Director, Actor. He was an American silent film director that turned to acting. Born John Griffith Malloy in Philadelphia, he became a leading director for Thomas Ince during the 1920s. His notable efforts behind the camera include "Human Wreckage" in 1923, an early study of drug addiction, and the same year, "Anna Christie," which was the first screen adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's drama. With the arrival of talkies, he suddenly switched to acting in character roles. Wray is unforgettable in the portrayal of German Corporal Himmelstoss, a kindly mailman in civilian life, who becomes a sadistic trainer to new recruits during their boot camp experience in the Academy-Award-winning 1930-film adaption of the novel "All Quiet on the Western Front." Often playing minor roles, which at times uncredited, he appeared in 81 films between 1929 and his death, and among the credited ones: "Quick Millions" in 1931, "Doctor X" in 1932, as an unnamed farmer in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" in 1936, "You Only Live Once" in 1937, "Gangs of New York" in 1938, and "The Swiss Family Robinson" in 1940. His role in "All Quiet on the Western Front" became part of history when the film was selected and preserved in 1990 by the United States Library of Congress' National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."
Director, Actor. He was an American silent film director that turned to acting. Born John Griffith Malloy in Philadelphia, he became a leading director for Thomas Ince during the 1920s. His notable efforts behind the camera include "Human Wreckage" in 1923, an early study of drug addiction, and the same year, "Anna Christie," which was the first screen adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's drama. With the arrival of talkies, he suddenly switched to acting in character roles. Wray is unforgettable in the portrayal of German Corporal Himmelstoss, a kindly mailman in civilian life, who becomes a sadistic trainer to new recruits during their boot camp experience in the Academy-Award-winning 1930-film adaption of the novel "All Quiet on the Western Front." Often playing minor roles, which at times uncredited, he appeared in 81 films between 1929 and his death, and among the credited ones: "Quick Millions" in 1931, "Doctor X" in 1932, as an unnamed farmer in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" in 1936, "You Only Live Once" in 1937, "Gangs of New York" in 1938, and "The Swiss Family Robinson" in 1940. His role in "All Quiet on the Western Front" became part of history when the film was selected and preserved in 1990 by the United States Library of Congress' National Film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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