Ray Middleton (actor)

Middleton was born in Chicago, Illinois,{{cite web |title=Ray Middleton |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ray-middleton-52979 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |accessdate=January 5, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105231631/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/ray-middleton-52979 |archivedate=January 5, 2020}} and attended the University of Illinois.{{cite news |last1=Perry |first1=Lawrence |title=New York Skylines |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41687705/ray_middleton/ |accessdate=January 4, 2020 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=November 19, 1950 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |page=Section 4-1|via = Newspapers.com}}

Soon after he graduated from college, Middleton sang with the Detroit Civic Opera Company, after which he sang with the St. Louis Opera Company and the Chicago Civic Opera. He declined to join the Metropolitan Opera Company, preferring a career in film.{{cite news |title=Majestic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41709408/ray_middleton/ |accessdate=January 5, 2020 |work=Shamokin News-Dispatch |date=June 27, 1940 |location=Pennsylvania, Shamokin |page=8|via = Newspapers.com}}

In 1933, Middleton appeared in the Broadway play Roberta. Later in 1938, he appeared in the musical Knickerbocker Holiday. During the early 1940s, he appeared in the movies Gangs of Chicago, the original Hurricane Smith (playing the title role), and Lady for a Night, which starred Joan Blondell and John Wayne.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ray-middleton/credits/170984/|title=Ray Middleton| website=TVGuide.com|publisher=TV Guide|access-date=16 December 2020}} He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, appearing in the Air Forces show Winged Victory.

At the New York World's Fair, July 3, 1940 was declared "Superman Day" and Superman was featured at the World of Tomorrow exhibit as the "Man of Tomorrow." At the event, Middleton became the first actor to portray Superman in public.{{citation |title=Ray Middleton was the first actor to portray Superman in public |publisher=Superman Homepage |url=https://www.supermanhomepage.com/other/other.php?topic=dyk-ray-middleton |access-date=2024-03-19}}

In 1946, he co-starred with Ethel Merman in the Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun. In 1948, he starred in Love Life with Nanette Fabray.

In 1950, he co-starred with Mary Martin in South Pacific, succeeding Ezio Pinza. In 1965, he played the innkeeper in Man of La Mancha.

In television, Middleton's appearances included The Ed Sullivan Show (once as a guest host), the Colgate Comedy Hour, and Chrysler's Shower of Stars in the 1950s. He co-starred with Phil Silvers and Lee Remick in a 1967 TV adaptation of Damn Yankees!.

During the 1970s, Middleton appeared in the TV movie Hec Ramsey as a judge, in the musical movie 1776, as Colonel Thomas McKean, and in the first TV adaptation of Helter Skelter as ranch-owner George Spahn. He also voiced the character Pepperino in the cartoon Tubby the Tuba.

Middleton's last appearances were as Cardinal Reardon in an episode of M*A*S*H ("Blood Brothers", featuring Patrick Swayze), and as grandfather Huey Rush in the comedy Too Close for Comfort.

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0585553}}
• {{IBDB name|52979}}
• {{iobdb name|26238}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, Ray}}

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:Male actors from Chicago

Category:1907 births

Category:1984 deaths

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:20th-century American singers

Category:Actors from Illinois

Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II