John Wray (actor)
John Wray, born John Griffith Malloy, ( born February 13, 1887 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, † April 5, 1940 in Los Angeles, California ) was an American actor.
Life
Wray was already a successful stage actor on Broadway, when he moved in the early years of sound films to Hollywood to begin a career in the film business. Due to its particular look he received mainly roles in character roles. Coinciding with his first roles he was assigned accordingly. In the film adaptation of the Western Front from 1930 he played the sadistic instructor Himmelstoss. Even with his portrayal of corrupt politician Mort Bradstreet Czar of Broadway he could draw attention to themselves in the same year.
It was followed by other appearances in supporting roles in productions whose quality declined with time. He could stand out as a performer again until 1936 in Frank Capra's Mr. Deeds Goes to Town as irate farmer and as guards in Fritz Lang's film noir Rushed.