Gordon MacRae

Biography

Gordon MacRae was an American actor and singer who hosted radio and television programs. Born in East Orange, New Jersey, in 1921, he died in 1986. A baritone, he won a contest to sing at the 1939 New York World's Fair, backed by Harry James and Les Brown's orchestras. He made his Broadway debut in 1942 and had a recording contract. He hosted The Gordon MacRae Show on CBS in 1945 and on NBC in 1956, as well as The Railroad Hour. After signing with Warner Bros. in 1947, he appeared in Backfire (1950) and in musicals with Doris Day: Tea for Two (1950), On Moonlight Bay (1951), and By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953). He was best known as Curly in Oklahoma! (1955) with Shirley Jones and starred in Carousel (1956). He took the role of Buddy De Sylva in The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956) and later appeared in Zero to Sixty (1978).

64years old at death

Born March 12, 1921East Orange
Died January 24, 1986William Jennings Bryan House
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as Albert Gordon MacRae

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 28 years1950 to 1978

Genres

Comedy63%, 5 films
Romance63%, 5 films
Music50%, 4 films
Musical25%, 2 films
Biography13%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
MacRae won a singing contest that let him perform at the 1939 New York World's Fair with the Harry James and Les Brown orchestras.
A role that slipped away
In 1943, MacRae took over for Frank Sinatra on a radio program, though his time there was short because he was called away for military service.

Gordon MacRae movies on Netflix

Zero to Sixty1978IMDb rating 5.1as Officer Joe
Carousel1956IMDb rating 6.5as Billy Bigelow
The Best Things in Life Are Free1956IMDb rating 6.0as B.G. 'Buddy' De Sylva
Oklahoma!1955IMDb rating 7.0as Curly McLain
By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0as Bill Sherman
On Moonlight Bay1951IMDb rating 6.9as William 'Bill' Sherman
Backfire1950IMDb rating 6.5as Bob Corey
Tea for Two1950IMDb rating 6.5as Jimmy Smith

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Oklahoma!1955 Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance, Westernas Curly McLain
IMDb rating 7.016K votes
Carousel1956 Music, Romanceas Billy Bigelow
IMDb rating 6.57.4K votes
On Moonlight Bay1951as William 'Bill' Sherman
IMDb rating 6.93.4K votes
By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953as Bill Sherman
IMDb rating 7.02.8K votes
Tea for Two1950as Jimmy Smith
IMDb rating 6.52.4K votes
Backfire1950as Bob Corey
IMDb rating 6.52.1K votes
The Best Things in Life Are Free1956as B.G. 'Buddy' De Sylva
IMDb rating 6.0410 votes
Zero to Sixty1978as Officer Joe
IMDb rating 5.1295 votes

Most often with

David Butler directed two of these films. Doris Day appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Doris Day

Leon Ames

John Dehner

Mary Wickes

Rosemary DeCamp

Shirley Jones

David ButlerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Doris Day3 films together, 1950 to 1953
Doris Day's page
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0MacRae as Bill ShermanDay as Marjorie Winfield
- On Moonlight Bay1951IMDb rating 6.9MacRae as William 'Bill' ShermanDay as Marjorie 'Marjie' Winfield
- Tea for Two1950IMDb rating 6.5MacRae as Jimmy SmithDay as Nanette Carter
Leon Ames2 films together, 1951 to 1953
Leon Ames's page
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0MacRae as Bill ShermanAmes as George Winfield
- On Moonlight Bay1951IMDb rating 6.9MacRae as William 'Bill' ShermanAmes as George Winfield
John Dehner2 films together, 1950 to 1956
John Dehner's page
- Carousel1956IMDb rating 6.5MacRae as Billy BigelowDehner as Mr. Bascombe
- Backfire1950IMDb rating 6.5MacRae as Bob CoreyDehner as Blake - Plainclothes Cop
Mary Wickes2 films together, 1951 to 1953
Mary Wickes's page
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0MacRae as Bill ShermanWickes as Stella
- On Moonlight Bay1951IMDb rating 6.9MacRae as William 'Bill' ShermanWickes as Stella
Rosemary DeCamp2 films together, 1951 to 1953
Rosemary DeCamp's page
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0MacRae as Bill ShermanDeCamp as Alice Winfield
- On Moonlight Bay1951IMDb rating 6.9MacRae as William 'Bill' ShermanDeCamp as Alice Winfield
Shirley Jones2 films together, 1955 to 1956
Shirley Jones's page
- Carousel1956IMDb rating 6.5MacRae as Billy BigelowJones as Julie Jordan
- Oklahoma!1955IMDb rating 7.0MacRae as Curly McLainJones as Laurey Williams
David ButlerDirector, 2 films, 1950 to 1953
All films by David Butler
- By the Light of the Silvery Moon1953IMDb rating 7.0MacRae as Bill Sherman
- Tea for Two1950IMDb rating 6.5MacRae as Jimmy Smith
Also two films together3 more actors
- Billy GrayBy the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953) and On Moonlight Bay (1951)
- Jacques d'AmboiseCarousel (1956) and The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956)
- Gene NelsonOklahoma! (1955) and Tea for Two (1950)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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Gordon MacRae's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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