Ray Walston
| Ray Walston | |
|---|---|
Walston as Boothby on Star Trek: The Next Generation
|
|
| Born |
Herman Raymond Walston November 2, 1914 Laurel, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | January 1, 2001 (aged 86) Beverly Hills, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Lupus |
| Other names |
|
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1945–2001 |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Calvert (1916–2004) (m. 1943; his death 2001) |
| Children | 1 |
Herman Raymond "Ray" Walston (November 2, 1914 – January 1, 2001) was an American actor and comedian, best known as the title character on My Favorite Martian. He had such iconic film, television and stage roles as Luther Billis (South Pacific), Mr. Applegate (Damn Yankees), J. J. Singleton (The Sting), Mr. Hand (Fast Times at Ridgemont High), Candy (Of Mice and Men), and Judge Henry Bone (Picket Fences).
Walston was born Herman Raymond Walston on December 2, 1914, in Laurel, Mississippi, the second son and youngest of three children born to lumberjack Harry Norman Walston (1881–1946) and Mittie (née Kimball) Walston (December 25, 1883–August 16, 1950). He had an older sister, Carrie (1906–1982), and an older brother, Earl (February 4, 1908 – December 4, 1998). His family moved from Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana around 1925.
He started acting at an early age, beginning his tenure as a spear carrier rounding out productions at many New Orleans theaters. He mostly played small roles with stock companies, where he not only starred in traveling shows, but also worked at a movie theater, selling tickets and cleaning the stage floors. His family moved to Dallas, Texas, where he joined a repertory theater company under Margo Jones in 1938.
Walston was popular with Margo Jones's team of actors before he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent 3 years with the Cleveland Play House. He then traveled to New York City, where he made his Broadway debut in a 1945 production of Hamlet. Three years later, Walston became one of the first members admitted to the newly formed Actors Studio.
...
Wikipedia