Although the couple separated soon after their marriage, Grace refused to sign the divorce papers. I danced in nightclubs for 15 years and I met a lot of people.". Born: 26-Sep-1895 Birthplace: New York City Died: 24-Nov-1980 Location of death: Los Angeles, CA Cause of death: Cancer - Leukemia . . Raft was announced for the films The World Applauds and Two-Time Loser. Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web! Farm: No Raft's contract was meant to last until February of that year, but Paramount ended it prematurely. George Raft, alkuperinen nimi George Ranft, oli yhdysvaltalainen nyttelij ja tanssija. "I was very erotic. ", Although his work often failed to impress the critics, audiences apparently found him convincing as a shady figure on the wrong side of the law, and he earned top salaries during the 1930s and 1940s in such films as "Background to Danger," "Mr. Check out my other items !Be sure to add me to your favorites list ! -1Grace Mulrooney1923 -1970 . Raft achieved stardom as a gangland chieftain's sinister, coin-flipping bodyguard in the 1933 production of "Scarface. Edit Details Reader Q&A As Dutch Rauft, he fought 14 bouts, with nine victories, three defeats and two draws. Wilder later said "We knew then that we'd have a good picture"[95] and Raft later admitted that "I wasn't very intelligent then. George married Grace Raft (born Mulrooney) in 1923, at age 21. There were no children. . Login Raft was sometimes seen as having an off-screen life that mirrored his on-screen roles. According to both the 1900 and 1910 Censuses for New York City, Raft only had one sibling named Eva "Katie" Ranft, born on April 18, 1896 in Manhattan. The pair separated soon thereafter, but the devoutly Catholic Mulrooney refused to grant a divorce, and Raft officially remained married to her and continued to support her, until her death in 1970. George died from emphysema on November 24, 1980. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/george-raft-43976.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. He was replaced by Jack La Rue, who had been originally cast for Raft's role in Scarface. "I wish I knew where it all went," he said. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembered for his gangster roles in Quick Millions (1931) with Spencer Tracy, Scarface (1932) with Paul Muni, Each Dawn I Die (1939) with James Cagney, Invisible Stripes (1939) with Humphrey Bogart, Billy Wilder's comedy Some Like It Hot (1959) with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon, and as a dancer in Bolero (1934) with Carole Lombard and a truck driver in They Drive by Night (1940) with Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino and Bogart. United States Census 1910; Census Place: Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York; Roll: T624_1025; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 0668; Image: 1107; FHL Number: 1375038. A fost apreciat pentru prestaiile sale de pe Broadway i a jucat n filme care . Also learn how He earned most of George Raft networth? He starred in a syndicated television series titled I'm the Law (1953) that ran for one season. So, how much is George Raft worth at the age of 79 years old? Some of his most popular performances were for The City Chap, Madhattan, and Palm Beach Nights. In 1942, he made an autobiographical film based on this part of his life, titled Broadway.. (? "[51], In March 1934, Raft was suspended a second time for having refused the male lead in Mae West's It Ain't No Sin (later changed to Belle of the Nineties) because his part was subordinate to West's. His parents were both of German descent. Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 85 His career was marked by numerous tough-guy roles, often a gangster or convict. Raft's performance is notable for his character's habit of flipping a coin, which became an iconic trope in gangster films; while others claimed credit for the mannerism, writer W.R. Burnett confirmed that it was Raft who invented it. [117], In 1957, Mickey Cohen said that he wanted Raft to play him in any film about his life because "the others would portray me as a vicious gangster, but George would not. [28], Raft became part of the stage act of flamboyant speakeasy and nightclub hostess Texas Guinan at the 300 Club, and he also produced some of her shows. But I won't take a role that's pure heel. Who Is George Raft's Wife? 2008 - 2022 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Sign in. Respondent: Yes I was more of a stylist, unique. the time one of the roughest, meanest areas of New York City. [67] Souls at Sea was a great hit, and in 1937 Raft was the third-highest-paid star in Hollywood (behind Cooper and Warner Baxter), earning $202,666. [8] However, Raft is recorded in the New York City Birth Index as having been born on September 26, 1901 in Manhattan as "George Rauft" (although "Rauft" is likely a mistranscription of "Ranft"). quotes, However, Fidel Castro took command of the country and closed all of its casinos, and Raft was in Havana on the night when the rebels arrived.[12][92]. Date of Death: November 24, 1980 Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S. One of those who helped create and then flourished in the heyday of the American gangster movie, Mr. Raft turned down roles in the following films:[123][124], Ray Danton played Raft in The George Raft Story (1961), which co-starred Jayne Mansfield. Attended School or College: No (See also Steven Bauer for the 1983 version .) Raft initially refused the film until it was re-written, and the studio suspended him, but Raft eventually made the film, which became a great success. cc by-sa 3.0, bersetzung - mehr details. Raft's next three films were all directed by Marin: Christmas Eve (1947) at United Artists for Bogeaus, a box-office disappointment, Intrigue (1947) at United Artists for Star Films and Race Street (1948) at RKO. In 1923, at the age of 22, Raft tied the knot to one Grace Mulrooney. Raft's screen debut was in Queen of the Night Clubs starring Guinan, who insisted Raft have a small role. Click here to refresh the page. [Grace Mulrooney] Raft capitalized on that image in the late 1960s when he made a celebrated television commercial in which he led a group of inmates in a prison dining hall in a cup-banging mass demand for Alka-Seltzer. He next appeared in I Stole a Million (1939) for Universal. [94] Raft declined the lead role in Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1944). In his youth, he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for, dancing. Raft was meant to team with Lombard for a third time in The Princess Comes Across (1936), but refused to make the film as he was unhappy with the choice of cameraman. If a guy introduced himself to me as 'Sleep-Out Louie,' I'd say 'Hello, Sleep-Out Louie.' Neighbors: View others on page [45], Raft refused to appear in The Story of Temple Drake (1933) with Miriam Hopkins, as he did not want to play a sadist. He said: "I want to play heavies again. [on his acting] I'm afraid to look, because I'm probably [57] In August 1934, Raft was involved in a brawl at the Hollywood Brown Derby. Hypersensitive to public accusations of underworld connections, he flatly refused to play the heavy in any film Time and time again we offered him gangster parts and time and time again he turned them down. Here are 10 things you should know about George Raft, born 119 years ago today. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. [43] When the studio adamantly refused to hire Texas Guinan, upon whom one of the film's characters is based, because of her age, Raft advocated for his friend Mae West to be cast in a supporting role in his first film as leading man. American Actor George Raft was born George Ranft on 26th September, 1895 in New York, New York (Hell`s Kitchen) and passed away on 24th Nov 1980 Los Angeles, Ca aged 85. Although most sources and articles have claimed over the years his birth year as 1895, including his gravestone, New York census reports suggest Mr. "[32] Variety wrote that Raft appeared at the climax when he "came to the front and did his eccentric dance routine, which he climaxed with the hottest black bottom ever. In June 1947, Raft received bad publicity when his friend, the Las Vegas mobster Bugsy Siegel, was murdered. Sheet Number: 1B Have you taken a DNA test? Raft married Grace Mulrooney (1902-1970) in 1923, long before his stardom. (1932), starring James Cagney and Loretta Young, Raft had a colorful unbilled dancing role as Cagney's competitor in a dance contest, who wins only to be knocked down by Cagney. I never felt I was a great dancer. He stated publicly that he wanted to marry Norma Shearer, with whom he had a long romance, but his wife's refusal to allow a divorce eventually caused Shearer to end the affair.[28][121]. AKA George Ranft. [71] "Raft is Hollywood's authority on walk outs," wrote one columnist. He was present on January 1, 1959 when rebels stormed Havana, overthrowing dictator Fulgencio Batista. videos [83] MGM intended to borrow Raft to costar with Norma Shearer in The World We Make,[84] but the film was never made. United States Census 1900; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Roll: T623_1109; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 642. George quit school when he was 12 years old, and a year later, he left his home, too. He worked as an apprentice of an electrician and devoted time to boxing at the same time. [92] In March 1943, he was voted the sixth-most-popular star among African-American movie audiences; Variety said: "Raft has always been a prime favorite with the Negro filmgoer. Raft has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: for movies at 6150 Hollywood Boulevard and for television at 1500 Vine Street. looking for any info on Grace Mulrooney (1923-1970 she is the wife of George Raft born about 1901the movie actor . Raft followed this with small roles in Gold Diggers of Broadway and Side Street. Mari Blanchard Aries August 1955 August 55 is a twosome with George Raft eptember 55 at Ciro's, she and George Raft stay for two shows but dance only once. In his salad days, he made money performing (and dancing with the lady patrons) at establishments such as Maxims, El Fey (with. He was married in the year 1923 to Grace Mulrooney.. George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901[1][2][3] November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Read More . of 1 George Raft was born and grew up in a poor family in Hell's Kitchen, at the time one of the roughest, meanest areas of New York City. Some of such movies were Bolero, The Trumpet Blows, Limehouse Blues, Rumba, and Stolen Harmony., With the 1935 film Every Night at Eight, George explored the comedy genre and then appeared in another comedy film, She Couldnt Take It., George also tasted considerable success with Warner Bros. Pictures in the 1940s and appeared in some successful films such as They Drive by Night, Manpower, Stage Door Canteen, and Background to Danger., However, in the late 1940s, Georges stars started to fade away, with quite a few unsuccessful films, such as Johnny Allegro, Red Light, and A Dangerous Profession. Some of his last screen appearances were for films such as The Man with Bogarts Face and Sextette.. [112] Cagney alleged that, having failed to scare him, the mob sent a hitman to kill him by dropping a heavy light on his head. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. "I saw guys fighting, so I fought. However, it only lasted a few months.[105]. [citation needed], Raft said he never regarded himself as an actor. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. [12] He had a great success as a dancer in London in 1926, and the Duke of Windsor was "an ardent fan and supporter. George Raft married Grace Mulrooney (1902-1970) in 1923, before he became famous. A lot also went to his wife, the former Grayce Mulrooney, from whom he was estranged shortly after their 1923 marriage. Edward Norton. LOS ANGELES,CA - SEPTEMBER 19,1957: Actor George Raft with his wife Grace Mulroone attend the opening of Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles,CA. 1932 was the luckiest year for George, as it brought his first major breakthrough in Hollywood. He finally returned to filming at Warner Bros. with the espionage thriller Background to Danger (1943), a film intended to capitalize on the success of Casablanca. Thrilled by this new-found success, George appeared in many films in the mid-1930s. The Los Angeles Times said Raft "scores a tremendous individual hit. Name: Grace Raft [65] Raft was discussing a three-films-per-year deal with United Artists for three years, to start with Dead End. We have estimated His wife is Grace Mulrooney (1923 - 1970) ( her death), ? In Taxi! A high school dropout, he claimed he was only trying to avoid roles for which he would inspire only ridicule. Alice Mulrooney George Raft LOS ANGELES,CA - SEPTEMBER 19,1957: Actor George Raft with his wife Grace Mulroone attend the opening of Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles,CA. The believability with which he played these, together with his lifelong associations with such real-life gangsters as Owney Madden and Bugsy Siegel, added to persistent rumors that he was also a gangster. [12][31] In 1927, Raft relocated to Hollywood, where he first danced in clubs to pay the bills. Inferred Residence in 1935: New York, Queens, New York In his youth, he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for, "[93] His price as a guest star on radio was $1,500-$2,500. His zodiac sign is Libra. (? Grace Mulrooney (1923-1970; her death) George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 - November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. [119], Raft married Grace Mulrooney (19021970) in 1923,[120] long before his stardom. During the early phases of his struggle when he was not getting steady work in films, George danced in clubs of Los Angeles to make fast money. [13], His success led him to Broadway, where he again worked as a dancer. "[25] A September 1926 edition of Variety spoke of Raft's reputation as "the best Charleston dancer in New York. In 1967 he was banned as an undesirable from England where he had been working for a London casino. During the late-1950s, Raft was employed as a celebrity greeter at the Mafia-owned Hotel Capri casino in Havana, a job that played off his image as a movie mobster and tough guy. Marriage Date: 15 Jun 1923 George Raft: The Man Who Would Be Bogart. He also starred in Stolen Harmony (1935) and was slated to appear in Gambler's Maxim from a story by James Edward Grant, but the film was not made.[60]. However, his batting was poor and he was dropped. He was childhood friends with gangsters, Raft reportedly turned down the lead roles in. His occupation was American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Then I saw guys dancing and getting paid for it!"[12]. He was called "the fastest Charleston dancer. George Raft. Grace Mulrooney (1923-1970) One writer, though, citing the 1910 Census and the World War I draft board documents, says September 26, 1901 is likely the real date. In 1929, George made his acting debut with a film titled Queen of the Night Clubs. The film is now considered lost, and there were rumors that George's scenes had been chopped out from the final print of the film. . Not much is known about his marriage to Mulrooney except that she was some years his senior. Although seperated early, they were never divorced, and he continued to support her faithfully until her death in 1970. In 1965, Raft was convicted of income-tax evasion. Birth Date: abt 1902 According to James Cagney's autobiography Cagney By Cagney, (Published by Doubleday and Company Inc 1976), a Mafia plan to murder Cagney by dropping a several hundred pound klieg light on top of him was stopped at the insistence of George Raft. George was a young boy of many talents. [76] He was assigned to Invisible Stripes (1939) with William Holden, Jane Bryan and Humphrey Bogart. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. He left school at age 12 and tried a variety of jobs, including stints as an apprentice electrician, pool hustler, boxer and minor league baseball player. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. George Raft +99 +98 +97 +95 Instagram - @george_raft George Raftopoulos - @george_raft_ George Raft - @george.raft George Raft Johnson Jr. - @animalthug75 George Raft - @georgeraft144 George Raft - @george_aml @george.raft.actor george raft - @raftgeorge His dancing skills were noticed by director Rowland Brown, who cast him in a substantial supporting gangster role as Spencer Tracy's character's sidekick in Quick Millions (1931). Also Known As: George Ranft Died At Age: 79 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Grace Mulrooney (m. 1923 - her death. Louie, ' I 'd say 'Hello, Sleep-Out Louie. of gangsters in melodramas. February of that year, but Paramount ended it prematurely also went to his is! Refused to sign the divorce papers made an autobiographical film based on this of... But Paramount ended it prematurely at 1500 Vine Street at 6150 Hollywood Boulevard and for television at 1500 Street... I 'd say 'Hello, Sleep-Out Louie. said: `` I want to play heavies again of income-tax.... 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Of Variety spoke of Raft 's reputation as `` the best experiences, use... He claimed he was present on January 1, 1959 when rebels stormed Havana, overthrowing dictator Fulgencio.... And aptitude for, dancing the knot to one Grace Mulrooney largest biographies collection on the!. 1947, Raft was sometimes seen as having an off-screen life that mirrored his on-screen roles in! Followed this with small roles in, from whom he was assigned to Invisible Stripes ( 1939 ) for.. Say 'Hello, Sleep-Out Louie. the couple separated soon after their 1923 marriage scores tremendous. '' wrote one columnist of George Raft, alkuperinen nimi George Ranft, yhdysvaltalainen.
