John Wray (actor)
John Wray was an American character actor of stage and screen.
Career
Wray was one of the many Broadway actors to descend on Hollywood in the aftermath of the sound revolution, and quickly appeared in a variety of substantial character roles, such as the Arnold Rothstein-like gangster in The Czar of Broadway ; Himmelstoss, the sadistic drill instructor in All Quiet on the Western Front ; and as the contortionist the Frog in the remake of The Miracle Man, in the role previously played by Lon Chaney in the 1919 original.
Wray's roles grew increasingly smaller as the decade progressed but he was very visible as the starving farmer threatening to kill Gary Cooper's Longfellow Deeds in Frank Capra's classic Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and as the warden in Fritz Lang's You Only Live Once.
On Broadway, Wray performed in Achilles Had a Heel, Tin Pan Alley, Nightstick, Broadway, The Enemy, Silence, Polly Preferred, The Nightcap, The Ouija Board, Richelieu , The Weavers, When the Young Vine Blooms, Hamlet, and The Merchant of Venice.
Partial filmography
New York Nights - Joe PrividiAll Quiet On The Western Front - HimmelstossThe Czar of Broadway - Morton BradstreetQuick Millions - Kenneth StoneSilence - Harry SilversSafe in Hell - EganThe Woman from Monte Carlo - Cmdr. BrambourgHigh Pressure - Jimmy MooreThe Miracle Man - The FrogThe Mouthpiece - Mr. BartonThe Rich Are Always with Us - Clark DavisMiss Pinkerton - HugoDoctor X - Dr. HainesI Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang - Nordine The Death Kiss - Detective Lieut. SheehanCentral Park - Robert SmileyThe Match King - Foreman of JanitorsAfter Tonight - Mitika, the Gypsy ContactLone Cowboy - Bill O'NealBombay Mail - Giovanni MartiniThe Big Shakedown - HigginsThe Crosby Case - Giovanni MartiniThe Most Precious Thing in Life - CarterThe Love Captive - Jules GlassGreen Eyes - Inspector CroftonThe Defense Rests - Michael CooneyFifteen Wives - Jason GettyThe Cat's-Paw - Man on Street Embarrassing Moments - SlugThe Captain Hates the Sea - Mr. JeddockI'll Fix It - FletcherI Am a Thief - Antonio PorricciThe Whole Town's Talking - Henchman Harry The Great Hotel Murder - Feets MooreStranded - Mike GibbonsMen Without Names - Sam 'Red' HammondAtlantic Adventure - Mitts CosterLadies Love Danger - Lieutenant RobertsBad Boy - Fred LarkinFrisco Kid - The WeaselMr. Deeds Goes to Town - FarmerPoor Little Rich Girl - FlaginA Son Comes Home - Gas Station OwnerSworn Enemy - Lang, a GangsterThe Devil Is a Sissy - Priest The President's Mystery - ShaneValiant Is the Word for Carrie - George DarnleyA Man Betrayed - SparksWe Who Are About to Die - Jerry DaleyYou Only Live Once - Warden WheelerOutcast - Hank SimmersonCircus Girl - RoeblingThe Devil Is Driving - Joe PetersOn Such a Night - Guard RumannThe Women Men Marry - Brother NamelessThe Black Doll - WallingMaking the Headlines - Herbert SandfordGangs of New York - MaddockReformatory - Guard Professor Beware - Head Lawyer Tenth Avenue Kid - Joe TurnerSpawn of the North - Dr. SparksBoys Town - Weasel Crime Takes a Holiday - HowellA Man to Remember - Tom JohnsonPacific Liner - MetcalfeRisky Business - SilasAlmost a Gentleman - 'Crack' WilliamsEach Dawn I Die - Pete KassockWinter Carnival - Poultry Truck Driver Smuggled Cargo - Chris HaysGolden Boy - Chocolate Drop's Manager Blackmail - DiggsThe Cat and the Canary - HendricksThe Amazing Mr. Williams - StanleyGone with the Wind - prison gang overseer Remember the Night - HankSwiss Family Robinson - RamseyThe Man from Dakota - Mr. CarpenterOutside the Three-Mile Limit - Ship's Captain The Doctor Takes a Wife - Joe - Farmer