Ray Corrigan
Biography
Ray Corrigan was an American actor known for B-Westerns and ape-costume gorilla roles. Born Raymond Benitz in Milwaukee, he began his Hollywood career as a physical fitness instructor and trainer to stars before doing stunts and bit parts in the early 1930s as Ray Benard. He had his breakthrough in 1936 with the Republic serial The Undersea Kingdom, adopting the screen name Crash Corrigan. Republic then cast him in the Three Mesquiteers series, where he appeared in 24 of its 51 films. At Monogram he starred in The Range Busters, appearing in 20 of its 24 films between 1940 and 1943. Later he returned to ape roles in films such as The Ape (1940) and Unknown Island (1948), and his final theatrical film was It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958). He also had a 1950 television show, Crash Corrigan's Ranch, and developed the Corriganville movie ranch in 1937, which Bob Hope bought in 1966.
74years old at death
- Born Milwaukee
- Died Brookings
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Raymond Benard (birth name)Also credited as Crash Corrigan
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 26 years1932 to 1958
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Big break
Ray Corrigan's screen breakthrough came in 1936 when he starred in the Republic serial The Undersea Kingdom, playing a character named Ray "Crash" Corrigan, which he then adopted as his professional name.
A change of course
Corrigan started out in Hollywood as a physical fitness instructor and trainer of stars. In the early 1930s he took stunt work and bit parts in several films, credited as Ray Benard.
Behind the camera
In 1937, Corrigan bought land in Simi Valley, in the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains, and turned it into a movie ranch named "Corriganville". It hosted filming for serials, feature films and television shows, plus live western shows.
A change of course
In 1948 Corrigan sold his gorilla suits and gave their new owner, Steve Calvert, training in how to use them. Calvert then took over the gorilla roles, beginning with a Jungle Jim film.
Ray Corrigan movies on Netflix
It! The Terror from Beyond Spaceas It
Zombies of Mora Tauas Sailor
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorillaas Gorilla
Forbidden Jungleas Gege - the Gorilla
Trail of Robin Hoodas Crash Corrigan
Miraculous Journeyas Gorilla
Unknown Islandas Monster
Renegade Girlas William Quantrill
The White Gorillaas Steve Collins…
The Trail of the Silver Spursas Crash Corrigan
The Apeas Nabu
The Riders of the Whistling Skullas Tucson Smith
Sharad of Atlantisas Ray 'Crash' Corrigan
Tarzan the Ape Manas Ape
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Edward L. Cahn directed two of these films. Fifteen actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.







Films together
George Cleveland2 films together, 1940 to 1948
George Cleveland's page Miraculous Journey1948IMDb rating 6.5Corrigan as GorillaCleveland as The Hermit
The Ape1940IMDb rating 4.7Corrigan as NabuCleveland as Mr. Howley
Virginia Grey2 films together, 1948
Virginia Grey's page Miraculous Journey1948IMDb rating 6.5Corrigan as GorillaGrey as Patricia
Unknown Island1948IMDb rating 5.0Corrigan as MonsterGrey as Carole Lane
I. Stanford Jolley2 films together, 1940 to 1941
I. Stanford Jolley's page The Trail of the Silver Spurs1941IMDb rating 5.7Corrigan as Crash CorriganJolley as The Jingler
The Ape1940IMDb rating 4.7Corrigan as NabuJolley as Ape Trainer
George Chesebro2 films together, 1941 to 1950
George Chesebro's page Trail of Robin Hood1950IMDb rating 6.0Corrigan as Crash CorriganChesebro as George Chesebro
The Trail of the Silver Spurs1941IMDb rating 5.7Corrigan as Crash CorriganChesebro as Wilson
William Farnum2 films together, 1936 to 1950
William Farnum's page Trail of Robin Hood1950IMDb rating 6.0Corrigan as Crash CorriganFarnum as Bill Franum
Sharad of Atlantis1936IMDb rating 4.6Corrigan as Ray 'Crash' CorriganFarnum as Sharad
Frank Ellis2 films together, 1937 to 1941
Frank Ellis's page The Trail of the Silver Spurs1941IMDb rating 5.7Corrigan as Crash CorriganEllis as Murder Victim #2
The Riders of the Whistling Skull1937IMDb rating 5.8Corrigan as Tucson SmithEllis as Coggins
Edward L. CahnDirector, 2 films, 1957 to 1958
All films by Edward L. Cahn It! The Terror from Beyond Space1958IMDb rating 6.0Corrigan as It
Zombies of Mora Tau1957IMDb rating 5.2Corrigan as Sailor
Also two films together9 more actors
- Jack HoltTrail of Robin Hood (1950) and Renegade Girl (1946)
- Art DillardRenegade Girl (1946) and The Riders of the Whistling Skull (1937)
- C. Montague ShawThe Riders of the Whistling Skull (1937) and Sharad of Atlantis (1936)
- Chief ThundercloudRenegade Girl (1946) and The Riders of the Whistling Skull (1937)
- John 'Dusty' KingRenegade Girl (1946) and The Trail of the Silver Spurs (1941)
- Milburn MoranteThe White Gorilla (1945) and The Trail of the Silver Spurs (1941)
- ElmerThe Trail of the Silver Spurs (1941) and The Riders of the Whistling Skull (1937)
- Max TerhuneThe Trail of the Silver Spurs (1941) and The Riders of the Whistling Skull (1937)
- Steve CalvertBela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) and Forbidden Jungle (1950)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


