W. C. Fields.
With his good looks and energetic personality, he became popular. He changed his name to "Gene Raymond" to make it easier to say. He starred in films like Zoo in Budapest with Loretta Young. He also made several musicals with Ann Sothern.
Gene Raymond wrote many songs. One popular song was "Will You?", which he sang in the movie Smartest Girl in Town (1936). His wife, Jeanette MacDonald, sang some of his songs in her concerts. She even recorded one called "Let Me Always Sing".
He often played a second lead role in movies. Some of his well-known films include Red Dust (1932) with Jean Harlow and Clark Gable. He was also in Flying Down to Rio (1933) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Other notable movies were Ex-Lady (1933) with Bette Davis and Sadie McKee (1934) with Joan Crawford. He worked with director Alfred Hitchcock in Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). He also appeared in The Locket (1946).
Gene Raymond and his wife, Jeanette MacDonald, made one movie together. It was called Smilin' Through. This film came out just before the U.S. joined World War II.
After serving in the military, Raymond returned to Hollywood. He wrote, directed, and starred in the 1949 film Million Dollar Weekend. In his later years, he appeared in fewer films. His last major movie was The Best Man in 1964. He starred alongside Henry Fonda in that film.
In the 1950s, he mostly worked on television. He appeared in shows like Playhouse of Stars and Fireside Theatre. In the 1970s, he had guest roles in popular shows. These included The Outer Limits and The Man from U.N.C.L.E..
Military Service
When World War II started in Europe in 1939, Gene Raymond believed the U.S. would join the fight. He trained to become a pilot. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, he joined the Army Air Forces.
He became a lieutenant and flew B-17 planes. These flights helped search for submarines along the Atlantic coast. Later, he went to intelligence school. In 1942, he went to England.
He served with the 97th Bomb Group. He then became an assistant operations officer. In 1943, he returned to the U.S. He flew many different types of aircraft. He stayed in the United States Air Force Reserve after the war. He retired in 1968 as a colonel. He received the Legion of Merit award for his service.
Personal Life
Gene Raymond was known in Hollywood for speaking his mind. He often shared his thoughts about how movie studios operated. He believed that only a few actors truly understood their craft. He was one of the first actors to work independently. He said he did this partly to challenge the big studios.
He was also very good at sports, especially gymnastics and tennis. Another actor, George Sidney, once said Gene Raymond was "the most gorgeous thing the world had ever seen".
Gene Raymond married actress Jeanette MacDonald in 1937. They met at a party in Hollywood two years earlier. Jeanette's mother did not like Gene. She even tried to set her son up with another actress, Janet Gaynor. However, Gene and Jeanette had a strong relationship.
The Raymonds lived in a large 21-room house called Twin Gables. They had pets, including dogs, birds, and a horse named White Lady. Gene gave the horse to Jeanette as a birthday gift.
Jeanette often worried about Gene's self-esteem. She wanted their careers to be equally successful. She admired his good sportsmanship when people sometimes called him "Mr. MacDonald." This happened because her fame was so great. Gene was even mistaken for Nelson Eddy by some fans. Jeanette said she never liked that.
They were married for almost 28 years. Jeanette MacDonald passed away in 1965.
In 1974, Gene Raymond married Nelson Bentley Hees. They lived in Pacific Palisades. Nelson died in 1995.
Gene Raymond spent time helping the Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club. He would often have lunch with some of its members. His last public appearance was in 1997. It was at the fan club's 60th-anniversary celebration.
Gene Raymond passed away on May 3, 1998, at the age of 89. He died from pneumonia in Los Angeles, California. He was buried next to Jeanette MacDonald. Their resting place is at Forest Lawn, Glendale.
His Legacy
Gene Raymond has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars honor his important work in movies and television. One star is for motion pictures, and the other is for television.
See also
In Spanish: Gene Raymond para niños
