Ray Danton (born Raymond Caplan; September 19, 1931 – February 11, 1992)[1] 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.[2]
Danton was born Raymond Caplan[3] in New York City, the son of Myrtle (née Menkin) and Jack Caplan.[4] His family was Jewish, and he was a descendant of the Vilna Gaon.[4]
Danton entered show business as a child radio actor on NBC radio's Let's Pretend show in 1943 at age twelve.[5] He began acting on radio and stage regularly also working as an assistant stage manager.[6]
Danton attended Horace Mann School and in 1947 he started at what is now Carnegie Mellon University where he appeared in many stage productions. He went to New York to try and make it on Broadway and ended up appearing on television dramas. In 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.[6]
Danton had a supporting 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 Mathews, and his off-screen wife Julie Adams. That year, Danton guest-starred in Yancy Derringer and shows 77 Sunset Strip.
In 1960, Danton and Ron Foster were cast as Kane and Tommy Potts, respectively, in the episode "Bounty List" of the 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]
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]
On October 9, 1962, Danton appeared as the gunfighter Vince Jackson in the episode "The Fortune Hunter" of Laramie. He also guest-starred in the NBC Western Empire and its successor series Redigo, both starring Richard Egan. November 7, 1962 he took on the role of Lt. Steve Hamilton, one of Col. Teddy Roosevelt's "Rough Riders"(It's 1898 and The Spanish American War)in an episode entitled "Riff-Raff" on the first season of "The Virginian."
In 1964, Danton was cast in the episode "The Wooing of Perilous Pauline" of Death Valley Days. He returned to the stage to perform in 110 in the Shade.[13]
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 Nakia and a Hawaii Five-O episode "Steal
Now, Pay Later".
He began a busy directing career in television, helming 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.[14]
He directed a stage production of Come Back, Little Sheba in 1987.[15]
Danton directed many episodes of Magnum PI in Season 8, 1987-1988.
Danton was married to actress Julie Adams from 1954 or 1955[16] until their divorce in 1981. They had two sons: assistant director Steven Danton (b. 1956) and editor Mitchell Danton (b. 1962).[17][18]
^Movie actor Ray Danton
Chicago Tribune 15 Feb 1992: N19.
^ abcThe Life Story of RAY DANTON
Picture Show; London Vol. 65, Iss. 1697, (Oct 8, 1955): 12.
^Julie Adams and Ray Danton of Films Elope Los Angeles Times 21 Feb 1955: A1.
^Danton Content Only When Asleep
Stinson, Charles. Los Angeles Times 7 Dec 1958: f2.
^FILMLAND EVENTS: Danton to Star in 'Beat Generation', Los Angeles Times 30 Sep 1958: C7.
^"Colt .45". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
^HOLLYWOOD TIE-LINE: Hollywood Tie-Line, Waterbury, Ruth. Los Angeles Times 27 Nov 1960: A3.
^Alpert, D. (1962, Jan 28). The last of the big-time mobsters. Los Angeles Times
^'110 in the Shade' Wil Open Sept. 28: STAGE, Los Angeles Times 20 Sep 1964: B26.
^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.
^INNOCENTS GET LOST IN AMERICA IN `BIGNESS': [Home Edition], ARKATOV, JANICE. Los Angeles Times 17 May 1987: 44.