Ray Milland

Biography

Born in Neath, Wales, Ray Milland was a Welsh and American actor who began in British films as an extra before moving to Hollywood and becoming a leading man at Paramount. Initially cast in light comedies, he earned a dramatic breakthrough as an alcoholic writer in Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend (1945), winning the Academy Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe, and the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. His other notable films included Easy Living (1937), Beau Geste (1939), The Major and the Minor (1942), Reap the Wild Wind (1942), The Uninvited (1944), Ministry of Fear (1944), The Big Clock (1948), and The Thief (1952), which brought a second Golden Globe nomination. He later appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder (1954) and Love Story (1970). After leaving Paramount, he directed films such as A Man Alone (1955) and worked extensively in television, including the series Markham.

79years old at death

Born January 3, 1907Neath
Died March 10, 1986Torrance
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Alfred Reginald Jones (birth name)Also credited as Reginald Alfred John Truscott-Jones, Reginald Truscott-Jones, Reginald Jones and Alfred Jones

Movie Career

Films: 48
Career span: 54 years1929 to 1983

Genres

Drama42%, 20 films
Romance25%, 12 films
Comedy23%, 11 films
Crime23%, 11 films
Thriller21%, 10 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Big break
Milland was cast in The Lost Weekend after Paramount's head of production Buddy DeSylva sent him the book with a note reading, "Read it. Study it. You're going to play it."
First role
Milland's skill as a marksman got him extra work at British International Pictures on The Informer in 1929. While there, he tested for a nearby production and was hired to play Jim Edwards in The Flying Scotsman.
A change of course
Before he became an actor, Milland served in 1925 with the Royal Horse Guards of the Household Cavalry. A skilled marksman, he joined his squadron's rifle team and took the British Army Championship in pistol and rifle shooting.
Behind the camera
Milland directed his first film, A Man Alone, in which he also starred, taking a lower fee in exchange for the chance to direct and a share of the profits.

Ray Milland movies on Netflix

Starflight One1983IMDb rating 4.9as Q. T. Thornwell
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8as Sam Hastings (in 'Lost Weekend')
The Attic1980IMDb rating 5.6as Wendell
Battlestar Galactica1978IMDb rating 6.8as Sire Uri
Oliver's Story1978IMDb rating 4.7as Oliver Barrett III
The Uncanny1977IMDb rating 5.8as Frank Richards (segment "Montreal 1977")
Aces High1976IMDb rating 6.6as Brigadier General Whale
Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby1976IMDb rating 3.2as Roman Castevet
The Last Tycoon1976IMDb rating 6.2as Fleishacker
The Swiss Conspiracy1976IMDb rating 5.1as Johann Hurtil
Escape to Witch Mountain1975IMDb rating 6.3as Aristotle Bolt
Gold1974IMDb rating 5.7as Hurry Hirschfeld
The House in Nightmare Park1973IMDb rating 5.7as Stewart Henderson
Frogs1972IMDb rating 4.5as Jason Crockett
The Thing with Two Heads1972IMDb rating 4.6as Maxwell Kirshner
Love Story1970IMDb rating 6.9as Oliver Barrett III
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes1963IMDb rating 6.6as Dr. James Xavier
Panic in Year Zero!1962IMDb rating 6.6as Harry Baldwin
The Premature Burial1962IMDb rating 6.5as Guy Carrell
The River's Edge1957IMDb rating 6.4as Nardo Denning
A Man Alone1955IMDb rating 6.5as Wes Steele
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing1955IMDb rating 6.4as Stanford White
Dial M for Murder1954IMDb rating 8.1as Tony Wendice
Bugles in the Afternoon1952IMDb rating 6.0as Kern Shafter
The Thief1952IMDb rating 6.7as Allan Fields
Circle of Danger1951IMDb rating 6.5as Clay Douglas
A Life of Her Own1950IMDb rating 6.3as Steve Harleigh
Copper Canyon1950IMDb rating 6.2as Johnny Carter
Alias Nick Beal1949IMDb rating 7.1as Nick Beal
It Happens Every Spring1949IMDb rating 6.8as Vernon Simpson
So Evil My Love1948IMDb rating 6.9as Mark Bellis
The Big Clock1948IMDb rating 7.6as George Stroud
California1947IMDb rating 6.1as Jonathan Trumbo
Variety Girl1947IMDb rating 6.3as Ray Milland
The Lost Weekend1945IMDb rating 7.8as Don Birnam
Ministry of Fear1944IMDb rating 7.1as Stephen Neale
The Uninvited1944IMDb rating 7.2as Roderick Fitzgerald
Reap the Wild Wind1942IMDb rating 6.6as Stephen Tolliver
The Major and the Minor1942IMDb rating 7.3as Major Philip Kirby
Arise, My Love1940IMDb rating 6.8as Tom Martin
Beau Geste1939IMDb rating 7.5as John Geste
Bulldog Drummond Escapes1937IMDb rating 6.0as Captain Hugh C. 'Bulldog' Drummond'
Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5as John Ball Jr.
Three Smart Girls1936IMDb rating 6.5as Lord Michael Stuart
The Gilded Lily1935IMDb rating 6.7as Charles Gray (Lord Granton)
Charlie Chan in London1934IMDb rating 6.9as Neil Howard
Blonde Crazy1931IMDb rating 7.1as Joe Reynolds
Piccadilly1929IMDb rating 7.1as Diner in Nightclub

Best known for

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

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Dial M for Murder1954 Crime, Thrilleras Tony Wendice
IMDb rating 8.1207K votes
The Lost Weekend1945 Drama, Film-Noiras Don Birnam
IMDb rating 7.844K votes
Love Story1970as Oliver Barrett III
IMDb rating 6.941K votes
The Uninvited1944as Roderick Fitzgerald
IMDb rating 7.214K votes
The Big Clock1948as George Stroud
IMDb rating 7.611K votes
Ministry of Fear1944as Stephen Neale
IMDb rating 7.19.8K votes
Escape to Witch Mountain1975as Aristotle Bolt
IMDb rating 6.313K votes
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes1963as Dr. James Xavier
IMDb rating 6.69.3K votes

Most often with

John Farrow directed four of these films, Billy Wilder two and Roger Corman two. James Burke appears in four 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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James Burke

Donald Pleasence

Barbara Stanwyck

Alan Napier

Frank Faylen

Douglas SpencerJohn FarrowDirector, 4 films

Billy WilderDirector, 2 films

Roger CormanDirector, 2 films

Films together

James Burke4 films together, 1939 to 1950
James Burke's page
- Copper Canyon1950IMDb rating 6.2Milland as Johnny CarterBurke as Jeb Bassett
- Alias Nick Beal1949IMDb rating 7.1Milland as Nick BealBurke as Bum
- California1947IMDb rating 6.1Milland as Jonathan TrumboBurke as Pokey
- Beau Geste1939IMDb rating 7.5Milland as John GesteBurke as Lieutenant Dufour
Donald Pleasence3 films together, 1975 to 1977
Donald Pleasence's page
- The Uncanny1977IMDb rating 5.8Milland as Frank Richards (segment "Montreal 1977")Pleasence as Valentine De'ath (segment "Hollywood 1936")
- The Last Tycoon1976IMDb rating 6.2Milland as FleishackerPleasence as Boxley
- Escape to Witch Mountain1975IMDb rating 6.3Milland as Aristotle BoltPleasence as Lucas Deranian
Barbara Stanwyck3 films together, 1947 to 1982
Barbara Stanwyck's page
- Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982IMDb rating 6.8Milland as Sam Hastings (in 'Lost Weekend')Stanwyck as Leona Hastings-Forrest
- California1947IMDb rating 6.1Milland as Jonathan TrumboStanwyck as Lily Bishop
- Variety Girl1947IMDb rating 6.3Milland as Ray MillandStanwyck as Barbara Stanwyck
Alan Napier3 films together, 1944 to 1962
Alan Napier's page
- The Premature Burial1962IMDb rating 6.5Milland as Guy CarrellNapier as Dr. Gideon Gault
- Ministry of Fear1944IMDb rating 7.1Milland as Stephen NealeNapier as Dr. JM Forrester
- The Uninvited1944IMDb rating 7.2Milland as Roderick FitzgeraldNapier as Dr. Scott
Frank Faylen3 films together, 1945 to 1950
Frank Faylen's page
- Copper Canyon1950IMDb rating 6.2Milland as Johnny CarterFaylen as Mullins
- California1947IMDb rating 6.1Milland as Jonathan TrumboFaylen as Whitey
- The Lost Weekend1945IMDb rating 7.8Milland as Don BirnamFaylen as 'Bim' Nolan
Douglas Spencer3 films together, 1948 to 1955
Douglas Spencer's page
- A Man Alone1955IMDb rating 6.5Milland as Wes SteeleSpencer as Henry Slocum
- Alias Nick Beal1949IMDb rating 7.1Milland as Nick BealSpencer as Henry T. Finch
- The Big Clock1948IMDb rating 7.6Milland as George StroudSpencer as Bert Finch
John FarrowDirector, 4 films, 1947 to 1950
All films by John Farrow
- Copper Canyon1950IMDb rating 6.2Milland as Johnny Carter
- Alias Nick Beal1949IMDb rating 7.1Milland as Nick Beal
- The Big Clock1948IMDb rating 7.6Milland as George Stroud
- California1947IMDb rating 6.1Milland as Jonathan Trumbo
Billy WilderDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1945
All films by Billy Wilder
- The Lost Weekend1945IMDb rating 7.8Milland as Don Birnam
- The Major and the Minor1942IMDb rating 7.3Milland as Major Philip Kirby
Roger CormanDirector, 2 films, 1962 to 1963
All films by Roger Corman
- X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes1963IMDb rating 6.6Milland as Dr. James Xavier
- The Premature Burial1962IMDb rating 6.5Milland as Guy Carrell
Also three films together1 more actor
- David ClydeThe Lost Weekend (1945), Ministry of Fear (1944) and Bulldog Drummond Escapes (1937)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Ray Milland's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$196 million

9 of the 48 films have a worldwide figure.

9Worldwide figure
2US gross only
2Never in cinemas
35Figure not found

Top grosser

Love Story1970Oliver Barrett III$136 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Love Story1970as Oliver Barrett III
$136M69.6% of the total
2
Escape to Witch Mountain1975as Aristotle Bolt
$20M10.2% of the total
3
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid1982as Sam Hastings (in 'Lost Weekend')
$18M9.3% of the total
4
The Lost Weekend1945as Don Birnam
$11M5.6% of the total
5
Dial M for Murder1954as Tony Wendice
$3.0M1.5% of the total
6
The Major and the Minor1942as Major Philip Kirby
$2.5M1.3% of the total
7
Frogs1972as Jason Crockett
$1.9M1.0% of the total
8
It Happens Every Spring1949as Vernon Simpson
$1.9M0.9% of the total

The Premature Burial (1962), $1.2 million

$1.2 millionfrom the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 1% of the total

Awards

Five awards and honors from 1945 to 1946, three of them major.

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Ray Milland's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1946	Best Actor	The Lost Weekend	Won
Golden Globes
1946	Best Actor in a Leading Role	The Lost Weekend	Won
Cannes Film Festival
1946	Best Actor	The Lost Weekend	Won
Other honors
1945	National Board of Review Award for Best Actor	The Lost Weekend	Won
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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