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'''Ray Danton''' (born '''Raymond Caplan'''; September 19, 1931 – February 11, 1992), also known as '''Raymond Danton''', was a radio, film, stage, and television actor, director, and producer whose most famous roles were in the screen biographies ''[[The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond]]'' (1960) and ''[[The George Raft Story (film)|The George Raft Story]]'' (1962). He was married to actress [[Julie Adams]] from 1954 to 1981.
'''Ray Danton''' (born '''Raymond Caplan'''; September 19, 1931 – February 11, 1992), also known as '''Raymond Danton''', was a radio, film, stage, and television actor, director, and producer whose most famous roles were in the screen biographies ''[[The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond]]'' (1960) and ''[[The George Raft Story (film)|The George Raft Story]]'' (1962). He was married to actress [[Julie Adams]] from 1954 to 1981.<ref>Ray Danton; Child Radio Star, Later Played Villains in Films: [Home Edition]
Folkart, Burt A. Los Angeles Times 14 Feb 1992: 28. </ref>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
===Early Life===
Danton was born '''Raymond Caplan'''<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1961/02/13/archives/obituary-1-no-title.html "CAPLAN -- Jack, devoted husband of Selma, Beloved father of Ray Danton, cherished grandfather of Stevcn and dear brother...."], ''The New York Times''</ref> in [[New York City]], the son of Myrtle (née Menkin) and Jack Caplan.<ref name=bookref1>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/?id=wLFuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Raymond+Danton+born+1931,%22&dq=%22Raymond+Danton+born+1931,%22 | title=Eliyahu's branches: The descendants of the Vilna Gaon (Of blessed and saintly memory) and his family| last1=Freedman| first1=Chaim| date=September 1997}}</ref> His family was Jewish, and he was a descendant of the [[Vilna Gaon]].<ref name=bookref1/>
Danton was born '''Raymond Caplan'''<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1961/02/13/archives/obituary-1-no-title.html "CAPLAN -- Jack, devoted husband of Selma, Beloved father of Ray Danton, cherished grandfather of Stevcn and dear brother...."], ''The New York Times''</ref> in [[New York City]], the son of Myrtle (née Menkin) and Jack Caplan.<ref name=bookref1>{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/?id=wLFuAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Raymond+Danton+born+1931,%22&dq=%22Raymond+Danton+born+1931,%22 | title=Eliyahu's branches: The descendants of the Vilna Gaon (Of blessed and saintly memory) and his family| last1=Freedman| first1=Chaim| date=September 1997}}</ref> His family was Jewish, and he was a descendant of the [[Vilna Gaon]].<ref name=bookref1/>


Danton entered show business as a child radio actor on [[NBC]] radio's ''[[Let's Pretend]]'' show in 1943. Danton did many stage roles whilst attending the [[University of Pittsburgh]] and Carnegie Technical School and in 1950 went to London to appear on stage in the [[Tyrone Power]] production ''[[Mister Roberts (play)|Mister Roberts]]''.
Danton entered show business as a child radio actor on [[NBC]] radio's ''[[Let's Pretend]]'' show in 1943 when he was aged twelve.<ref>Movie actor Ray Danton
Chicago Tribune 15 Feb 1992: N19. </ref> He began acting on radio and stage regularly also working as an assistant stage manager.<ref name="life">The Life Story of RAY DANTON
Picture Show; London Vol. 65, Iss. 1697, (Oct 8, 1955): 12. </ref>


In 1947 he started at the [[University of Pittsburgh]] and Carnegie Technical School, appearing in many stage productions. He went to New York to try and make it on Broadway and ended up appearing on television dramas. n 1950 he went to London to appear on stage in the [[Tyrone Power]] production ''[[Mister Roberts (play)|Mister Roberts]]''. He returned to guest star on shows like ''Danger'' (an episode directed by [[Sidney Lumet]]) and ''Starlight Theatre''.<ref name="life"/>
Danton's acting career was put on hold when he served in the [[United States Army]] [[infantry]] during the [[Korean War]] from 1951&ndash;1954.


Danton's acting career was put on hold when he served in the [[United States Army]] [[infantry]] during the [[Korean War]] from 1951&ndash;1953. When he returned to the US he resumed his television career, apprearing in shows like ''[[Kraft Theatre]]'', ''[[The Man Behind the Badge]]'', ''Lux Video Theatre'' and ''You Are There''. He played [[Jean Lafitte]] in ''[[The Pirate and the Lawyer]]'' (1955) for the [[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]. He then received an offer from Universal.<ref name="life"/>
Danton made his film debut in ''[[Chief Crazy Horse (film)|Chief Crazy Horse]]'' in 1955 and became contracted to [[Universal Pictures]] His second film ''[[I'll Cry Tomorrow]]'' led to his typecasting as a smooth but dangerous villain. His third film for Universal ''The Looters'' was where he met his future wife [[Julie Adams]]. He was prolific in television work as well as film where he received the [[Golden Globe Award]] in 1956 for the new male star of the year in film.
===Universal===
Danton made his film debut in ''[[Chief Crazy Horse (film)|Chief Crazy Horse]]'' (1955) playing [[Little Big Man]]. His second film for Universal ''[[The Looters (1955 film)|The Looters]]'' (1955) was where he met his future wife [[Julie Adams]]. <ref>Julie Adams and Ray Danton of Films Elope Los Angeles Times 21 Feb 1955: A1.</ref>


MGM borrowed him to play [[Susan Hayward]]'s boyfriend in ''[[I'll Cry Tomorrow]]'' (1955), a sizeable hit. Back at Universal he had a role in ''[[The Spoilers (1955 film)|The Spoilers]]'' (1955) then played his first lead in ''[[Outside the Law (1956 film)|Outside the Law]]'' (1956).
Beginning with ''[[Onionhead]]'' Danton worked with both [[Warner Bros.]] film and [[Warner Bros. Television]] This led to his most famous role ''[[The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond]]'' where he played the [[Jack Diamond (gangster)|eponymous gangster]] for director [[Budd Boetticher]]. Danton played his role using dynamic [[body language]] with his smooth persona fitting the character like a glove. Danton reprised the role in [[Vic Morrow]]'s ''[[Portrait of a Mobster]]''. Danton maintained his gangster persona with the title role in ''[[The George Raft Story (film)|The George Raft Story]]'', a screen biography of 1930s actor/dancer [[George Raft]]. "I guess I'm the last of the big time gangsters," he said in a 1962 interview.<ref>Alpert, D. (1962, Jan 28). The last of the big-time mobsters. ''Los Angeles Times'' (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/168033711</ref>


He was prolific in television work as well as film where he received the [[Golden Globe Award]] in 1956 for the new male star of the year in film.<ref>Danton Content Only When Asleep
⚫
Danton starred in ''[[Tarawa Beachhead]]'' in 1958, with co-star Kerwin Matthews, and his off screen wife, Julie Adams. That year Danton also guest starred in ''[[Yancy Derringer]]'' as a Spade Stuart, a hired killer.
Stinson, Charles. Los Angeles Times 7 Dec 1958: f2. </ref>

He had the lead in ''[[The Night Runner]]'' (1957) and appeared in shows like ''Studio 57'', ''Schlitz Playhouse'', ''[[Playhouse 90]]'', ''[[Studio One in Hollywood]]'', ''Matinee Theatre'', ''Climax!'', and ''Decision''.
===Warner Bros===
Danton had a support role in ''[[Too Much, Too Soon (film)|Too Much, Too Soon]]'' (1958) at Warner Bros playing an abusive husband of [[Diana Barrymore]]. He signed a long term contract with the studio, appearing in ''[[Onionhead]]'' (1958).

⚫
Danton starred in ''[[Tarawa Beachhead]]'' (1958) at Columbia, with co-star Kerwin Matthews, and his off screen wife, Julie Adams. That year Danton also guest starred in ''[[Yancy Derringer]]'' as a Spade Stuart, a hired killer and shows like ''77 Sunset Strip''.

He returned to MGM to star in two films for [[Albert Zugsmith]], ''[[The Beat Generation]]'' and ''[[The Big Operator (1959 film)|The Big Operator]]''.<ref>FILMLAND EVENTS: Danton to Star in 'Beat Generation'
Los Angeles Times 30 Sep 1958: C7. </ref>


In 1959, he guest starred in the episode "The Meeting" of [[Bruce Gordon (actor)|Bruce Gordon]]'s NBC [[docudrama]] of the [[Cold War]], ''[[Behind Closed Doors (1958 TV series)|Behind Closed Doors]]''. Danton played American agent Ralph Drake who is sent to Austria to meet with western agents from six [[Iron Curtain]] countries after it is revealed that the [[Soviet Union]] had named a new head of the secret police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctva.biz/US/Spy/BehindClosedDoors.htm|title=Behind Closed Doors|publisher=ctva.biz|accessdate=September 2, 2009}}</ref>
In 1959, he guest starred in the episode "The Meeting" of [[Bruce Gordon (actor)|Bruce Gordon]]'s NBC [[docudrama]] of the [[Cold War]], ''[[Behind Closed Doors (1958 TV series)|Behind Closed Doors]]''. Danton played American agent Ralph Drake who is sent to Austria to meet with western agents from six [[Iron Curtain]] countries after it is revealed that the [[Soviet Union]] had named a new head of the secret police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctva.biz/US/Spy/BehindClosedDoors.htm|title=Behind Closed Doors|publisher=ctva.biz|accessdate=September 2, 2009}}</ref>


Warners gave him supporting roles in ''[[Yellowstone Kelly]]'' and ''[[Ice Palace]]'' and gave hi the lead in a TV series ''[[The Alaskans]]'' (1959-60).
⚫
In 1960, Danton and [[Ron Foster (actor)|Ron Foster]] were cast as Kane and Tommy Potts, respectively, in the episode "Bounty List" of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]/[[Warner Brothers]] western series, ''[[Colt .45 (TV series)|Colt .45]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctva.biz/US/Western/Colt45.htm|title=''Colt .45''|publisher=ctva.biz|accessdate=December 22, 2012}}</ref> He also appeared in the ABC/WB western ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]'' and the crime drama series, ''[[Bourbon Street Beat]]'' and ''[[The Roaring 20s (TV series)|The Roaring 20s]]''.


The studio then cast him in his most famous role ''[[The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond]]'' (1960) where he played the [[Jack Diamond (gangster)|eponymous gangster]] for director [[Budd Boetticher]]. Danton played his role using dynamic [[body language]] with his smooth persona fitting the character like a glove.
In 1961, Danton co-starred with [[Rosalind Russell]], [[Alec Guinness]], and [[Madlyn Rhue]] in ''[[A Majority of One (film)|A Majority of One]]''. He was a semi-regular on the ABC/WB adventure series ''[[The Alaskans]]'' and made several [[television pilots]] playing spies, such as '' Big Time'' (1957), ''Solitare'' (1961) for Warner Bros,<ref>http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/html/mar13-1961/</ref> and ''[[Dead on Target (film)|Our Man Flint: Dead on Target]]'' (1976).

He appeared in the drama series, ''[[Bourbon Street Beat]]'', ''[[Hawaiian Eye]]'', ''Cheyenne'', ''Maverick'' and ''[[The Roaring 20s (TV series)|The Roaring 20s]]''.

⚫
In 1960, Danton and [[Ron Foster (actor)|Ron Foster]] were cast as Kane and Tommy Potts, respectively, in the episode "Bounty List" of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]/[[Warner Brothers]] western series, ''[[Colt .45 (TV series)|Colt .45]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctva.biz/US/Western/Colt45.htm|title=''Colt .45''|publisher=ctva.biz|accessdate=December 22, 2012}}</ref> He also appeared in the ABC/WB western ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]''. Response was so strong Warners announced they would give Danton his own show, ''Las Vegas''.<ref>HOLLYWOOD TIE-LINE: Hollywood Tie-Line
Waterbury, Ruth. Los Angeles Times 27 Nov 1960: A3. </ref>

Instead he did ''[[A Fever in the Blood]]'' (1961) and reprised the role of Legs Diamond in [[Vic Morrow]]'s ''[[Portrait of a Mobster]]''.

Danton maintained his gangster persona with the title role in ''[[The George Raft Story (film)|The George Raft Story]]'', a screen biography of 1930s actor/dancer [[George Raft]]. "I guess I'm the last of the big time gangsters," he said in a 1962 interview.<ref>Alpert, D. (1962, Jan 28). The last of the big-time mobsters. ''Los Angeles Times''</ref>

In 1961, Danton co-starred with [[Rosalind Russell]], [[Alec Guinness]], and [[Madlyn Rhue]] in ''[[A Majority of One (film)|A Majority of One]]''. He was one of many stars in ''The Longest Day'' (1962) and supported in ''[[The Chapman Report]]'' (1962).


On October 9, 1962, Danton appeared as the gunfighter Vince Jackson in the episode "The Fortune Hunter" of the NBC western series, ''[[Laramie (TV series)|Laramie]]''. In the story line, Jackson is a suave but nefarious suitor for a young woman, Kitty McAllen, played by [[Carolyn Craig]], whom he plans to marry in order to extort money from her wealthy father, Fred McAllen, portrayed by [[Parley Baer]]. However, series character Slim Sherman, played by [[John Smith (actor)|John Smith]], has his own interest in Kitty who is using Vince's alleged affections shrewdly to make Slim jealous. Ultimately, Kitty leaves [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]] to attend college.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0624775/|title=''Laramie'': "The Fortune Hunter", October 9, 1962|publisher=[[Internet Movie Data Base]]|accessdate=January 2, 2013}}</ref> He also guest starred in the NBC western with a modern setting, ''[[Empire (1962 TV series)|Empire]]'' and its successor series, ''[[Redigo (TV series)|Redigo]]'', both starring [[Richard Egan (actor)|Richard Egan]].
On October 9, 1962, Danton appeared as the gunfighter Vince Jackson in the episode "The Fortune Hunter" of the NBC western series, ''[[Laramie (TV series)|Laramie]]''. In the story line, Jackson is a suave but nefarious suitor for a young woman, Kitty McAllen, played by [[Carolyn Craig]], whom he plans to marry in order to extort money from her wealthy father, Fred McAllen, portrayed by [[Parley Baer]]. However, series character Slim Sherman, played by [[John Smith (actor)|John Smith]], has his own interest in Kitty who is using Vince's alleged affections shrewdly to make Slim jealous. Ultimately, Kitty leaves [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]] to attend college.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0624775/|title=''Laramie'': "The Fortune Hunter", October 9, 1962|publisher=[[Internet Movie Data Base]]|accessdate=January 2, 2013}}</ref> He also guest starred in the NBC western with a modern setting, ''[[Empire (1962 TV series)|Empire]]'' and its successor series, ''[[Redigo (TV series)|Redigo]]'', both starring [[Richard Egan (actor)|Richard Egan]].

Danton was in the TV movie ''[[FBI Code 98]]'' (1963).


In 1964, Danton was cast as Jere Fryer, the suitor of [[Pauline Cushman]], the former [[Union Army]] spy played by [[Paula Raymond]] in the episode "The Wooing of Perilous Pauline" of the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[Western (genre)|western]] [[television series]], ''[[Death Valley Days]]''. In the story line, set in [[Casa Grande, Arizona|Casa Grande]], [[Arizona Territory]], where the feisty Miss Cushman was operating a [[Western saloon|saloon]], Fryer makes a $100 bet with a friend that he can convince her to marry him within a week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0556903/?ref_=tt_ep_nx|title=The Wooing of Perilous Pauline on ''Death Valley Days''|publisher=Internet Movie Data Base|accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref>
In 1964, Danton was cast as Jere Fryer, the suitor of [[Pauline Cushman]], the former [[Union Army]] spy played by [[Paula Raymond]] in the episode "The Wooing of Perilous Pauline" of the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[Western (genre)|western]] [[television series]], ''[[Death Valley Days]]''. In the story line, set in [[Casa Grande, Arizona|Casa Grande]], [[Arizona Territory]], where the feisty Miss Cushman was operating a [[Western saloon|saloon]], Fryer makes a $100 bet with a friend that he can convince her to marry him within a week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0556903/?ref_=tt_ep_nx|title=The Wooing of Perilous Pauline on ''Death Valley Days''|publisher=Internet Movie Data Base|accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref>


He returned to the stage to perform in ''[[110 in the Shade]]''.<ref>'110 in the Shade' Wil Open Sept. 28: STAGE
In the mid-1960s, Danton alternated between [[American television]] series and European films such as ''[[Code Name: Jaguar]]'' and ''[[Secret Agent Super Dragon]]'', including a 1970 Hawaii Five-0 episode "The Last Eden" (as bellicose Hawaiian singer Jimmy Nuanu). He formed a production company in Europe producing films like ''[[The Last Mercenary]]'' and began directing with ''Deathmaster'' (1972) and ''[[Psychic Killer]]'' (1975). Danton continued directing as well as acting and started producing films such as ''Triangle'' in 1971. He guest-starred in an episode of the 1974 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[police drama]] ''[[Nakia (TV series)|Nakia]]'', and a 1974 ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'' episode "Steal Now, Pay Later".
Los Angeles Times 20 Sep 1964: B26. </ref>
===Europe===
Danton went to Europe to star in ''[[Sandokan to the Rescue (film)|Sandokan to the Rescue]]'' (1964) which was popular enough for a sequel ''[[Return of Sandokan]]'' (1964). He stayed in Europe to make ''[[Code Name: Jaguar]]'' (1965).

He returned to the USA to guest star in ''Honey West'' and ''The Man from UNCLE'' then went back to Europe to make ''[[Secret Agent Super Dragon]]'' (1966), ''[[How to Win a Billion... and Get Away with It]]'' (1967), ''[[Si muore solo una volta]]'' (1967), ''[[Lucky, el intrépido]]'' (1967), ''[[Hello Glen Ward, House Dick]]'' (1968), and ''[[Die grosse Treibjagd]]'' (1969).

He would periodically return to the US to guest star on shows like ''Ironside'', ''It Takes a Thief'', and ''Dan August''.

===Producer and Director===
He formed a production company in Europe producing films like ''[[The Last Mercenary]]'' and began directing with ''[[Deathmaster]]'' (1972) and ''[[Psychic Killer]]'' (1975). Danton continued directing as well as acting and started producing films such as ''Triangle'' in 1971.

He was in ''[[The Ballad of Billie Blue]]'' (1972), ''[[A Very Missing Person]]'' (1972), ''[[Runaway! (1973 film)|Runaway!]]'' (1973), ''[[The Centerfold Girls]]'' (1974), and ''[[Apache Blood]]'' (1975).
===Return to the US===
He guest-starred in an episode of the 1974 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[police drama]] ''[[Nakia (TV series)|Nakia]]'', and a 1974 ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'' episode "Steal
Now, Pay Later".

He began a busy directing career in television, helping episodes of ''Switch'', ''Baretta'', ''Cagney & Lacey'', ''Fame'', ''T.J. Hooker'' and ''Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer''. "Acting has fallen to an all-time low in this country," he said in a 1985 interview.<ref>LOW ACTING STANDARDS ARE NORM FOR TV, DIRECTOR SAYS: [3 STAR Edition]
Vernon, Scott. Orlando Sentinel; Orlando, Fla. [Orlando, Fla]04 June 1985: E.7. </ref>

He directed a stage production of ''Come Back, Little Sheba'' in 1987.<ref>INNOCENTS GET LOST IN AMERICA IN `BIGNESS': [Home Edition]
ARKATOV, JANICE. Los Angeles Times 17 May 1987: 44. </ref>


Danton directed many episodes of ''[[Magnum PI]]'' in Season 8, 1988-1989.
Danton directed many episodes of ''[[Magnum PI]]'' in Season 8, 1988-1989.

Revision as of 08:51, 13 January 2020

Ray Danton
Ray Danton in trailer for "The George Raft Story" (1961)
Born
Raymond Caplan

(1931-09-19)September 19, 1931
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 11, 1992(1992-02-11) (aged 60)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesRaymond Danton
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer
Years active1942–1992
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1981)​
PartnerJeannie Austin (19??–1992; his death)
Children2

Ray Danton (born Raymond Caplan; September 19, 1931 – February 11, 1992), also known as Raymond Danton, was a radio, film, stage, and television actor, director, and producer whose most famous roles were in the screen biographies The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) and The George Raft Story (1962). He was married to actress Julie Adams from 1954 to 1981.[1]

Life and career

Early Life

Danton was born Raymond Caplan[2] in New York City, the son of Myrtle (née Menkin) and Jack Caplan.[3] His family was Jewish, and he was a descendant of the Vilna Gaon.[3]

Danton entered show business as a child radio actor on NBC radio's Let's Pretend show in 1943 when he was aged twelve.[4] He began acting on radio and stage regularly also working as an assistant stage manager.[5]

In 1947 he started at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Technical School, appearing in many stage productions. He went to New York to try and make it on Broadway and ended up appearing on television dramas. n 1950 he went to London to appear on stage in the Tyrone Power production Mister Roberts. He returned to guest star on shows like Danger (an episode directed by Sidney Lumet) and Starlight Theatre.[5]

Danton's acting career was put on hold when he served in the United States Army infantry during the Korean War from 1951–1953. When he returned to the US he resumed his television career, apprearing in shows like Kraft Theatre, The Man Behind the Badge, Lux Video Theatre and You Are There. He played Jean Lafitte in The Pirate and the Lawyer (1955) for the Hallmark Hall of Fame. He then received an offer from Universal.[5]

Universal

Danton made his film debut in Chief Crazy Horse (1955) playing Little Big Man. His second film for Universal The Looters (1955) was where he met his future wife Julie Adams. [6]

MGM borrowed him to play Susan Hayward's boyfriend in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), a sizeable hit. Back at Universal he had a role in The Spoilers (1955) then played his first lead in Outside the Law (1956).

He was prolific in television work as well as film where he received the Golden Globe Award in 1956 for the new male star of the year in film.[7]

He had the lead in The Night Runner (1957) and appeared in shows like Studio 57, Schlitz Playhouse, Playhouse 90, Studio One in Hollywood, Matinee Theatre, Climax!, and Decision.

Warner Bros

Danton had a support role in Too Much, Too Soon (1958) at Warner Bros playing an abusive husband of Diana Barrymore. He signed a long term contract with the studio, appearing in Onionhead (1958).

Danton starred in Tarawa Beachhead (1958) at Columbia, with co-star Kerwin Matthews, and his off screen wife, Julie Adams. That year Danton also guest starred in Yancy Derringer as a Spade Stuart, a hired killer and shows like 77 Sunset Strip.

He returned to MGM to star in two films for Albert Zugsmith, The Beat Generation and The Big Operator.[8]

In 1959, he guest starred in the episode "The Meeting" of Bruce Gordon's NBC docudrama of the Cold War, Behind Closed Doors. Danton played American agent Ralph Drake who is sent to Austria to meet with western agents from six Iron Curtain countries after it is revealed that the Soviet Union had named a new head of the secret police.[9]

Warners gave him supporting roles in Yellowstone Kelly and Ice Palace and gave hi the lead in a TV series The Alaskans (1959-60).

The studio then cast him in his most famous role The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960) where he played the eponymous gangster for director Budd Boetticher. Danton played his role using dynamic body language with his smooth persona fitting the character like a glove.

He appeared in the drama series, Bourbon Street Beat, Hawaiian Eye, Cheyenne, Maverick and The Roaring 20s.

In 1960, Danton and Ron Foster were cast as Kane and Tommy Potts, respectively, in the episode "Bounty List" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Colt .45.[10] He also appeared in the ABC/WB western Lawman. Response was so strong Warners announced they would give Danton his own show, Las Vegas.[11]

Instead he did A Fever in the Blood (1961) and reprised the role of Legs Diamond in Vic Morrow's Portrait of a Mobster.

Danton maintained his gangster persona with the title role in The George Raft Story, a screen biography of 1930s actor/dancer George Raft. "I guess I'm the last of the big time gangsters," he said in a 1962 interview.[12]

In 1961, Danton co-starred with Rosalind Russell, Alec Guinness, and Madlyn Rhue in A Majority of One. He was one of many stars in The Longest Day (1962) and supported in The Chapman Report (1962).

On October 9, 1962, Danton appeared as the gunfighter Vince Jackson in the episode "The Fortune Hunter" of the NBC western series, Laramie. In the story line, Jackson is a suave but nefarious suitor for a young woman, Kitty McAllen, played by Carolyn Craig, whom he plans to marry in order to extort money from her wealthy father, Fred McAllen, portrayed by Parley Baer. However, series character Slim Sherman, played by John Smith, has his own interest in Kitty who is using Vince's alleged affections shrewdly to make Slim jealous. Ultimately, Kitty leaves Laramie to attend college.[13] He also guest starred in the NBC western with a modern setting, Empire and its successor series, Redigo, both starring Richard Egan.

Danton was in the TV movie FBI Code 98 (1963).

In 1964, Danton was cast as Jere Fryer, the suitor of Pauline Cushman, the former Union Army spy played by Paula Raymond in the episode "The Wooing of Perilous Pauline" of the syndicated western television series, Death Valley Days. In the story line, set in Casa Grande, Arizona Territory, where the feisty Miss Cushman was operating a saloon, Fryer makes a $100 bet with a friend that he can convince her to marry him within a week.[14]

He returned to the stage to perform in 110 in the Shade.[15]

Europe

Danton went to Europe to star in Sandokan to the Rescue (1964) which was popular enough for a sequel Return of Sandokan (1964). He stayed in Europe to make Code Name: Jaguar (1965).

He returned to the USA to guest star in Honey West and The Man from UNCLE then went back to Europe to make Secret Agent Super Dragon (1966), How to Win a Billion... and Get Away with It (1967), Si muore solo una volta (1967), Lucky, el intrépido (1967), Hello Glen Ward, House Dick (1968), and Die grosse Treibjagd (1969).

He would periodically return to the US to guest star on shows like Ironside, It Takes a Thief, and Dan August.

Producer and Director

He formed a production company in Europe producing films like The Last Mercenary and began directing with Deathmaster (1972) and Psychic Killer (1975). Danton continued directing as well as acting and started producing films such as Triangle in 1971.

He was in The Ballad of Billie Blue (1972), A Very Missing Person (1972), Runaway! (1973), The Centerfold Girls (1974), and Apache Blood (1975).

Return to the US

He guest-starred in an episode of the 1974 ABC police drama Nakia, and a 1974 Hawaii Five-O episode "Steal Now, Pay Later".

He began a busy directing career in television, helping episodes of Switch, Baretta, Cagney & Lacey, Fame, T.J. Hooker and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. "Acting has fallen to an all-time low in this country," he said in a 1985 interview.[16]

He directed a stage production of Come Back, Little Sheba in 1987.[17]

Danton directed many episodes of Magnum PI in Season 8, 1988-1989.

Personal life

Danton was married to actress Julie Adams from 1954/55[18] until their divorce in 1981. They had two sons: assistant director Steven Danton (b. 1956) and editor Mitchell Danton (b. 1962).[19][20]

Death

Danton died of renal failure in Los Angeles, California.[21]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Ray Danton; Child Radio Star, Later Played Villains in Films: [Home Edition] Folkart, Burt A. Los Angeles Times 14 Feb 1992: 28.
  2. ^ "CAPLAN -- Jack, devoted husband of Selma, Beloved father of Ray Danton, cherished grandfather of Stevcn and dear brother....", The New York Times
  3. ^ a b Freedman, Chaim (September 1997). "Eliyahu's branches: The descendants of the Vilna Gaon (Of blessed and saintly memory) and his family".
  4. ^ Movie actor Ray Danton Chicago Tribune 15 Feb 1992: N19.
  5. ^ a b c The Life Story of RAY DANTON Picture Show; London Vol. 65, Iss. 1697, (Oct 8, 1955): 12.
  6. ^ Julie Adams and Ray Danton of Films Elope Los Angeles Times 21 Feb 1955: A1.
  7. ^ Danton Content Only When Asleep Stinson, Charles. Los Angeles Times 7 Dec 1958: f2.
  8. ^ FILMLAND EVENTS: Danton to Star in 'Beat Generation' Los Angeles Times 30 Sep 1958: C7.
  9. ^ "Behind Closed Doors". ctva.biz. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  10. ^ "Colt .45". ctva.biz. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  11. ^ HOLLYWOOD TIE-LINE: Hollywood Tie-Line Waterbury, Ruth. Los Angeles Times 27 Nov 1960: A3.
  12. ^ Alpert, D. (1962, Jan 28). The last of the big-time mobsters. Los Angeles Times
  13. ^ "Laramie: "The Fortune Hunter", October 9, 1962". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "The Wooing of Perilous Pauline on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  15. ^ '110 in the Shade' Wil Open Sept. 28: STAGE Los Angeles Times 20 Sep 1964: B26.
  16. ^ LOW ACTING STANDARDS ARE NORM FOR TV, DIRECTOR SAYS: [3 STAR Edition] Vernon, Scott. Orlando Sentinel; Orlando, Fla. [Orlando, Fla]04 June 1985: E.7.
  17. ^ INNOCENTS GET LOST IN AMERICA IN `BIGNESS': [Home Edition] ARKATOV, JANICE. Los Angeles Times 17 May 1987: 44.
  18. ^ "Actress Expects November Baby". The Daily Interlake. May 6, 1956. p. 17. Retrieved September 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. ^ Official Julie Adams website, julieadams.biz; accessed July 5, 2016.
  20. ^ Profile, TCM.com; accessed July 5, 2016.
  21. ^ McMurray, Emily J (editor) Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television Volume 11, Garland Publishing, Inc. (1993)

External links

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