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Ford Rainey
Age: 96 (passed away Jul. 25th, 2005)
Height:
Birth Place: Mountain Home, Idaho, USA
Born: Aug. 8th, 1908
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Ford Rainey's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: American character actor of stage, films, and television. A native of Idaho, Rainey was the son of a colorful character who was, among many other things, a champion of local dance contests. As a boy, Rainey was painfully shy, but found an outlet in school plays. He pursued stage work in regional companies, then went to New York to study with the legendary Michael Chekhov. He worked numerous "civilian" jobs while attempting to make a career as an actor, including work as a logger, a lineman, and a licensed carpenter. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, then went to California where he helped start the Ojai Valley Players and then acted in his first film in 1949. He became a familiar face in films and television shows of all sorts during the next five decades while maintaining a deep attachment to the theatre. In his ninetieth year, he played Giles Corey in "The Crucible" at Theatricum Botanicum, the Topanga, California theatre founded by his friend, the late Will Geer.
TRIVIA:
- At age 90 started breeding tropical birds. He won many awards in various competitions for his efforts.
- Was an excellent horseman and fencer which served him well in westerns and dashing adventures.
- Tended beehives at his Malibu ranch house in later years. He owned his own solar heater and earned the nickname "The Wizard" from neighborhood children. At age 90 he was breeding birds and won trophies from several Southern California competitions.
- Before he was able to make a full-time living as an actor he held a variety of other jobs, including logger, lineman, fruit picker, fisherman and clam digger.
- He made his movie debut with an uncredited role in the 1949 'James Cagney' (qv) picture _White Heat (1949)_ (qv).
- His austere, authoritative looks were perfect for playing presidents, which he did several times on TV, including the pilot episode of _"Lost in Space" (1965)_ (qv) and on _"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964)_ (qv).
- His final appearances as an actor was his reoccurring role as "Mickey", Arthur Spooner's friend on the television series, King of Queens.
- Supported himself as a linesman, logger and carpenter during the lean years.
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