Born in Los Angeles California on December 18, 1936, to Jeanie Dickson and Bill Gray, Gary would go on to work in such well-known films as
Randolph Scott's Der Schrecken von Texas (1948), and the Loretta Young / William Holden /
Robert Mitchum film, Ehe ohne Liebe (1948).
Bill Gray was a business manager for many celebrities in the film industry, and Gary''s career began as a result of two of his Dad's clients;
Bert Wheeler (of Wheeler and Woolsey fame) and Jack Benny, who both recommended putting Gary in pictures, which Bill did. Gary Gray made his film debut in Erpressung (1941), with Joan Crawford. Following quickly with Adoptiertes Glück (1941), in which he portrayed a war orphan. His big break came when he landed the role of young Johnny in RKO's big-budget western, Der Schrecken von Texas (1948).
Before this hit was released, Gary beat out Bobby Driscoll for the part of young Davey, in the frontier epic, Ehe ohne Liebe (1948).
In 1950, he played the son of Nancy Reagan and James Whitmore, in the classic, The Next Voice You Hear... (1950).
His performance in that film led to a contract at MGM, where he starred with the original Lassie in the Technicolor Lassie und die Goldgräber (1951).
After completing the latter, he spent more time attending school. Gary graduated from Van Nuys High, and went on to attended Valley College, where he majored in theater arts. Throughout the fifties, Gary continued to work, doing mainly television, guesting on
many series.
Gary's fondness for the West, beginning with the film's he worked in, also gave him a love of horses, which he owned horses.
Gary returned to film, as a now young man, and appeared in the Universal-International western, Der Tod reitet mit (1958).
His last film was the cult western, Die Geächteten vom Rio Grande (1962), with House Peters Jr., and Peter Mamakos.
In 1960, Gary started a swimming pool maintenance and repair business.
On January 28, of the following year, Gary married Jean Charlene Bean. They had 4
daughters and 19 grandchildren. For the last twenty-five years of his
38 years in the swimming pool industry, he worked for 2 of
the major international manufacturers of equipment as
territory, regional, and national sales manager.
Gary was a sought-after speaker, and educator for the National Spa and Pool
Institute, as well as by the Independent Pool and Spa Service
Association.
Gary retired in July,1999, and over the years, Gary had amassed many copies of his films and television appearances, as
well as stills, posters, and lobby cards. Around this time, Gary had begun being guest at film festivals throughout the
US. He enjoyed visiting with fans, and told many stories from his career.
In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoyed time on the golf course
Gary Gray died of cancer in 2006.
