Ray Milland is a renowned Welsh actor and director who has also become famous and recognized in Hollywood. His professional career began with the British Horse Cavalry. But in the end, he focused on acting. First, Ray Milland performed on theatrical stages in London, and then conquered the cinematic world of America.
Biography
Ray Milland, at birth Alfred Reginald Jones, was born on January 3, 1907 in the Welsh city of Neath, County Glamorgan. The parents of the future actor were Elizabeth Annie and Alfred Jones.
View of the town of Neath Photo: Robert Davies / Wikimedia Commons
Ray Milland attended King's College School in Cardiff. In addition to his studies, the young man was fond of sports and in his free time helped his uncle, who owned a horse breeding estate. Over time, he learned not only to take care of horses, but also became an excellent rider.
Career and creativity
At 21, Ray Milland moved to London and enlisted in the British Cavalry. But soon he decided to change activities and took up acting.
In 1929 he played a small episode in the film Piccadilly. His name was not credited. But soon Ray got his first notable role in the film directed by Castleton Knight "The Flying Scotsman". Around this time, he decided to take the pseudonym "Milland".
The little-known actor's performance in The Flying Scotsman proved to be quite successful and earned him a six-month contract. He starred in two more Knight films: "The Lady from the Sea" and "The Plaything".
Meanwhile, in an effort to improve his acting skills, Milland decided to take part in the stage work and played one of the key roles in the production of "Woman in Room 13". In five weeks of his performances, he gained valuable acting experience.
Soon, a representative of the American film company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered Milland a nine-month contract. He accepted this offer and left the United Kingdom in August 1930. Work in Hollywood for Milland began with criticism of his acting work. But this did not bother Ray, and he continued to build his career.
Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles Photo: Downtowngal / Wikimedia Commons
In 1930, he starred in the American film Passion Flower. And then for several years he played only small roles in various films commissioned by MGM. His most notable work during this period was in Deferred Payment (1932), after which MGM refused to renew his contract.
Milland returned to England, starred in two not very successful films "This Is the Life" (1934) and "Orders Is Orders" (1934), and then was completely out of work. After that, the actor decided to leave for America again, where he had to start all over again and do any job in order to earn money for a living.
However, very soon he was offered to star in the Paramount Pictures film Bolero (1934), which was followed by a performance in the musical comedy Without Dressing (1934). Milland's work was highly acclaimed by director Norman Taurog and the actor signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures.
At first, Ray Milland performed in small episodes. But in 1936, Joe Pasternak of Universal Studios approached him with an offer to star in Three Pretty Girls. He then starred in The Jungle Princess, opposite Dorothy Lamour. By the end of 1936, he became an actor, who was mainly invited to the main roles. Paramount Pictures rewrote his contract, tripling his performance fees.
In subsequent years, he played leading roles in such films as "Bulldog Drummond Disappears" (1937), "Easy Life" (1937), "Tropical Vacation" (1938), "Everything Happens at Night" (1939), "French Without Tears "(1940)," I Need Wings "(1941)," Stars and Stripes Rhythm "(1942)," Ministry of Fear "(1943)," Take Care of the Bride "(1946)," A Lady Far From Perfect "(1947), "So wicked, my love" (1948), "It happens every spring" (1949) and others.
In 1951, he co-starred with Gina Tierney in Close to My Heart. The actors played a couple trying to adopt a child. The film, like Milland's work, received high marks from film critics.
A year later, he starred in a spy story called The Thief. This work was quite difficult, as the actors in the film did not utter a single word. In 1954, Milland starred in Hitchcock's film detective, Dial M In Case Of Murder, where Grace Kelly became his partner.
American actress Grace Kelly Photo: Pierre Tourigny / Wikimedia Commons
In 1955, Ray Milland made his directorial debut, Man Alone, followed by the crime drama Lisbon (1956) and Panic in the Year Zero (1962).
In the late 60s and early 70s, he returned to the screen as a character actor. Milland appeared in such films as "Daughter of the Mind" (1969), "Love Story" (1970), "Oliver's Story" (1978) and others.
Towards the end of his career, he made two appearances on the ABC series The Hart Spouses (1979-1984) and also appeared in an episode of the series Battlestar Galactica (1978-1979).
Personal life
Ray Milland married Mariel Frances Webber on September 30, 1932. In 1940, the couple had a son, Daniel. Later they adopted a girl, Victoria.
Ray Milland, 1973 Photo: Allan warren / Wikimedia Commons
In March 1981, their son died under mysterious circumstances. And on March 10, 1986, Ray Milland passed away. The actor died in his sleep, suffering from lung cancer for many years.
For his contribution to cinema, the actor was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
