Ray Milland

Born: January 3, 1905
Where: Neath, Glamorganshire, Wales
Died: March 10, 1986

Born Reginald Alfred Truscott-Jones, this film veteran came from humble beginnings in Wales in the 1900's however through talent and tenacity had a glorious career that lasted way over 100 films.

In the 1930's he changed his name to Ray Milland and headed across the Atlantic to begin life as an actor in America. He started off as a steeple chasing jockey but in a spectacular change of career turned romantic leading man of the 1930s, in a number of genres such as romantic leads and even dramas.

Millard¿s most groundbreaking performance was in 1945 when he was nominated for an Oscar for the famous Billy Wilder¿s The Lost Weekend, where he played the dramatic role of an alcoholic writer. Unfortunately he failed to match his success in later years.

In 1955 he began to concentrate on directing for TV and film and even had his own The Ray Milland show running for a couple of years. In the 1970s Ray returned as a character actor, notably in Love Story (1970).

A family man married to the same women for 54 years, Millard stayed out of the spot light to concentrate on family life and his love of bridge, for which he was a pro player. Sadly though he lost his battle with cancer at the age of 81 in 1986 and died in Torrance, California.