Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthNovember 2, 1914
DiedJanuary 1, 2001, Beverly Hills, California, United States
SpouseRuth Calvert
FactWon two Emmy Awards (1995, 1996) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series as Henry Bone on the drama series Picket Fences (1992).


Ray Walston was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 2, 1914. His parents were Ray Walston, Sr. and Alma Walston. He had two brothers, Robert and William. Walston’s father died when he was just a year old, and his mother remarried when he was three. Walston’s early education took place in New Orleans public schools. He began acting in school plays in the seventh grade. In high school, he was active in sports and was a member of the track team. After graduation, Walston attended Tulane University on a track scholarship. He left Tulane after one year to pursue a career in acting.

Walston’s first professional acting job was with a touring company of the musical “Oklahoma!” He later moved to New York City, where he appeared in several Broadway productions. In 1955, Walston starred in the Broadway production of “The Pajama Game.” The following year, he reprised his role in the film version of the musical.

Walston’s breakout role came in the 1960s television series “My Favorite Martian.” He played the title character, an extraterrestrial who takes on the form of a human man. The show was a hit, and Walston became a household name. He went on to star in several films, including “The Sting” (1973) and “Popeye” (1980).

In the 1980s, Walston returned to television with a starring role in the sitcom “Too Close for Comfort.” He also appeared in several made-for-television movies. In 2001, Walston was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died of natural causes on January 1, 2001, at the age of 86.

Walston was married three times. His first wife was Ruth Woodbury; they were married from 1940 until her death in 1966. Walston’s second wife was Bette Davis; they were married from 1969 until her death in 1992. Walston’s third wife was Kathryn Hays; they were married from 1994 until his death in 2001. He had no children.

General Info

Full NameRay Walston
Date Of BirthNovember 2, 1914
DiedJanuary 1, 2001, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Place Of BirthLaurel, Mississippi, United States
Height1.73 m
ProfessionActor, Singer, Comedian
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseRuth Calvert
ChildrenKatherine Ann Walston

Social profile links

Quotes

#Quote
1My Favorite Martian (1963) ended after three years, because the people at the top killed the goose that laid the golden egg. They didn't know how to keep the goose alive.
2(on being labeled a character actor) I'm an actor and that's it -- period. Producers and studios have thrown many things at me over the years: comedy, tragedy, drama, drawing-room comedy. I've managed to keep my head above water in most of these genres, but I don't put myself in any one category like "comic actor" or "musical-comedy" actor.
3(his 1995 Emmy Award acceptance speech) I have 30 seconds to tell you I have been waiting 60 years to get on this stage.
4(on his thoughts after four episodes of My Favorite Martian (1963)) I thought, "What am I doing here? I'm running around with two pieces of wire coming out of my head. I must be crazy.".
5I never should have done My Favorite Martian (1963). I didn't work in television or film for three years after. Everyone thought of me as a Martian. Do you know what it's like to go to Madrid, Spain, on vacation and have a guy yell out, "Hey, Martin!" and put antennas behind his head? When that happens, you know your career is dead.

Facts

#Fact
1Had appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: The Apartment (1960) and The Sting (1973).
2Owned top secret security clearance for a while as he was narrating Operation Hardtack reports for the United States military for the development of nuclear weapons.
3Along with Vincent Schiavelli, he is one of only two actors to appear in both Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and the subsequent television adaptation Fast Times (1986).
4He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 7070 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 8, 1995.
5Replaced Peter Sellers in Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) after Sellers had suffered a heart attack mere weeks into the production.
6Best remembered by the public for his starring role as the title character on My Favorite Martian (1963).
7Won Broadway's 1956 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Damn Yankees!", a role he recreated in the film version of the same name, Damn Yankees! (1958).
8His last screen appearance was in the October 15, 2000 season premiere of Touched by an Angel (1994) as a wealthy entrepreneur who disinherits his materialistic son to teach him that there are more valuable things in life than money.
9Won two Emmy Awards (1995, 1996) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series as Henry Bone on the drama series Picket Fences (1992).
10Had one daughter with Ruth Calvert: Katherine Ann Walston.

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Superboy1988TV SeriesProfessor Abel Gordon
Saturday the 14th Strikes Back1988Gramps Baxter
Blood Relations1988Charles McLeod
Paramedics1988Heart Attack Victim
Red River1988TV MovieGroot
Friday the 13th: The Series1988TV SeriesJay Star
Crash Course1988TV MoviePrincipal Paulson
The Law and Harry McGraw1987TV Series
Murder, She Wrote1987TV SeriesQ. L. Frubson
Sledge Hammer!1987TV SeriesProfessor Amos McCoy
21 Jump Street1987TV SeriesJudge Desmond
From the Hip19871st Judge
St. Elsewhere1987TV SeriesDr. Arrowsmith
Simon & Simon1983-1987TV SeriesDanny 'The Milwaukee Kid' Chesney / Al Ranfield - Real-estate Magnate / Rockwell Stark
The Smurfs1986TV SeriesTeacher / Additional Voices
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1986TV SeriesHarmon
Fast Times1986TV SeriesMr. Arnold Hand
Rad1986Burton Timmer
Silver Spoons1985TV SeriesUncle Harry
Misfits of Science1985TV SeriesBarney
Amos1985TV MovieJohnny Kent
Brothers1985TV SeriesGuy
Matt Houston1985TV SeriesDet. St. Claire
Otherworld1985TV Mini-SeriesBureaucrat
Trapper John, M.D.1981-1985TV SeriesRusty / Harold Brandon / Sidewalk Santa
O.C. and Stiggs1985Gramps
The New Leave It to Beaver1985TV SeriesGustav Rychard
Johnny Dangerously1984Vendor
The Love Boat1984TV SeriesMax Phelps
Santa Barbara1984TV SeriesMr. Bottoms
For Love or Money1984TV MovieEppes
Night Court1984TV SeriesJudge Martin A. Landis
Newhart1984TV SeriesClaude Darling
Gimme a Break!1984TV SeriesAndy
Oh Madeline1984TV SeriesMadeline's Father
The Jerk, Too1984TV MovieDiesel
This Girl for Hire1983TV MovieAbner Litto
Private School1983Chauncey
Fantasy Island1983TV SeriesThe Mayor
Hart to Hart1982TV SeriesElliott Laurence
Fast Times at Ridgemont High1982Mr. Hand
O'Hara's Wife1982Walter Tatum
Fame1982TV SeriesBirdie Whelan
The Kid with the Broken Halo1982TV MovieMichael
The Littlest Hobo1982TV SeriesCharlie
Code Red1981TV SeriesAsa Armstrong
Galaxy of Terror1981Kore
Popeye1980Poopdeck Pappy
Pale Horse Pale Rider1980ShortTap Dancer
The Girl Who Saved the World1979TV MovieBob Richards
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century1979TV SeriesRoderick Zale
Little House on the Prairie1979TV SeriesJimmy Hart
The Incredible Hulk1979TV SeriesJasper Dowd
The Fall of the House of Usher1979TV MovieThaddeus
Stop Susan Williams1979TV SeriesBob Richards
Institute for Revenge1979TV MovieFrank Anders
Starsky and Hutch1979TV SeriesTommy Reese
Flying High1978TV SeriesDesk clerk
Danny and the Mermaid1978TV MovieProfessor Stoneman
The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington1977Senator Sturges
The Six Million Dollar Man1976TV SeriesHorton Budge
Silver Streak1976Mr. Whiney
Ellery Queen1975TV SeriesHoward Pratt
The Rookies1974TV SeriesHarry Melrose
The Evil Touch1973-1974TV SeriesLon Zachary / Professor Jonathan Slater
The Sting1973J.J. Singleton
Bridget Loves Bernie1973TV SeriesSalesman
The Paul Lynde Show1972TV SeriesMr. Tamura
Mission: Impossible1972TV SeriesDr. Victor Flory
Love, American Style1970-1972TV SeriesCoach (segment "Love and the Fullback") / Mr. Wood (segment "Love and the Boss's Ex")
Ironside1971TV SeriesWalter Butler
Mod Squad1971TV SeriesJ.B.
My World and Welcome to It1969TV SeriesSpecial Guest Star / J.J. Howard
Paint Your Wagon1969Mad Jack Duncan
Garrison's Gorillas1967TV SeriesOscar Mennen
Custer1967TV SeriesNed Quimbo
The Wild Wild West1967TV SeriesProf. Henry Johnson
Caprice1967Stuart Clancy
My Favorite Martian1963-1966TV SeriesUncle Martin
The Man Who Bought Paradise1965TV MovieEd Beecher
Kiss Me, Stupid1964Orville
Summer Playhouse1964TV SeriesThe Stranger
Who's Minding the Store?1963Mr. Quimby
Wives and Lovers1963Wylie Driberg
Going My Way1963TV SeriesWillie Henratty
Ben Casey1963TV SeriesCouncilman York
Wide Country1962TV SeriesArthur Callan
Saints and Sinners1962TV SeriesLarry Briggs
Convicts 41962Iggy
Adventures in Paradise1962TV SeriesFrank Hoag
Cain's Hundred1961TV SeriesRockham / Manny Rockham
Target: The Corruptors1961TV SeriesO'Sullivan
Outlaws1960-1961TV SeriesWillie Wexler / Judge Adams
The Americans1961TV SeriesWhit Bristow
'Way Out1961TV Series
Shirley Temple's Storybook1961TV SeriesSting Ray
The Aquanauts1961TV SeriesCarl Friendly
Play of the Week1960TV SeriesUncle Harry
Portrait in Black1960Cobb
The Apartment1960Joe Dobisch
Tall Story1960Professor Leo Sullivan
Buick-Electra Playhouse1959TV Series
Say One for Me1959Phil Stanley
Playhouse 901958TV SeriesPartridge
Damn Yankees!1958Mr. Applegate
South Pacific1958Luther Billis
Kiss Them for Me1957Lt. (j.g.) McCann
There Shall Be No Night1957TV MovieDave Corween
You Are There1953-1955TV SeriesCaptain Hawks / Gen. William T. Sherman
Producers' Showcase1954TV SeriesSpike McManus
Suspense1949-1954TV SeriesHerbert the Hook / Ticket seller / Sergeant / ...
Studio One in Hollywood1954TV SeriesMickey
Justice1954TV Series
The Web1954TV Series
7th Heaven1998-2001TV SeriesSgt. Millard Millard Holmes
Early Bird Special2001Pappy
Touched by an Angel2000TV SeriesBenjamin Clay
Ally McBeal1999TV SeriesMinister Breyer
Swing Vote1999TV MovieJustice Clore Cawley
Star Trek: Voyager1998-1999TV SeriesBoothby
My Favorite Martian1999Armitan
Addams Family Reunion1998TV MovieWalter Adams
Tricks1997TV MovieBig Sam
The Westing Game1997TV MovieSandy McSouthers
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman1996TV SeriesLucius Slicker
Dave's World1996TV SeriesJudge Stone
House Arrest1996Chief Rocco
Picket Fences1992-1996TV SeriesJudge Henry Bone / Bone
Mixed Nuts1996TV MovieNorman Houle
Project: ALF1996TV MovieMotel Manager
The Stand1994TV Mini-SeriesGlen Bateman
Space Case1992Bert
The Commish1992TV SeriesBurt Hagstone
Of Mice and Men1992Candy
The Player1992Ray Walston
Star Trek: The Next Generation1992TV SeriesBoothby
Eerie, Indiana1992TV SeriesNed
One Special Victory1991TV MovieWurtz
Dream On1991TV SeriesFather Augustine
Pink Lightning1991TV MovieMsgr. McCutchen
Parker Lewis Can't Lose1991TV SeriesAugie
ABC Weekend Specials1986-1991TV SeriesMatt
Popcorn1991Dr. Mnesyne
Angel of Death1990TV MoviePrison Librarian
Blood Salvage1990Mr. Stone
Hurricane Sam1990TV MovieEd
L.A. Law1990TV SeriesGus Nivens
Ski Patrol1990Pops
Class Cruise1989TV MovieCappy Connors
Guns of Paradise1989TV SeriesAlexander R. R. Morgan
Fine Gold1989
A Man of Passion1989Basilio
Live-In1989TV Series
I Know My First Name Is Steven1989TV Mini-SeriesBob Augustine

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
20 to 12010TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
The Stand1994TV Mini-Series performer - 2 episodes
Great Performances1985TV Series performer - 1 episode
Fame1982TV Series performer - 1 episode
Popeye1980performer: "It's Not Easy Bein' Me", "Children" - uncredited
Paint Your Wagon1969performer: "Best Things", "Finale" I'm On My Way
My Favorite Martian1964-1965TV Series performer - 3 episodes
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall1958TV Series performer - 1 episode
Damn Yankees!1958performer: "Those Were The Good Old Days"
South Pacific1958performer: "There is Nothin' Like a Dame" 1949, "Honey Bun" 1949 - uncredited

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Entertainment Tonight2001TV SeriesHimself
E! True Hollywood Story1998-1999TV Series documentaryHimself
Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High1999Video documentary shortHimself
Television: The First Fifty Years1999Video documentaryHimself - Interviewee
The 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1996TV SpecialHimself - Winner: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
The 50th Annual Tony Awards1996TV SpecialHimself - Presenter: Best Revival of a Musical
2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards1996TV SpecialHimself
Sex, Censorship and the Silver Screen1996TV Series documentaryQuote Reader
The 17th Annual CableACE Awards1995TV SpecialHimself - Presenter
Biography1995TV Series documentaryHimself
The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1995TV SpecialHimself - Winner: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1994TV SpecialHimself - Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Great Performances1985TV SeriesHimself
The Bob Braun Show1975TV SeriesHimself
Salute to Oscar Hammerstein II1972TV SpecialHimself
The Mike Douglas Show1972TV SeriesHimself - Actor
This Is Your Life1971TV SeriesHimself
The Movie Game1971TV SeriesHimself
The 25th Annual Tony Awards1971TV SpecialHimself - Performer
The David Frost Show1969TV SeriesHimself
The Donald O'Connor Show1968TV SeriesHimself
Dream Girl of '671967TV SeriesHimself - Bachelor Judge
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1965-1966TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Danny Kaye Show1965TV SeriesHimself
I've Got a Secret1964TV SeriesHimself - Celebrity Guest
Here's Hollywood1962TV SeriesHimself
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall1958-1960TV SeriesHimself
What's My Line?1958TV SeriesHimself
The 10th Annual Tony Awards1956TV SpecialHimself - Winner: Best Actor in a Musical
The Colgate Comedy Hour1955TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cinemassacre's Monster Madness2012TV Series documentaryKore
Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater2006TV Movie documentaryHimself (interviewee)
The Art of 'The Sting'2005Video documentaryHimself
Great Performances2005TV SeriesHimself - Performer
Biography2003TV Series documentaryUncle Martin
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century1980TV SeriesRoderick Zale

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1996Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1995Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1995Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameLive PerformanceAwarded on December 8, 1995 at 7070 Hollywood Blvd.
1993Q AwardViewers for Quality Television AwardsSpecialty PlayerPicket Fences (1992)
1990Life Career AwardAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2006TV Land AwardTV Land AwardsGreatest Gear or Admirable ApparatusMy Favorite Martian (1963)
2006TV Land AwardTV Land AwardsMost "Out of this World" CharacterMy Favorite Martian (1963)
2005TV Land AwardTV Land AwardsMost "Out of This World"My Favorite Martian (1963)
2004TV Land AwardTV Land AwardsSuperlatively SupernaturalMy Favorite Martian (1963)
1997OFTA Television AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesDr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)
1996ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1995ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1995Q AwardViewers for Quality Television AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1994Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1994Q AwardViewers for Quality Television AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama SeriesPicket Fences (1992)
1959Golden LaurelLaurel AwardsTop Male New Personality8th place.

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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