Ray McDonald, a native of New York City, was born on June 27, 1921, and demonstrated an innate ability to dance from an early age. Alongside his older sister, Grace, a talented tap dancer, the siblings formed a popular vaudeville act, captivating audiences with their energetic performances. By the time Ray was just 16 years old, he had already made his Broadway debut in the musical "Babes in Arms," alongside his sister, impressing audiences with their rendition of the song "I Wish I Was In Love Again."
Talent scouts took notice of the siblings' remarkable talent, and both were soon signed by major studios. While Grace went on to work with Paramount and Universal, Ray was signed by MGM, where he seemed destined for stardom. His dark good looks, boyish charm, and boundless energy made him a standout on screen. He began his film career with a leading role in the low-budget programmer "Down in San Diego" (1941),followed by appearances in "Babes on Broadway" (1941),where he danced to "By the Light of the Silvery Moon," and "Life Begins for Andy Hardy" (1941),alongside Mickey Rooney.
However, Ray's career momentum slowed, and he struggled to rise above the secondary ranks. His service in World War II, during which he appeared in both the stage and film versions of "Winged Victory" (1944),did little to revitalize his career. The collegiate musical "Good News" (1947),co-starring June Allyson and Peter Lawford, would prove to be Ray's final feature film for MGM. After his divorce from actress Elisabeth Fraser, whom he met while performing in the stage show of "Winged Victory" in 1943, Ray married fellow dancer and singer Peggy Ryan. The couple appeared together in several films, including "Shamrock Hill" (1949),"There's a Girl in My Heart" (1949),and "All Ashore" (1953),a musical comedy that, unfortunately, marked Ray's final film appearance.
Following the decline of his film career, Ray and Peggy toured stages and nightclubs, performing together until their eventual divorce. Ray made sporadic appearances on TV variety shows and in 1959, while in New York to appear on a show, he tragically passed away at the age of 37, choking on food in his hotel room. Today, Ray McDonald is largely forgotten, but his remarkable talent and captivating stage presence deserve recognition and remembrance.
