Aldo Ray

A pre-Gilligan's Island Tina Louise is having a tawdry rendezvous 

with Aldo Ray in this steamy publicity still from God's Little Acre.

Aldo's gettin' grabby, and he isn't ever around the corner yet.

 

Aldo Ray - the Early Years

As a few if you are aware, I have done quite a bit of research on Aldo Ray the actor.  Today will be the first of several series on his career and life.  Born in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania in 1926, his family moved to Crockett, California when he was a small child.  A high school football star, he served in the Navy in World War II at the invasion of Okinawa in a unit that became the Navy SEALS.  He attended UC Berkeley for a time before dropping out to get elected Constable of Crockett.  When he gave his brother a ride to a movie audition in 1951, he got the part himself and resigned his position.

.  After some bit parts and uncredited roles, his career really took of in 1952.  

 

Beefcake I

Never let it be said that the Hollywood studios didn't know the usefulness of beefcake photos in the early 1950s.  Aldo Ray did his share of those, and I am sprinkling them through today's set.

 

The Marrying Kind - 1952

Aldo Ray's first starring role was in The Marrying Kind with Judy Holiday in 1952.  Miss Holiday had won an Oscar the year before, and it was a real plum of a role for a newbie to land.  I've always thought that Mr. Ray's performance in this movie was really remarkable.  If you get a chance, take a look.  Below are some more nice shots of Aldo in his boxers from this fine movie.

 

Beefcake II

I've always like this color shot of Aldo Ray.

 

Pat and Mike - 1953

Aldo Ray played opposite Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn as a boxer named Davy Hucko in 1953's Pat and Mike.  The director was George Cukor, a more or less openly gay man who held pool parties where handsome young male actors swam nude in his pool to entertain the guests.  The photo below shows, Tracy, Hepburn, Cukor, and our hero on the set.

There have been persistent rumors that Aldo Ray did more than just swim nude to gain Cukor's favor, but after researching this for years, I haven't found any proof either way.  When asked about the parties, Aldo was quoted as saying,  "I don't think what I did with Geoge Cukor compromised me in any way."

Below, a low chemistry shot of Aldo Ray and Katherine Hepburn.

 

Aldo in his prime

This studio publicity still shows Aldo Ray in his 1950s prime.

 

Miss Sadie Thompson - 1953

In 1953 Aldo Ray shared top billing with Rita Hayworth in his first war movie, Miss Sadie Thompson.  This started what became a long string of military roles that Mr. Ray later said led to typecasting.  Of Miss Hayworth, he said that he like her, but she never really had a chance at a normal life, having been pushed into show business at an early age by her greedy and abusive parents.  Whatever he thought about her background, the two had some real screen chemistry.

 

Beefcake III

I can't decide which of Aldo Ray's beefcake photos I like best, but this makes the final list.

 

Battle Cry - 1955

Mr. Ray's career really hit its stride in 1955 when he appeared in no less than three feature films and 

a major television drama special.  These two pictures are from his second war movie, Battle Cry.

 which co-starred Van Heflin, James Whitmore, Tab Hunter, Anne Francis, 

Dorothy Malone, and Raymond Massey.  Quite a cast!

 

We're No Angels - 1955

In 1955 Aldo Ray starred in the charming almost black comedy We're No Angels, playing Albert, 

a simple minded escapee from Devil's Island who killed people with a tiny snake he carried 

around in a little basket.  His co-stars were Humphrey Bogart and Peter Ustinov.

Our last photo in this first Aldo Ray series shows him in a sultry pose from Angels.