Joe Gray (actor)

Joe Gray (May 5, 1912 – March 15, 1971) was an American boxer, actor, and stuntman.[1][3]

Joe Gray
Born(1912-05-05)May 5, 1912
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1]
DiedMarch 15, 1971(1971-03-15) (aged 58)
Durango, Mexico
Occupation(s)Actor, stuntman, boxer
Years active1937–1971
RelativesJon Abrahams (great-uncle)[2]
FamilyMack Gray (brother)[1]

Biography

Joe Gray was raised in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Los Angeles in 1936 at the suggestion of his brother Mack Gray, George Raft's associate. His film career included some of the most iconic boxing films ever made (City for Conquest, Body and Soul, Champion). He made appearances in over 125 films in numerous uncredited roles, including 10 of Frank Sinatra's films and 32 of Dean Martin's films.[1] Gray was Martin's stunt double in all of Martin's films through 1971. He was a technical adviser on boxing films for John Garfield, Elvis Presley, Jeff Chandler, James Cagney, George Raft, Tony Curtis,[1] and Kirk Douglas, among others. Gray also trained and advised the actor, John Derek in the 1956 film The Leather Saint.[3]

As a boxer, Gray compiled a professional boxing record of 8-3-2 with 3 knockout wins. In his private life he was a close friend of the writer Henry Miller,[4] and Gray appeared in and contributed to The Henry Miller Odyssey, a 90-minute color documentary. After Gray's death, Miller dedicated a chapter of his 1973 book, My Bike and Other Friends, to Gray.[4] as well as several pages in Miller's large autobiographical book My Life and Times.[5]

Gray was the brother of Mack Gray[1] and uncle of the artist Martin Abrahams and great-uncle of actor Jon Abrahams.[1] Gray died in Mexico while on location making the film Something Big in Durango, at the age of 58.[1] He was buried in Los Angeles at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery.[6]

Selected filmography

References
  1. Freese, Gene (April 10, 2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 112. ISBN 9780786476435 – via Google Books.
  2. Wallace, Stone (2015). George Raft - The Man Who Would Be Bogart. Smashworlds Edition. p. 6. ISBN 9781311195098 – via Google Books.
  3. Capua, Michelangelo (March 20, 2020). John Derek: Actor, Director, Photographer. McFarland. p. 73. ISBN 9781476638126 – via Google Books.
  4. Small Press Review: Volumes 9-11. Dustbooks. 1977. p. 10 – via Google Books.
  5. Miller, Henry (1971). "My Life and Times". Playboy Press.
  6. "Joe Gray". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. March 17, 1971. p. 29. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. "Joe Gray". BFI. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018.
  8. Gene Scott Freese (April 4, 2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary (2 ed.). McFarland. p. 1882. ISBN 9781476614700.
  9. James L. Neibaur (December 27, 2004). The Bob Hope Films. McFarland. p. 12.
  10. American Film Institute Catalog. University of California Press. 1997. p. 674.
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