Gary Dickson Gray (December 18, 1936 – April 4, 2006) was an American child actor in films, and as an adult in television.
Biography
Born in Los Angeles, California, Gray was the son of Jeanie Ellen Dickson and John William Gray, Bill Gray, a film business manager. On January 28, 1961, he married Jean Charlene Bean. The couple had four daughters and 19 grandchildren.
Acting career It was two clients of his father's, Bert Wheeler and Jack Benny, who suggested that Gray should be used in films. Gray made his film debut in the Joan Crawford film A Woman's Face in 1941, and played minor roles in such popular films as Heaven Can Wait (1943), Gaslight (1944) and Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). In the 1944 short feature I Am an American he played Thomas Jefferson Kanowski, son of fictional Polish immigrant Fydor Kanowski.The 16 minute film, I Am an American, was featured in American theaters in connection with "I Am an American Day" (now called Constitution Day). I Am an American was produced by Gordon Hollingshead, written and directed by Crane Wilbur. Besides Gary, it featured Humphrey Bogart, Dick Haymes, Danny Kaye, Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan, Knute Rockne, and Jay Silverheels. See: and . He played more substantial roles in films such as Return of the Bad Men (1948) with Randolph Scott, Gun Smugglers (1948) with Tim Holt, Rachel and the Stranger (also 1948) with Robert Mitchum, The Next Voice You Hear (1950) with Nancy Reagan and James Whitmore, and Wild Heritage (1958) with Maureen O'Sullivan.
On April 17, 1956, Gray was cast as sixteen-year-old Jackie Jensen, later a Major League Baseball player, in "The Jackie Jensen Story", which aired on the NBC anthology series, Cavalcade of America. Jensen played himself as an adult; Vivi Janiss was cast as Jensen's mother.
By the time he graduated from high school Gray had appeared in more than 70 films, however as an adult his acting roles were fairly few, and were mainly for television. By the early 1960s, he had retired from acting and concentrated on raising his family.
Business career and later life
In 1960, Gray started a swimming pool maintenance and repair business. For the last 25 years of his 38 years in the swimming pool industry, Gray worked for two of the major international manufacturers of swimming pool equipment as territory, regional, and national sales manager. Gray was a sought-after speaker and educator for the "National Spa and Pool Institute" as well as by the "Independent Pool and Spa Service Association". Gray retired from the swimming pool industry in July, 1999.
Gray collected tapes of his movies and television programs, as well as stills, posters, and lobby cards from his acting career. Beginning in the mid-90s, he was a frequent guest at film festivals throughout the United States. He enjoyed visiting with his fans, and relating many interesting stories from his lengthy career. Gray played golf as a hobby.
Personal life Gary Gray was married to Jean Charlene Bean and had 4 children.
Death Gary Gray died on April 4, 2006, in Brush Prairie, Washington from cancer, aged 69.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1941A Woman's FaceSailor-Suited Boy in ParkFilm debut, UncreditedSun Valley SerenadeCharles - Adopted Refugee BoyUncredited1943The Meanest Man in the WorldSecond Boy With CandyUncreditedIt's a Great LifeBoy at Circus ShowUncreditedHitler's MadmanLittle BoyUncreditedTwo Tickets to LondonBoy Pushing SwingUncreditedAlaska HighwayBoyUncreditedHeaven Can WaitBoy in ParkUncreditedWhere Are Your Children?Boy in Day Care NurseryUncredited1944Beautiful But BrokeBoy in NurseryUncreditedAddress UnknownHugo SchulzGaslightBoy in Park with NannyUncreditedOnce Upon a TimeBoy with ShoeboxUncreditedThe White Cliffs of DoverBoy at Dinner TableUncreditedMeet Me in St. LouisBoy at PavilionUncreditedI'll Be Seeing YouFranklin - Boy with Toy Machine GunUncredited1945Youth for the KingdomBoyThe ClockLittle Joe, Boy in ParkUncreditedAdventures of RustyHerbieUncreditedMen in Her DiaryBoy Outside Flower ShopUncredited1946To Each His OwnCasey InghamUncreditedThe Green YearsBoy Making First CommunionUncreditedRendezvous 24'Hansel' in Radio ShowVoice, UncreditedLittle Mister JimNeighbor BoyUncreditedSlightly ScandalousLittle BoyUncreditedThree Little Girls in BlueFarm Boy with JugUncreditedThree Wise FoolsWillie the SqueakUncreditedThe Wonderful Ears of Johnny McGogginJohnny McGogginGay Bubbles Jimmie 1947My Brother Talks to HorsesBoy at SchoolUncreditedBacklashChrisUncreditedToo Many WinnersJimmy EdwardsUncreditedThe Millerson CaseSecond Boy at SchoolUncreditedLiving in a Big WayBoy at 'Broken Arms'UncreditedHigh ConquestBoy on TrainUncreditedDark DelusionBoy PatientUncreditedSwing the Western WayBoy in Grandstand at RodeoUncreditedHeaven Only KnowsJimmieUncredited1948Tenth Avenue AngelBoyUncreditedBest Man WinsBob SmileyReturn of the Bad MenJohnnyFighting BackJimmy SandersNight WindJohnny BensonRachel and the StrangerDaveyWhispering SmithBobby, Baggs' GrandsonUncreditedGun SmugglersDanny Reeves1949Henry, the RainmakerDavid LathamStreets of San FranciscoFrankie FraserLeave It to HenryDavid LathamThe Girl from Jones BeachWoody WilsonMasked RaidersArtie TrevettThe Great LoverTommy O'Connor1950Father Is a BachelorJan ChalotteFather Makes GoodDavid LathamThe Next Voice You Hear...Johnny SmithTwo Weeks with LoveMcCormick RobinsonFather's Wild GameDavid Latham1951The Painted HillsTommy BlakeFather Takes the AirDavid Latham1951-1952Fireside TheatreJohnny Episode: "The Secret"1951-1958Family TheaterUndetermined Roles3 episodes1952RodeoJoey Cartwright1953You Are ThereYoung Rebel Episode: "The Boston Tea Party"CrazylegsTeenager on Phone1954Annie OakleyBucky Donavan Episode: "Annie and the Six o' Spades"Captain MidnightJimmy Sawyer Episode: "Deadly Diamonds"1955Cavalcade of America Apple KnockerEpisode: "The Texas Rangers"The First Hundred Days Gary 1956Studio 57MikeyEpisode: "The Baxter Boy"The LineupBell BoyEpisode: "The Ringing Bells Case"Teenage RebelFreddie GreenUncreditedEmergency HospitalEarl FanmornUncredited The Danny Thomas Show Bob Episode: "Terry at the Crossroads" Hey, Jeannie! Undetermined RoleEpisode: "Jeannie the Caddy"The Adventures of Jim BowiePaul Wilkins 2 episodesDecember BrideUndetermined RoleEpisode: "Football Hero"1957I Love LucyFruit Basket DeliverymanEpisode: "Lucy Misses the Mertzes"Man Without a GunUndetermined RoleEpisode: "The Fugitive"1957-1960The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpThe Kid/Billy Clanton3 episodes1958Wild HeritageHugh Adam David BreslinThe Party CrashersDon Hartlow26 MenShagg Tanner Episode: "My Brother's Keeper"1959TrackdownLuke TurleyEpisode: "The Feud"Tumbleweed: Baron of PurgatoryJohnny Benson Episode: "Baron of Purgatory"1962Terror at Black FallsJohnnyFinal film
References
Bibliography
Holmstrom, John (1996). The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich: Michael Russell, p. 199-200.
External links