Ray Danton - The Epitome of Cool - The Films of Ray Danton

by Joseph Fusco

Ray Danton was a tall, dark and menacing actor with a deadly baritone and an in-your-face attitude that was startling for his era. He started his film career as a B-Movie actor in the Fifties, became an expatriate playing James Bond clones in the Sixties and ended his acting career in drive-in films during the disco Seventies. Danton appeared in forty movies over a twenty year period before becoming a successful television writer, director and producer. Fans of the early Sixties retro gangster cycle may remember The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond and The George Raft Story. They are the hallmarks of Ray Danton's career and exemplify his unique acting style by showcasing an electrifying no holds- barred personality that took no prisoners. The Epitome of Cool: The Films of Ray Danton showcases an impressive resume that was created in the shadows of fame and recognition. It analyzes an original acting style that is contemporary and fits in comfortably with our aggressive times. Check out this Ray Danton retrospective and you will discover a hidden treasure from the "Late Show" years.