Ford Rainey

Ford Rainey (August 8, 1908 ? July 25, 2005) was a movie, stage and televison actor. Rainey was a familiar face in motion pictures, including his film debut White Heat (1949), The Sand Pebbles with Steve McQueen and Two Rode Together with James Stewart.

Related Topics:
August 8 - 1908 - July 25 - 2005 - White Heat - The Sand Pebbles - Steve McQueen - Two Rode Together - James Stewart

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He also appeared many times on television shows, guest starring on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Bionic Woman and The Untouchables. The tall austere, authoritative-looking actor was a natural at playing leaders. He played a general on M*A*S*H, and a judge on both The Waltons and Matlock (television series). He played presidents on Lost in Space and on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Later television appearances, in the 1990s and 2000s, include showing up on ER and recurring roles on Ned and Stacey and The King of Queens.

Related Topics:
Bonanza - Gunsmoke - Perry Mason - The Bionic Woman - The Untouchables - M*A*S*H - The Waltons - Matlock (television series) - Lost in Space - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - ER - Ned and Stacey - The King of Queens

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Born in Mountain Home, Idaho, USA, Rainey graduated from Centralia Junior College in Washington state and the Cornish Drama School in Seattle. He first acted on the stage while in high school. Growing up in the outdoors and learing to ride horses helped him in his career as a tough-guy film presence later in life.

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Like many young actors, he worked odd jobs including logger, fisherman, fruit picker, carpenter, clam digger and working on an oil tanker before becoming a successful actor. He worked as a radio actor as well as a touring stage actor before breaking into films. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.

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