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Ray Mala | |
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Born | Ray Wise December 27, 1906 Candle, District of Alaska, U.S. |
Died | September 23, 1952 Hollywood, California, U.S. | (aged 45)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1921–1952 |
Spouses | Gertrude Becker
(m. 1932, divorced)Galina Kropotkin Liss
(m. 1937) |
Ray Mala (born Ray Agnaqsiaq Wise,[1] also known as Ach-nach-chiak (Iñupiaq othography: Aġnatchiaq or Aġnasiaq); December 27, 1906 – September 23, 1952) was a prominent Alaska Native actor. He was one of Hollywood's Native American movie actors along with Lillian St. Cyr, Jesse Cornplanter, Chief Yowlachie, William Eagle Shirt, and Will Rogers who also had successful careers during that time. Mala's career peaked in the 1930s and he was best known for his lead role in Republic Pictures' 14-part serial Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936) following his feature role in MGM's Eskimo, directed by Woody Van Dyke. He was named a "Top Ten Alaskan" by TIME Magazine in 2009.[2]