January 1, 2001, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Spouse
Ruth Calvert
Fact
Owned 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.
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 Name
Ray Walston
Date Of Birth
November 2, 1914
Died
January 1, 2001, Beverly Hills, California, United States
My 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.".
5
I 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
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Fact
1
Had appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: The Apartment (1960) and The Sting (1973).
2
Owned 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.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 7070 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 8, 1995.
5
Replaced Peter Sellers in Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) after Sellers had suffered a heart attack mere weeks into the production.
6
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as the title character on My Favorite Martian (1963).
7
Won 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).
8
His 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.
9
Won two Emmy Awards (1995, 1996) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series as Henry Bone on the drama series Picket Fences (1992).
10
Had one daughter with Ruth Calvert: Katherine Ann Walston.