Ray Milland
Welsh-born actor who won an Academy Award for The Lost Weekend.
via Wikipedia: Billy Wilder · see source
He starred in Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend (1945), playing an alcoholic writer. The Lost Weekend won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Wilder won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
- died
- 10 March 1986
- field
- Acting, directing
- nationality
- Welsh and American
- known_for
- Portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend (1945)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
His first film appearance was as an uncredited extra on Piccadilly (1929). On that set, it was suggested he adopt a stage name; he chose Milland from the 'mill lands' area of his Welsh hometown of Neath. After his MGM contract ended, Milland was picked up by Paramount, which used him in a range of lesser speaking parts. Milland remained with Paramount for almost 20 years. After leaving Paramount, he began directing and moved into television acting.
Reader's Guide
The film follows an alcoholic writer (Milland) opposing the protestations of his girlfriend (Jane Wyman). It was the first major American film with a serious examination of alcoholism. The Lost Weekend premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and competed in the main competition, where it received the Palme d'Or. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Wilder won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay and Milland won Best Actor. The film is one of four to win both Best Picture and the Palme d'Or, alongside Marty, Parasite and Anora. Milland also starred in Wilder's directorial debut, The Major and the Minor (1942), a comedy starring Ginger Rogers and Milland. Milland's legacy includes his long tenure at Paramount, where he was once the studio's highest-paid actor, and his work with many leading actresses of the era. He also directed and acted in television after leaving Paramount. The uncertainty around his inheritance and his stage name's origin add nuance to his biography. Milland's achievements opened doors for Welsh-born actors in Hollywood.
Did You Know?
- Milland won the British Army Championship in both pistol and rifle marksmanship while serving in the Royal Horse Guards.
- He chose his stage name 'Milland' from the 'mill lands' area of his Welsh hometown of Neath.
- His first film appearance was as an uncredited extra on Piccadilly (1929).
- Milland starred in Billy Wilder's directorial debut, The Major and the Minor (1942).
- The Lost Weekend is one of only four films to win both the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Palme d'Or.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ray Milland?
Ray Milland was a Welsh and American actor whose career spanned the 1930s through the 1980s, evolving from light-comedy leading man to respected dramatic performer. He is best remembered for his Oscar-winning turn in Billy Wilder's 1945 film The Lost Weekend.
What role made Ray Milland famous?
His defining performance is that of a struggling alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend (1945), a part that shifted his public image from comedy to serious drama. That single role established him as one of Hollywood's most credible leading men of the mid-1940s.
What major awards did Ray Milland win?
For The Lost Weekend he received the Cannes Best Actor prize, a Golden Globe, and the Academy Award for Best Actor. He became the first Welsh-born actor ever to take home an Oscar.
Where was Ray Milland born and what was his real name?
He was born Alfred Reginald Jones on 3 January 1907 in Neath, Wales, before moving to the United States. He adopted the stage name Ray Milland when he broke into the American film industry.
When and where did Ray Milland die?
Ray Milland passed away on 10 March 1986 at the age of 79. He had continued acting and directing well into the 1980s before his death.
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