Ray Middleton

Raymond Earl Middleton (February 8, 1907 – April 10, 1984) was an American singer and actor who worked across stage, film, and television. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he attended the University of Illinois before launching a career in opera and musical theater.

Following his graduation, Middleton performed with the Detroit Civic Opera Company, then with the St. Louis Opera Company and the Chicago Civic Opera. He was offered a position with the Metropolitan Opera Company but declined, choosing instead to pursue work in film and theater.

Middleton's Broadway career spanned from 1931 to 1965 and encompassed a wide range of productions. His early stage credits included the 1933 musical Roberta and the 1938 production Knickerbocker Holiday. He also appeared in the George Bernard Shaw play Too True to Be Good. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces and took part in the Air Forces stage production Winged Victory. In 1946, he co-starred alongside Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun, and in 1948 he starred opposite Nanette Fabray in Love Life. He later joined the cast of South Pacific in 1950, succeeding Ezio Pinza as co-star to Mary Martin. In 1965, he appeared in Man of La Mancha, playing the innkeeper.

On July 3, 1940, at the New York World's Fair, Middleton became the first actor to portray Superman in a public appearance, at the World of Tomorrow exhibit's "Superman Day" event. His film work during the early 1940s included Gangs of Chicago, Hurricane Smith, in which he played the title role, and Lady for a Night, which starred Joan Blondell and John Wayne.

Middleton's television work included guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, where he also served once as guest host, as well as the Colgate Comedy Hour and Chrysler's Shower of Stars during the 1950s. In 1967, he co-starred with Phil Silvers and Lee Remick in a television adaptation of Damn Yankees. During the 1970s, he appeared in the TV movie Hec Ramsey as a judge, portrayed Colonel Thomas McKean in the film 1776, played ranch-owner George Spahn in the first television adaptation of Helter Skelter, and provided the voice of Pepperino in the animated film Tubby the Tuba. His final screen appearances included the role of Cardinal Reardon in the M*A*S*H episode "Blood Brothers," which featured Patrick Swayze, and the recurring role of grandfather Huey Rush on the comedy series Too Close for Comfort.