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Job Actor
Years active 1918-1973
Known for Scowling smile and deeply resonant voice; villains and historical characters
Top Roles Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault, John Brown, Jonathan Brewster, King Cutler, John Cabal / Oswald Cabal
Top Genres Drama, Adventure, Romance, War, Action, Film Adaptation
Top Topics World War II, Book-Based, Aviation, England, Romance (Drama)
Top Collaborators Jack Mower, Michael Powell (Director), Monte Blue, William Haade, Spencer Charters, Hank Mann, James Flavin, Raoul Walsh (Director)
Also Born on August 30
Also Born in 1896
Also a Virgo

Fan Favorites:
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Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail
Role: John Brown

1940
Director:
Michael Curtiz

Santa Fe Trail

Fan rating: 9.00
God is My Co-Pilot
God is My Co-Pilot
Role: Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault

1945
Director:
Robert Florey

God is My Co-Pilot

Fan rating: 9.00
Arsenic and Old Lace
Arsenic and Old Lace
Role: Jonathan Brewster

1944
Director:
Frank Capra

Arsenic and Old Lace

Fan rating: 8.65
Things to Come
Things to Come
Role: John Cabal / Oswald Cabal

1936
Director:
William Cameron Menzies

Things to Come

Fan rating: 8.00
Reap the Wild Wind
Reap the Wild Wind
Role: King Cutler

1942
Director:
Cecil B. DeMille

Reap the Wild Wind

Fan rating: 8.00

Raymond Massey Overview:

Legendary actor, Raymond Massey, was born Raymond Hart Massey on Aug 30, 1896 in Toronto, Canada. Massey appeared in over 80 film and TV roles. His best known films include The Scarlet Pimpernel (as Chauvelin), Santa Fe Trail (as John Brown), Reap the Wild Wind (as King Cutler), Arsenic and Old Lace (as Jonathan Brewster), The Fountainhead (as Gail Wynand), and East of Eden (as Adam Trask). He also appeared as Dr. Leonard Gillespie in the TV series Dr. Kildare from 1961 to 1966. Massey died at the age of 86 on Jul 29, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA and was laid to rest in Beaverdale Memorial Park Cemetery in New Haven, CT.

MINI BIO:

With a scowling smile and deeply resonant voice, Raymond Massey alternated between British and Hollywood films for ten years before settling in America in 1941 and showing a liking for villains and historical characters. He married actress Adrianne Allen (second of three wives).

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Massey was nominated for one Oscar, he never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1940Best ActorAbe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)Abraham LincolnNominated
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He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Motion Pictures and Television. In addition, Massey was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame .

Raymond Massey BlogHub Articles:

Summer Under the Stars Blogathon: Day 8 – Raymond Massey

on Aug 8, 2015 From Journeys in Classic Film

Raymond Massey is the star for today! Below, you’ll find links to those participating and honoring Massey (updated as they come in), as well as my own reviews of his work throughout the years. Meredy.com contributes a profile on Massey JCF REVIEWS Possessed (1947) East of Eden (1955) Fill ... Read full article

Raymond Massey

By Bogart Fan on Feb 13, 2014 From The Bogie Film Blog

Birth Name: Raymond Hart Massey Birthdate: August 30, 1896 Number of Films Raymond Massey Made with Humphrey Bogart: 2 The Lowdown A veteran of the Canadian Army from World War I and World War II, Massey had a long and distinguished career in film and television – and even achieved the honor of h... Read full article

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Raymond Massey Quotes:

Black Michael: There may come a time, Hentzau, when your services no longer excuse your impertinance.
Jonathan Brewster: [to Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha] Dr. Einstein and I need a place to sleep. You remember that, as a boy, I could be disagreeable. It would not be pleasant for any of us if... I don't have to go into details, do I?
Capt. Steve Jarvis: [to a departing German U-boat after it has rammed his survivor lifeboat] Go on, laugh, you apes! You've had your blood and fire to make you laugh, but I swear to God our time is comin'! We'll pay ya back! We'll hunt ya down and slice ya like a piece of cheese!
Lt. Joe Rossi: Oh, they can't hear you.
Capt. Steve Jarvis: No, but God can.
John Brown: I have given you fair warning. You can keep your heads or lose 'em as you wish.
— From: Santa Fe Trail
[Repeated line]
Jonathan Brewster: Go to bed, Aunt Abby!
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Raymond Massey Facts
During the 1964 presidential race, he endorsed Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.
Scion of the Massey family whose farm implement manufacturing business merged with the Harris company in 1891 to form Massey-Harris. Then in 1953, it merged with the Ferguson company to become Massey-Harris-Ferguson, shortened to Massey-Ferguson in 1957. Massey-Ferguson, now an AGCO (formerly Varity) subsidiary, is the largest selling farm tractor brand in the world. Vincent and Raymond Massey were the last Masseys to have a direct role in the company. Each elected to pursue other careers.
There was much dissatisfaction among the public when it was learned that Massey, a Canadian with clear diction and a fine speaking voice, had been selected to play Abraham Lincoln in the stage production of "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" - until he received rave reviews for his performance. His subsequent reprise of the role in the 1940 film version (Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)) earned him an Oscar nomination.
He is buried in the Ludington family plot in Beaverdale Cemetary, in the suburb of Hampden area, which is in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Massey's divorce from his ex-wife Adrianne Allen was the inspiration for the 1949 film Adam's Rib (1949). Each was represented by one half of a famous husband-and-wife team of divorce lawyers, Dorothy Whitney and her husband William Dwight Whitney. After the trial was over, the Whitneys divorced. The ex-Mrs. Whitney married Massey, and the ex-Mrs. Massey married the ex-Mrs. Whitney's ex-husband.
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