Raymond Massey
Canadian-American actor (1896–1983)
Who was Raymond Massey?
Raymond Massey lived from August 30, 1896 to July 29, 1983. Massey was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Chester Daniel Massey and his American wife Anna Vincent. His father was the wealthy co-owner of the Massey-Harris tractor company. His branch of the Massey family immigrated to Canada from New England a few years before the War of 1812, their ancestors having migrated from England to the Massachusetts colony in the 1630s. Raymond Hart Massey (August 30, 1896 – July 29, 1983) was a Canadian and American actor. Among his other well-known roles were Dr. Gillespie on the NBC television series Dr. Kildare (1961–66), John Brown in Santa Fe Trail (1940) and Seven Angry Men (1955), Abraham Farlan in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), and Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace (1944).
Raymond was the grandson of businessman Hart Massey and great-grandson of company founder Daniel Massey.
Historical significance
Known for his commanding stage-trained voice, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the title role in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), a role he later reprised on television and in the film How the West Was Won (1962).
