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. He spoofed his tough-guy image in a comedy sketch on the Feb. 20, 1955 episode of The Jack Benny Program. In 1946, Raft earned a reported $108,000 for the year. The troubled financial situation of his family had George working ever since he was a kid. 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. Music by. . His zodiac sign is Libra. Relation to Head of House: Head She had previously been married to Irving Thalberg from 1927 till his death in 1936. made him a local favorite at such spots as the El Fey Club with, Stage: Appeared (as "George Spelvin"; Broadway debut) in "The City Chap" on Broadway. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. It became a hit and made Raft a star. Enter a grandparent's name. His wife is Grace Mulrooney (1923 - 1970) ( her death), ? Grace Raft (born Mulrooney), died 1970 Grace Raft (born Mulrooney) married George Raft in 1923. Read More . WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. The pair separated soon thereafter, but the devoutly Catholic . Farm: No 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. [12], Raft's final film appearances were in Hammersmith Is Out (1972), Sextette (1978), in which he reunited with Mae West, and The Man with Bogart's Face (1980), a nod to 1940s detective films. [20] Raft had a notable collaboration with Elsie Pilcer. Home; Local; Headlines; Coronavirus; Original; Recommend. discoveries. Although the couple separated soon after their marriage, Grace refused to sign the divorce papers. He turned down High Sierra (1941), which gave Humphrey Bogart his big break, The Maltese Falcon (1941), and Double Indemnity (1944). Then I saw guys dancing and getting paid for it!"[12]. Gender: Female His parents were both of German descent. He was childhood friends with gangsters, Raft reportedly turned down the lead roles in. George Raft, alkuperinen nimi George Ranft, ( 26. syyskuuta 1901 New York, Yhdysvallat - 24. marraskuuta 1980 Los Angeles, Yhdysvallat) oli yhdysvaltalainen nyttelij ja tanssija . His wife is 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. In "Taxi," his first Hollywood movie, he was cast, appropriately enough, as a dance contest winner, and soon, with his slick, dark hair and heavy-lidded dark eyes, he was being considered as a possible successor to Rudolph Valentino. [Grace Mulrooney] LOS ANGELES,CA - SEPTEMBER 19,1957: Actor George Raft with his wife Grace Mulroone attend the opening of Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles,CA. Respondent: Yes Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 20 Raft is perhaps as well known today for the movie roles he turned down as those he accepted. "I was very erotic. George Raft Personal Life, Relationships and Dating Raft married Grace Mulrooney (1902-1970) in 1923, long before his stardom. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Raft was one of several Paramount stars who appeared in the episodic comedy/drama If I Had a Million (1932), playing a forger hiding from police who is suddenly given a million dollars with no place to cash the check. Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web! "[59], In Rumba (1935), Raft was reunited with Lombard. $1 million 1901 1901-9-26 1980-11-24 5' 7" (1.7 m) Actor George Raft Net Worth George Ranft Grace Mulrooney I'm the Law (1953) Libra New York New York City Scarface (1932) September 26 Some Like It Hot (1959) Soundtrack They Drive by Night (1940) U.S. Facebook Twitter. Although seperated early, they were never divorced, and he continued to support her faithfully until her death in 1970. AKA George Ranft. The son of Christopher Ranft and Catherine Weil.Resided in Woodside,Queens,NY.Burial in Woodlawn on March 10 1929.Husband of Eva Ranft and father of actor George Raft.Source information is NY city Death certificate #7479 Manhattan for March 6 1929. (? He married Grace Mulrooney, who was several years his senior, when he was 22. 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. 2023 Getty Images. "[12] He decided to seek other work. George Raft and Grayce Mulrooney - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos list. I danced in nightclubs for 15 years and I met a lot of people.". The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. 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.. October 1959 was seen at the Star on the Roof with actor George Raft 44 3 0. Home in 1940: New York, Queens, New York I think I made a mistake going straight."[107]. I was getting real fan mail by the bushel basket and even a dumb kid from 10th Avenue could figure out how to translate that into money."[12]. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembered for his gangster roles in Scarface (1932), Each Dawn I Die (1939), and Billy Wilder's comedy Some Like It Hot (1959), as a dancer in . Raft was borrowed by Twentieth Century Pictures, a new production company established by Darryl F. Zanuck (former head of production at Warner Bros.). [94] Raft declined the lead role in Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1944). [116], In 1946, Raft was sued by an attorney in Australia for assault. At first he struggled financially, but then he won a Charleston competition and was launched professionally. Access the best of Getty Images and iStock with our simple subscription plan. Supposing I'm supposed to hate a guy. His first big role was as the coin-tossing henchman in Scarface (1932). He was occasionally romantically linked with some of them but when he was in his early 20's and as yet unknown, he had married a Catholic girl, Grace Mulrooney, in 1923. At 79 years old, George Raft height Help us build our profile of George Raft and Grayce Mulrooney! He said: "I want to play heavies again. House Number: 133-33 1970), place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States, See the events in life of George Raft in Chronological Order, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Raft#/media/File:Judy_Canova_and_George_Raft,_1979.jpg, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Raft#/media/File:George_Raft_in_Invisible_Stripes_trailer.jpg, https://pixabay.com/photos/george-raft-frances-drake-actor-402603/. [12] He had a great success as a dancer in London in 1926, and the Duke of Windsor was "an ardent fan and supporter. The pair separated soon thereafter, but the devoutly Catholic Mulrooney refused to grant a divorce, Raft remained married to and supporting her until her death in 1970. . In the last years of his life, he had lived on approximately $800 a month, a combination of social security and his pension. Career: From age 13, worked as boxer, pool player, dancer; 1919dancer in vaudeville, in the next few years touring on the Orpheum and Keith Circuits; also dancer at Jimmy Durante's Club Durante and Texas Guinan's El Fey Club; 1925Broadway . Raft was known to run with a pretty rough crowd. [7], Most obituaries cited Raft's year of birth as 1895, which he stated was correct when he appeared on The Mike Douglas Show seven months prior to his death. the time one of the roughest, meanest areas of New York City. [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"). "[22], "I could have been the first X-rated dancer," he said later. [12] His stage performances included The City Chap (October 1925) (with music by Jerome Kern),[29] Gay Paree, Madhattan, Palm Beach Nights (also known as No Foolin') and Padlocks of 1927 (1927). George's father, Conrad Ranft, was born in Massachusetts, to German parents, from Muenster. [13], His success led him to Broadway, where he again worked as a dancer. 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. George was known to have had romantic involvements with several actors of his time, such as Norma Shearer, Mae West, and Carole Lombard. Stroomlijn uw workflow met ons toonaangevende beheersysteem voor digitale bestanden. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 79 years old group. "We were taught to be nice to everybody," he said, "to say hello to everybody. 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. [105] The Man from Cairo (1953), also for Lippert and shot in Europe and Africa, was Raft's last film with top billing. The fim was an attempt to invoke Valentino's Blood and Sand, and for a time, Raft was promoted as a "second Valentino. [47], He said: "It's not that I mind being the guy on the wrong side of the law. Grace Mulrooney (1923-1970) A former boxer and night club performer who grew up in a rough Manhattan neighborhood, Mr. [101] However, the following year, Hedda Hopper wrote that Raft was "going stronger than ever today" adding that "he has made millions, but hasn't got 'em due to a fondness for gambling and a loyalty to helping old friends. It's me. In his youth, he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for, (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. Second actor to portray the title role for CBS Radio's "The Adventures of Rocky Jordan" (1951-1953). Born: George Ranft in New York City, 26 September 1895. His first big role was as the coin-tossing henchman in Scarface (1932). Samuel Goldwyn wanted Raft for the film version of Dead End and Universal, David O. Selznick and 20th Century Fox were keen on using Raft. [63] In October 1936, he reconciled with Paramount and the studio returned his $24,000. George Raft is rumoured to have hooked up with Marlene Dietrich (1941) and Lucille Ball.. About. ", 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. [13] Raft's appearances in these films were followed by Goldie with Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow, Hush Money with Joan Bennett, and the Eddie Cantor musical Palmy Days. 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. Although Raft's scenes were cut, a Variety review said "a nite club scene introduces George Raft, the hot stepper, as the m. c. and band leader, being brought down for one of his rip-snorting hoofing specialties. [38][39] The following month, he was cast in a supporting role in Madame Racketeer (1932), and contemporary reports referred to his "menacing suavity. His parents were both of German descent. Denying that he had any associations with underworld figures beyond occasional acquaintanceship, Mr. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "George Raft, Molly Picon, Rudy Vallee, George Jessel--1980 TV Interview and Songs", "'Tough guy' George raft dies of emphysema at 85", "George Raft Refuses Part in Mae West Film", "Raft Talking UA Deal after his Par Walk", "Raft Gets okay for 2% Buy of Vegas Casino", "Funds For Parvin Foundation Came From Flamingo Hotel Sale", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Raft&oldid=1132906104, Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from September 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2018, Articles needing additional references from July 2017, All articles needing additional references, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Internet Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. At the races. 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]. Raft starred in a brutal and fast-paced adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's The Glass Key (1935). In his youth, he showed a great interest in, and aptitude for, dancing. Robinson recalled Raft as "touchy, difficult and thoroughly impossible to play with. Featured in "Bad Boys: The Actors of Film Noir" by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry (McFarland, 2003). 20th Century Fox hired him to a contract so that he could appear in Henry Hathaway's hit musical Nob Hill (1945), replacing Fred MacMurray.