Ray Middleton, 1907-1984, was a singer and American character actor. His musical career began in New York where he sang roles in opera and on radio. He also sang roles in Broadway musicals such as "Roberta" in the 1930s, co-starred with Ethyl Merman in the original "Annie Get Your Gun" (1946), and was in "South Pacific". In 1965, he played the Innkeeper in the first Broadway production of "The Man of La Mancha." As an actor he became involved in motion pictures such as "Hurricane Smith" (1941), "Lady for a Night" (1942), "I Dream of Jeanie" (a movie about Stephen Foster, 1952), "Jubilee Trail" (1954), and "1776" (1972). He served in the US Air Force during World War II and performed in Air Force shows such as "Winged Victory." He then entered television where his career spanned three decades and included roles in "M*A*S*H*" (1981) and "Too Close for Comfort" (1981-1984). In the 1950s he appeared several times on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour". He had been a Chatauqua performer, 1932-1933, and later in life he developed lecture tours and one man shows such as "America in Song and Story" and "Mr. Lincoln Goes to Gettysburg".
From the guide to the Ray Middleton papers, 1896-1987, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)
