[6][11], Raft grew up on 41st Street and worked as an errand boy and a fishwrapper after school. I saw guys playing ball, so I played ball. 31 old time radio show recordings (total playtime 17 hours, 44 min) available in the following formats: 1 MP3 CD or 20 Audio CDs In his youth, he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for, dancing. In June 1947, Raft received bad publicity when his friend, the Las Vegas mobster Bugsy Siegel, was murdered. We have estimated Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 85 Although not himself a true tough guy, he said, he played those roles because "that's the only way the public would accept me.". The pair separated soon thereafter, but the devoutly Catholic Mulrooney refused to grant a divorce, and Raft officially remained married to her and continued to support her, until her death in 1970. Back at Paramount, Raft supported Fredric March and Miriam Hopkins in All of Me (1934), which was not popular. He was childhood friends with gangsters, Raft reportedly turned down the lead roles in. His first big role was as the coin-tossing henchman in Scarface (1932). He also starred in Stolen Harmony (1935) and was slated to appear in Gambler's Maxim from a story by James Edward Grant, but the film was not made.[60]. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Krijg toegang tot het beste van Getty Images en iStock met ons eenvoudige abonnement. Help us build our profile of George Raft and Grayce Mulrooney! Race: White "[26], During this time, Raft befriended a number of gangsters, including Enoch Johnson and Larry Fay, and he would occasionally drive for Owney Madden. Raft explained his reputed familiarity with some raffish characters by citing the circumstances of his upbringing in Manhattan's notorious Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. 60 Mother. Mother: Alice O Brian [64], Raft was offered a part opposite the studio's top male star Gary Cooper in Souls at Sea (1937), directed by Henry Hathaway. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Not much is known about his marriage to Grace Mulrooney except that she was some years his senior. He next appeared in I Stole a Million (1939) for Universal. [15], Raft received an offer from Andy Neatrour to work as a host and part owner of a gambling club in London called the Colony Club. [57] In August 1934, Raft was involved in a brawl at the Hollywood Brown Derby. [76] He was assigned to Invisible Stripes (1939) with William Holden, Jane Bryan and Humphrey Bogart. Edward Norton. In "Taxi," his first Hollywood movie, he was cast, appropriately enough, as a dance contest winner, and soon, with his slick, dark hair and heavy-lidded dark eyes, he was being considered as a possible successor to Rudolph Valentino. He was born to Conrad Ranft and Eva Glockner. [49], Raft was meant to appear in It's a Pleasure to Lose, based on the life of Nick the Greek, but instead was slated to star in Bolero (1934), playing a dancer with Carole Lombard. None of these performed strongly at the box office, and Raft's standing as a box-office attraction had been damaged. Raft turned down roles in the following films:[123][124], Ray Danton played Raft in The George Raft Story (1961), which co-starred Jayne Mansfield. But I won't take a role that's pure heel. George Raft was an American film actor who, in a long career, gave many strong performances in a variety of roles. [citation needed]. "[93] His price as a guest star on radio was $1,500-$2,500. ". The son of Christopher Ranft and Catherine Weil.Resided in Woodside,Queens,NY.Burial in Woodlawn on March 10 1929.Husband of Eva Ranft and father of actor George Raft.Source information is NY city Death certificate #7479 Manhattan for March 6 1929. George Raft was born George Ranft, in Hells Kitchen, New York City, on September 26, 1901, to Conrad Ranft and Eva Ranft (ne Glockner). He was also a good pitcher in baseball, but his batting was poor. Neighbors: View others on page She passed away about 1970. None of Raft's scenes remain in the film. Raft married Grace Mulrooney (1902-1970) in 1923, long before his stardom. Also popular was Black Widow (1954), a film noir with Ginger Rogers, but A Bullet for Joey (1955), which reunited Raft with Edward G. Robinson, was a flop. . [52][53] In May 1934, Raft signed a new contract with Paramount to reflect his star status. Who Is George Raft's Wife? He pled guilty to one count and was fined $2,500. Ace (1947). Raft also declined the leads in High Sierra and The Maltese Falcon (1941), and both roles were played by Bogart, catapulting Bogart's career. [90], Raft was one of many Warner Bros. stars who appeared in United Artists' Stage Door Canteen (1943). awful. Raft was known to run with a pretty rough crowd. trivia, ISBN 1-59393-204-9. Raft has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: for movies at 6150 Hollywood Boulevard and for television at 1500 Vine Street. The film featured George in the role of Guino Rinaldo. The film became a critical and commercial hit and ended up being regarded as a cult classic by audiences. One of those who helped create and then flourished in the heyday of the American gangster movie, Mr. cc by-sa 3.0, bersetzung - mehr details. Age: 21 Raft signed a contract with Paramount in March 1932. Raft followed this with small roles in Gold Diggers of Broadway and Side Street. Before embarking on his successful career as a nightclub dancer, the 5-foot, 9-inch Mr. Raft was born in Hell's Kitchen, New York, in 1895 or 1901 (accounts differ). He is most remembered for Scarface 1932. "[55] Raft walked out on the film unhappy with his role, but later returned after re-writes were made. - ?) His parents were both of German descent. Age: 36 [81] He was again placed on suspension, but was intended to appear in The Sea Wolf (1941) after the suspension period. Raft was meant to team with Lombard for a third time in The Princess Comes Across (1936), but refused to make the film as he was unhappy with the choice of cameraman. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, . 1st Marriage: Unknown King, daughter Roberta 2nd Marriage: Percival H. Kipp, sons George and Brian. He married Grace Mulrooney, who was several years his senior, when he was 22. He tried a comedy, Every Night at Eight (1935), and was borrowed by Columbia Pictures to appear in She Couldn't Take It (1935), a comedy in the vein of It Happened One Night (1934). He worked as an apprentice of an electrician and devoted time to boxing at the same time. Some of his most popular performances were for The City Chap, Madhattan, and Palm Beach Nights. In 1942, he made an autobiographical film based on this part of his life, titled Broadway.. He was occasionally romantically linked with some of them but when he was in his early 20's and as yet unknown, he had married a Catholic girl, Grace Mulrooney, in 1923. Here are 10 GR Did-You-Knows: Happy birthday, George Raft, wherever you may be! George was born on September 26 1901, in New York City, New York, USA. George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 - November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Cagney at that time was President of the Screen Actors Guild and was determined not to let the mob infiltrate the industry. George's mother, Eva (Glockner), was German. A high school dropout, he claimed he was only trying to avoid roles for which he would inspire only ridicule. Access the best of Getty Images and iStock with our simple subscription plan. He said: "That was the big one. Raft left behind no will, and his estate consisted of only a $10,000 insurance policy and some furniture. In his salad days, he made money performing (and dancing with the lady patrons) at establishments such as Maxims, El Fey (with. Quelle, erhltlich unter der lizenz. descent. Banned from entering Britain in 1966 because of his alleged Mafia connections. Raft's screen debut was in Queen of the Night Clubs starring Guinan, who insisted Raft have a small role. George supported her financially throughout her life. In July 1958, Raft was offered a role in his first film in four years, Some Like It Hot (1959), playing a gangster. "[23], Raft went on tour as a dancer and helped popularize the tango in Paris, Vienna, Rome, London and New York. [70], Paramount wanted Raft to appear in St. Louis Blues, but he refused and was replaced by Lloyd Nolan. George died from emphysema on November 24, 1980. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/george-raft-43976.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. [12][31] In 1927, Raft relocated to Hollywood, where he first danced in clubs to pay the bills. The latter year is also the one on Raft's Social Security Card. George Ranft: . A lot also went to his wife, the former Grayce Mulrooney, from whom he was estranged shortly after their 1923 marriage. Organiseer, beheer, distribueer en meet al uw digitale content. Martin Weil is a longtime reporter at The Washington Post. 0 828 . When Scarface was released, public response was so strong that Raft was offered the lead role in a film based on a story by Louis Bromfeld, originally titled Number 55[42] and then changed to Night After Night (1932). Musical comedy. [citation needed], Owney Madden told Raft that he should be in motion pictures, and Raft decided to try to break into film acting after being threatened by the husband of a woman whom he had been seeing. The money he earned in such films as "They Drive By Night" -- a minor classic -- and "Rogue Cop," "Loan Shark," "I'll Get You" and "Outpost in Morocco" brought years of high living, horse betting and handouts to supplicating strangers. George Raft (born George Ranft September 26, 1901 November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Trivia. Raft was borrowed by Walter Wanger to play a gangster in The House Across the Bay (1940), which was a flop. made him a local favorite at such spots as the El Fey Club with, Stage: Appeared (as "George Spelvin"; Broadway debut) in "The City Chap" on Broadway. George Rafts income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. [104], Raft went to England to make I'll Get You for This, which was filmed in 1950 but not released for another year. Grace Raft (born Mulrooney), died 1970 Grace Raft (born Mulrooney) married George Raft in 1923. Household Members Age Relationship Raft is perhaps as well known today for the movie roles he turned down as those he accepted. Het ontwerp van Getty Images is een handelsmerk van Getty Images. He had taken dance lessons from his mother, and he saw people made good money by dancing. George Raft Height, Weight & Measurements At 79 years old, George Raft height is 5' 7" (1.7 m) . The one on Raft 's standing as a nightclub dancer, the Las Vegas mobster Bugsy Siegel was... Being a successful actor ( 1943 ) later returned after re-writes were made Night Clubs starring Guinan, insisted. Me ( 1934 ), was German differ ) to Hollywood, where he first in! In 1942, he claimed he was assigned to Invisible Stripes ( 1939 ) Universal... 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