Ray Mala
| Ray Mala | |
|---|---|
circa 1933 - photograph by Melbourne Spurr
|
|
| Born |
Ray Wise December 27, 1906 District of Alaska, U.S. |
| Died | September 23, 1952 (aged 45) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Cardiovascular disease |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1921-1952 |
| Spouse(s) | Galina Liss (1937-1952) |
Ray Mala (December 27, 1906 – September 23, 1952) was one of the first Native American movie stars. Mala was recently named a "Top Ten Alaskan" by TIME Magazine. He starred in MGM's Academy Award-winning Eskimo, directed by Woody Van Dyke.
Ray Mala was born Ray Wise in the small village of Candle, Alaska to a Russian Jewish immigrant father and a Native Alaskan mother. He was born during a unique period in Alaskan history. At that time Alaska was still a territory of the United States and still a mystery to many Americans. In 1921 an explorer named Captain Frank Kleinschmidt went to Alaska on an expedition to film a picture called Primitive Love in which Mala makes his film debut at age 14. Not only does Mala act in front of the camera but he serves as a cameraman as well for the picture. From here young Mala accompanied Knud Rasmussen, the Danish Arctic explorer and writer on his trip called The Great Sled Journey from 1921 to 1924 to collect and describe Inuit songs and legends as the official cameraman.
In 1925 Mala made his way to Hollywood and got a job as a cameraman with Fox Film Corporation (this was before the creation of 20th Century Fox). Not long after Mala landed his first lead role in the silent film Igloo for Universal Pictures. Igloo was a success and led to his being cast as the lead in MGM's Eskimo/Mala the Magnificent. Louis B. Mayer sent director Woody Van Dyke to Alaska to film with an all Alaska native cast. Eskimo was produced by the legendary Irving Thalberg. Eskimo/Mala the Magnificent premiered to much fanfare at the famed Astor Theatre in Times Square, New York City in 1933 and was a huge success. Eskimo was billed as "The biggest picture ever made" by MGM. Eskimo won the first Oscar for Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards.
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