Ronald Graham | |
---|---|
Born | Maurice John Ronald Graham August 16, 1911
Hamilton, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Died | July 4, 1950
New York City, New York, United States | (aged 38)
Education | University of California |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1931–1950 |
Spouse | Florence Sundstrom |
Ronald Graham (August 16, 1911 – July 4, 1950 [1]) was a Scottish born actor and singer who had a career performing in American radio, film, and theater from the early 1930s until his death in 1950. After winning a national singing competition, he became a regular performer on the radio program Blue Monday Jamboree from 1931 to 1935. He is best remembered for his many appearances in Broadway musicals from 1937 to 1944; notably creating roles in the original productions of works by Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, and Arthur Schwartz.
Born Maurice John Ronald Graham [2] in Hamilton, Scotland, Graham moved to the United States with his family at the age of 10. [1] [3] He was educated at the University of California where he was trained as a baritone, and was a member of the theatrical group The Players. [1] In 1931 he married Edna O'Keefe; they divorced in 1939. [3] [4]
Graham began his career in 1931 as a singer on radio in San Francisco after winning the Atwater Kent Prize, a national singing competition. [1] He was a regular performer on the radio program Blue Monday Jamboree. [5] In 1933 he appeared in vaudeville productions at the Golden Gate Theatre. [6] He made his film debut in 1935 as Ronald in Old Man Rhythm. His other film credits include a featured singer in To Beat the Band (1935) and Dr. Hugh Mayberry in Ladies of Washington (1944). [1]
Graham made his Broadway debut in 1937 as Colonel Richard Fairfax in Arthur Schwartz's Virginia. [7] He appeared regularly in Broadway over the next decade, starring in Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's The Boys from Syracuse (1938–1939, as Antipholus of Ephesus), Cole Porter's Du Barry Was a Lady (1939–1940, as Alex Barton), Rodgers and Hart's By Jupiter (1942–1943, as Theseus), and Clay Warnick's Dream With Music (1944). [1] His other theatre performances included a portrayal of Gaylord Ravenal in Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat with The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis in 1938. [8] During World War II, he volunteered his talents at the American Theatre Wing's Stage Door Canteen to entertain American troops. [9]
In 1944 Graham replaced Alfred Drake as the host of the CBS Radio program Broadway Matinee. [10] In the late 1940s he was active in regional theatre, and appeared in variety programs on American television and radio. [1]
He married the actress Florence Sundstrom on December 20, 1940. [11] He died in New York City on July 4, 1950, one week after a heart attack. [1]
Ronald Graham | |
---|---|
Born | Maurice John Ronald Graham August 16, 1911
Hamilton, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Died | July 4, 1950
New York City, New York, United States | (aged 38)
Education | University of California |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1931–1950 |
Spouse | Florence Sundstrom |
Ronald Graham (August 16, 1911 – July 4, 1950 [1]) was a Scottish born actor and singer who had a career performing in American radio, film, and theater from the early 1930s until his death in 1950. After winning a national singing competition, he became a regular performer on the radio program Blue Monday Jamboree from 1931 to 1935. He is best remembered for his many appearances in Broadway musicals from 1937 to 1944; notably creating roles in the original productions of works by Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, and Arthur Schwartz.
Born Maurice John Ronald Graham [2] in Hamilton, Scotland, Graham moved to the United States with his family at the age of 10. [1] [3] He was educated at the University of California where he was trained as a baritone, and was a member of the theatrical group The Players. [1] In 1931 he married Edna O'Keefe; they divorced in 1939. [3] [4]
Graham began his career in 1931 as a singer on radio in San Francisco after winning the Atwater Kent Prize, a national singing competition. [1] He was a regular performer on the radio program Blue Monday Jamboree. [5] In 1933 he appeared in vaudeville productions at the Golden Gate Theatre. [6] He made his film debut in 1935 as Ronald in Old Man Rhythm. His other film credits include a featured singer in To Beat the Band (1935) and Dr. Hugh Mayberry in Ladies of Washington (1944). [1]
Graham made his Broadway debut in 1937 as Colonel Richard Fairfax in Arthur Schwartz's Virginia. [7] He appeared regularly in Broadway over the next decade, starring in Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's The Boys from Syracuse (1938–1939, as Antipholus of Ephesus), Cole Porter's Du Barry Was a Lady (1939–1940, as Alex Barton), Rodgers and Hart's By Jupiter (1942–1943, as Theseus), and Clay Warnick's Dream With Music (1944). [1] His other theatre performances included a portrayal of Gaylord Ravenal in Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat with The Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis in 1938. [8] During World War II, he volunteered his talents at the American Theatre Wing's Stage Door Canteen to entertain American troops. [9]
In 1944 Graham replaced Alfred Drake as the host of the CBS Radio program Broadway Matinee. [10] In the late 1940s he was active in regional theatre, and appeared in variety programs on American television and radio. [1]
He married the actress Florence Sundstrom on December 20, 1940. [11] He died in New York City on July 4, 1950, one week after a heart attack. [1]