Ray Shell facts for kids

Ray Shell (born September 22, 1951) is an American actor, author, singer, and producer. He has worked in movies, TV shows, and on stage. He is famous for his roles as Nomax in the musical Five Guys Named Moe and as Rusty the train in Starlight Express.

Shell is also a Creative Director for the Giant Olive Theatre Company in London, England. In 1993, he wrote a popular novel called Iced.

Early Life and Education

Ray Shell was born in Wilson County, North Carolina. When he was two, he and his mother moved to Brooklyn, New York. His birth name was Ayries Lancaster. He was adopted at age 13 by his stepfather, Charles Shell. He chose the name Ray for himself because he felt people often said his first name, Ayries, incorrectly.

In 1970, Shell began studying at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied acting, literature, and communications. He graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

After college, he toured the United States with two musicals, Hair and The Me Nobody Knows. Later, he was cast in the main role of a musical that brought him to London in 1978.

Career Highlights

Acting on Stage

After moving to London, Shell became a star on the stage. In 1984, he played the original Rusty in the hit musical Starlight Express. In this show, actors on roller skates pretend to be trains.

In 1990, he starred as Nomax in another successful musical, Five Guys Named Moe. Over the years, he has appeared in many other famous shows. These include The Lion King, Miss Saigon, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

He also acted alongside famous stars like James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave in a play called Driving Miss Daisy. In 2015, he played the character Bill Devaney in the musical version of The Bodyguard.

Writing Books

In 1993, Shell published his first novel, Iced. The book was a success and told the powerful story of a man whose life is affected by making harmful choices. The famous author Maya Angelou called the book "a powerhouse." It was later turned into a stage play.

Shell has written other books, including Carolina Red, An Eye, A Tooth, and a biography about the director Spike Lee.

Personal Life

Shell was married to Charita Jones. They have two daughters. Their older daughter, Katryna, is an actress and producer. Their younger daughter, Krystin, works in healthcare in Houston, Texas. Shell has three grandchildren.

Selected Works

Here are some of the famous projects Ray Shell has been a part of.

Theatre

• Rusty in Starlight Express
• Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe
• Bill Devaney in The Bodyguard
• The Lion King
• Miss Saigon
• Jesus Christ Superstar
• Hair
• Driving Miss Daisy

Film and TV

• Velvet Goldmine as Murray
• Young Soul Rebels as Jeff Kane
• The Apple as Shake

Recordings

• Starlight Express: Original London Cast Recording
• Children of Eden: Original London Cast Recording