Raymond Hart Massey (August 30, 1896 – July 29, 1983) was a Canadian-American actor.
Early life
Massey was born Raymond Hart Massey in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He studied at Balliol College, Oxford and at the University of Toronto. Massey served in the Canadian Army during World War II. Massey moved to London to begin his acting career in 1922.
Career
He was known for his roles in Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Santa Fe Trail, Seven Angry Men, Arsenic and Old Lace, Hotel Berlin, East of Eden, Battle Cry, and in How the West Was Won. Massey retired in 1973.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Abraham Lincoln in Abe Lincoln of Illinois. Massey was also known for his television role as Dr. Gillespie in Dr. Kildare.
Personal life
Massey was married to Margery Fremantle from 1921 until they divorced in 1929. Then he married Adrianne Allen from 1929 until they divorced in 1939. Then he married Dorothy Whitney from 1939 until her death in 1982.
Massey two sons and one daughter. He had his first son, Geoffrey, with Margery and his other, Daniel, with Adrianne. He had one daughter, Anna, with Adrianne. His son, Daniel, died in 1998 and his daughter, Anna, died in 2011.
Massey was related to Governor-General of Canada Vincent Massey and to Canadian voice actor Walter Massey. Massey was a Republican and, along with Ronald Reagan, supported Barry M. Goldwater presidential campaign.
Death
Massey died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, California at the age of 86. He died a month before he would have turned 87. That was the same day as the death of David Niven, who had co-starred with him in The Prisoner of Zenda and A Matter of Life and Death. Massey is buried in New Haven, Connecticut's Beaverdale Memorial Park.
References
Other websites
Photographs and literature
1896 births
1983 deaths
Deaths from pneumonia
Naturalized citizens of the United States
Canadian military personnel of World War II
Canadian movie actors
Canadian television actors
Canadian stage actors
American movie actors
American television actors
American stage actors
Republicans (United States) Actors from Toronto University of Toronto alumni