Profile of Ray Collins on Famous Like Me

Ray Collins (December 10, 1889 – July 11, 1965) was an American actor in film, stage, radio, and television.

Born in Sacramento, California, Collins started acting on stage at the age of 14. In the mid-1930s, now an established stage and radio actor, Collins began working with Orson Welles' Mercury Theater leading to some of his most memorable roles. Having already appeared on radio with Welles on The Shadow (a regular as Commissioner Weston) and in Welles' serial adaptation of Les Miserables from 1937, Collins became a regular on The Mercury Theatre on the Air; through the run of the series, he played many roles in literary adaptations, from Squire Livesey from Treasure Island and Dr. Watson to Mr. Pickwick in an adaptation of Pickwick Papers. Collins' best known work on this series, however, was in the infamous War of the Worlds broadcast, playing three roles, including Mr. Wilmuth (on whose farm the Martian craft lands).

Along with other Mercury Theatre players, Collins made his first notable screen appearance in Citizen Kane, as ruthless Boss Jim Gettys. He would also play key roles in Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons and Touch of Evil. Collins appeared in over 90 films in all, including Leave Her to Heaven (1945), Crack-Up (1946) A Double Life (1947), and two entries in the Ma and Pa Kettle series (as in-law Benjamin Parker). He may be best remembered for his work on television, playing Lt. Tragg on Perry Mason in the 1950s, and was also a regular as John Merriweather on the television version of The Halls of Ivy starring Ronald Colman. Collins died of emphysema at the age of 75.

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