Ray Stricklyn

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Ray Stricklyn
Los Angeles, California , U.S.
Occupation(s)	Film, stage, television actor
Years active	1952–1998
Partner	David Galligan

Lewis Raymond Stricklyn (October 8, 1928 – May 14, 2002) was an American film actor, stage actor, television actor,

Westerns that placed his boyish good looks playing opposite top talent of the time.

Early years

Stricklyn was born in

and was given the lead role. He went on to perform several roles for the Houston Little Theater.

In 1950 he won a scholarship to a New York drama school.

Career

Stage

Stricklyn gained early acting experience in

Film

(1975). However, in later years he received fewer film roles and he returned to theatre work.

Television

Stricklyn had the role of Howard Alston Hawkins in Days of Our Lives (1991–1992).^[3] He made two guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason. In 1960 he played defendant Gerald Norton in "The Case of the Bashful Burro," and in 1963 he played Reed Brent in "The Case of the Festive Felon." He portrayed Stanley in a 1961 episode of The Tom Ewell Show. In 1966 he appeared on the World War II drama Combat!, as Private Earl Konieg in the episode "Headcount". He also appeared in episodes of popular shows like Cheers, Seinfeld, The Nanny, Wiseguy, and many more.

Other work

Stricklyn took work in a fudge factory and then worked as a typist for a mailing company. In 1973 he joined the public relations firm John Springer Associates in Los Angeles and became one of the most influential publicists in Hollywood, working with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Henry Fonda, Shelley Winters, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, and Bette Davis. He also handled the US debut of the Rubik's Cube. He eventually became the head of the company's West Coast office.

In 1983 Stricklyn and Charlotte Chandler wrote a one-hour one-man show, Confessions of a Nightingale, about Tennessee Williams. Stricklyn portrayed Williams in the production, which was adapted from Chandler's interviews with Williams. Critic John Simon wrote in New York magazine: "Ray Stricklyn ... does a fine job as Williams. The accent may waver a bit, but all those small mannerisms, tics, idiosyncratic intonations, hesitancies, shifts of mood are fraught with authenticity."^[6]

Four weekend performances at the

. The show was then taken to Broadway and toured the US for another year. It was then performed at the Edinburgh Festival.

Personal life

In 1965 Stricklyn was introduced to a furniture refurbisher named David Galligan and they became lifetime companions. Galligan later became a noted stage director.

Later years and death

After falling ill with

(hardback), is a candid and witty account of a man who, Stricklyn wrote, "might qualify as one who has had his 15 minutes in the limelight; perhaps even 20."

On May 14, 2002, Stricklyn died of emphysema in Los Angeles.[3] He is survived by his sister, Mary Ann, and his longtime companion, Los Angeles stage director David Galligan.

Partial filmography

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2023)

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1952	The Marrying Kind	Minor Role	Uncredited
1952	The Thief	Minor Role	Uncredited
1956	Crime in the Streets	Benny	Uncredited
1956	The Catered Affair	Eddie Hurley
1956	The Proud and Profane	Casualty	Uncredited
1956	Somebody Up There Likes Me	Bryson	Uncredited
1956	The Last Wagon	Clint
1956	The Rack	Ryson	Uncredited
1958	The Return of Dracula	Tim Hansen
1958	Ten North Frederick	Joby Chapin
1959	The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker	Horace Pennypacker III
1959	The Big Fisherman	Deran
1960	The Lost World	David Holmes
1960	Young Jesse James	Jesse James
1960	The Plunderers	Jeb Lucas Tyler
1965	Arizona Raiders	Danny Bonner
1967	Track of Thunder	Gary Regal
1975	Dogpound Shuffle	Mr. Lester Jr.
1979	La ilegal	Ins officer

Television

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2023)

Seinfeld - Clarence (season 8, Episode 10: "The Andrea Doria") - 1996

Cheers - Ed (season 9, Episode 16: "Wedding Bell Blues") - 1991

Awards

Stricklyn received a

awards:

• 1958 – New Star Of The Year – Actor – 10 North Frederick
• 1960 – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture – The Plunderers.^[7]

Press cuttings

Ray Stricklyn: Actor whose boyish looks became a hindrance Obituary by Tom Vallance in The Independent, 29th. May 2002, page 18. "Stricklyn stated that two factors had contributed to his lack of progress. First, his homosexuality (though he had well-publicised relationships with Joan Collins and Bette Davis) and secondly, his persistently youthful appearance."

Notable Quotes

• I was 27 and still looked 16, but there was a whole new crop of boys coming up who really were that age. I'd thought my career was going straight up. So like a lot of foolish young actors, I started living beyond my means. I bought expensive cars, got into debt. Once you think you're going to be a star, then you're not—it's a rude awakening.

References

• The New York Times / Ray Stricklyn

External links

• Ray Stricklyn at
  IMDb
• Ray Stricklyn at AllMovie
• Ray Stricklyn at the Internet Broadway Database

Further reading

• Young, Jordan R. (1989). Acting Solo: The Art of One-Person Shows. Beverly Hills: Past Times Publishing Co.