Actor. He was an American character actor who appeared on stage, in motion pictures, and on television. Born and raised in Idaho, he was very shy, and started acting at a young age in school plays to help himself with his shyness. He would go on to Centralia Junior College in Washington state and the Cornish Drama School in Seattle. He pursued stage work in regional companies, then went to New York to study with the legendary Michael Chekhov. With his help, Rainey made his Broadway debut with the repertory troupe in Feodor Dostoevski's "Possessed." Two years later, he appeared as 'Sir Toby Belch' in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and as the lead in a touring production of "King Lear." During World War II he served as a Coast Guard Boatswain's mate on a patrol boat off the coast of Oregon. After the war he re-joined his work with Chekhov and appeared in several other stage productions. In 1949, Rainey made his motion picture debut in an uncredited role in the James Cagney film, "White Heat." Throughout the 1950's he worked mainly on the stage, but did appear in such films as "The Robe" in 1953, and "John Paul Jones," in 1959. He also made Television appearances on several programs that include "Robert Montgomery Presents" and "Studio One." In 1961 and 1962, Rainey co-starred with Robert Young in the series, "Window on Main Street." Though he loved his work on stage it is his many television roles for which he will be best remembered. He appeared on such shows as "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "Route 66," "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables," "The Bionic Woman," a general in "MASH" and a judge on "The Waltons" and on "Matlock." Ford Rainey worked well into his 90s, appearing on shows that include "Ned and Stacey," "ER," and "The King of Queens". It was on "The King of Queens" that he was last seen playing his recurring role of 'Mickey' in December 2003.
Actor. He was an American character actor who appeared on stage, in motion pictures, and on television. Born and raised in Idaho, he was very shy, and started acting at a young age in school plays to help himself with his shyness. He would go on to Centralia Junior College in Washington state and the Cornish Drama School in Seattle. He pursued stage work in regional companies, then went to New York to study with the legendary Michael Chekhov. With his help, Rainey made his Broadway debut with the repertory troupe in Feodor Dostoevski's "Possessed." Two years later, he appeared as 'Sir Toby Belch' in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and as the lead in a touring production of "King Lear." During World War II he served as a Coast Guard Boatswain's mate on a patrol boat off the coast of Oregon. After the war he re-joined his work with Chekhov and appeared in several other stage productions. In 1949, Rainey made his motion picture debut in an uncredited role in the James Cagney film, "White Heat." Throughout the 1950's he worked mainly on the stage, but did appear in such films as "The Robe" in 1953, and "John Paul Jones," in 1959. He also made Television appearances on several programs that include "Robert Montgomery Presents" and "Studio One." In 1961 and 1962, Rainey co-starred with Robert Young in the series, "Window on Main Street." Though he loved his work on stage it is his many television roles for which he will be best remembered. He appeared on such shows as "Bonanza," "Gunsmoke," "Route 66," "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables," "The Bionic Woman," a general in "MASH" and a judge on "The Waltons" and on "Matlock." Ford Rainey worked well into his 90s, appearing on shows that include "Ned and Stacey," "ER," and "The King of Queens". It was on "The King of Queens" that he was last seen playing his recurring role of 'Mickey' in December 2003.
Bio by: The Perplexed Historian
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