Ray Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award?winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend, a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind, the murder-plotting husband in Dial M for Murder, and as Oliver Barrett III in Love Story. Before becoming an actor Milland served in the Household Cavalry of the British Army, becoming a proficient marksman, horse-rider and plane pilot. He left the army to follow a career in acting and appeared as an extra in several British productions before getting his first major role in The Flying Scotsman. This led to a nine month contract with MGM and he moved to the United States where he appeared as a stock actor. After being released by MGM he was picked up by Paramount, who used Milland in a range of lesser speaking parts, normally as an English character. He was loaned out to Universal in 1936 for a film called Three Smart Girls, and its success saw Milland given a lead role in The Jungle Princess alongside new starlet Dorothy Lamour. The movie was a big success and catapulted both to stardom. 

January 3rd, 1907 in Wales  /  Died:   Mar 10th, 1986