--- name: "Ray Milland" canonical: "https://film.one/person/ray-milland" fi1m_id: "ray-milland" imdb_id: "nm0001537" tmdb_id: 7124 wikidata_id: "Q181774" roles: ["Actor"] born: "3 January 1907" died: "10 March 1986" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-20T05:24:50.978967+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ray Milland ## Identity Ray Milland - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ray-milland - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** ray-milland - **IMDb ID:** nm0001537 - **TMDB ID:** 7124 - **Wikidata ID:** Q181774 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Milland, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181774, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001537/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7124 Actor. Born 3 January 1907 in Neath, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Died 10 March 1986. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 3 January 1907, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales, UK - **Died:** 10 March 1986 - **Active:** 1936–1970 - **Also known as:** Raymond Milland, R.A. Milland, R. Milland, Raymond Alton Milland, Alfred Reginald Jones, Reginald Truscott-Jones, Reginald Alfred John Truscott-Jones, Spike Milland, Рей Милланд, ری میلند - **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 72 (1), 1940s 85 (2), 1950s 80 (1), 1970s 57 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 68 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 2 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Romance 2, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Music 1, Thriller 1 - **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $150m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Milland, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q181774, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001537/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7124 ## Streaming the US now - **Tubi:** [*Dial M for Murder*](https://film.one/film/dial-m-for-murder.md) (80) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Ray Milland > Ray Milland makes a calculating man frightening by letting him remain agreeable. We value the ease of his acting most when it conceals something unpleasant; *Dial M for Murder* gives it particularly good use. In *Dial M for Murder* (1954), Ray Milland lets Tony Wendice conduct intimate conversations without showing much strain. As the scheming husband, he has no need to advertise his wickedness; the calculation continues while the manners stay intact. We felt uneasy because his calculation did not disturb the easy way he spoke to the people around him. It is a persuasive performance, and a good place to begin with an actor whose pleasantness could be frightening. That ease had served him through years as a leading man at Paramount, in comedies and dramas. Billy Wilder's *The Lost Weekend* (1945), in which he plays an alcoholic writer, marked the decisive move into heavier dramatic work. He prepared by observing alcoholics, a useful reminder of the work behind an apparently ready-made leading man. *The Big Clock* (1948) followed, putting his darker screen presence to use in noir. Hitchcock makes especially good use of him by allowing us to understand Tony's thinking. We watch the people talking to him with concern, rather than simply waiting for the next surprise. Milland's restraint helps to keep these long exchanges compelling without a grand display of villainy. The film still has stiff stretches of explanation, and the actors cannot make its theatrical origins disappear. Even so, Milland gives us a reason to listen closely when following the scheme takes effort. His later career moved into character parts and television, with horror and science fiction among the work. The parts included Dr James Xavier in *X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes* (1963) and Oliver Barrett III in *Love Story* (1970). Some of the later material failed to match his abilities. There is no reason to treat an entire genre as beneath him on that account. Begin with *Dial M for Murder*, but choose an evening when nobody intends to talk over it. ## Biography Ray Milland was a Welsh actor and director. Born Alfred Reginald Jones on 3 January 1907 in Neath, Glamorgan, he died on 10 March 1986 in Torrance, California. He is known for his performances in *The Lost Weekend* (1945), *Dial M for Murder* (1954) as Tony Wendice, *Love Story* (1970) as Oliver Barrett III, and appearances in series including *Columbo* and *Battlestar Galactica*. Milland also directed several films. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (5) ### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these - *Love Story* (1970), Fi1m 57, as Oliver Barrett III — [page](https://film.one/film/love-story.md) - *Dial M for Murder* (1954), Fi1m 80, as Tony Wendice — [page](https://film.one/film/dial-m-for-murder.md) - *The Lost Weekend* (1945), Fi1m 82, as Don Birnam — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lost-weekend.md) - *Three Smart Girls* (1936), Fi1m 72, as Lord Michael Stuart — [page](https://film.one/film/three-smart-girls.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Sullivan's Travels* (1941), Fi1m 88, as Near-Collision Man (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/sullivans-travels.md) ## Complete filmography (171) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Sad?* (1996), as (archive footage) - *Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey* (1995), as Don Birnam (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Faces of Horror* (1989), as Maxwell Kirshner (archive) - *The Sea Serpent* (1985), as Professor Timothy Wallace - *The Masks of Death* (1984), as Home Secretary - *Cave-In!* (1983), as Prof. Harrison Soames - *Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land* (1983), as Q. T. Thornwell - *The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana* (1982), as Mr. Griffiths - *Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid* (1982), as (in "The Lost Weekend") (archive footage) - *Our Family Business* (1981), as Tony - *The Attic* (1980), as Wendell - *The Dream Merchants* (1980), series, as Lawrence Radford - *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, Actor - *Game for Vultures* (1979), as Colonal Brettle - *Survival Run* (1979), as Professor - *The Darker Side of Terror* (1979), as Prof. Meredith - *Oliver's Story* (1978), as Oliver Barrett III - *Battlestar Galactica* (1978), as Sire Uri - *Battlestar Galactica* (1978), series, as Sire Uri - *Blackout* (1978), as Richard Stafford - *Slavers* (1978), as Hassan - *Cruise Into Terror* (1978), as Dr. Isiah Bakkun - *The Pyjama Girl Case* (1977), as Inspector Timpson - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Peter Bradbury - *The Uncanny* (1977), as Frank Richards (segment "Montreal 1977") - *Testimony of Two Men* (1977), series, as Jonas Witherby - *Mayday at 40,000 Feet* (1977), as Dr. Joseph Mannheim - *Oil* (1977), as Boss Stewart - *Seventh Avenue* (1977), series, as Douglas Fredericks - *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, Actor - *The Last Tycoon* (1976), as Fleishacker - *Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby* (1976), as Roman Castevet - *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Oliver Barrows - *Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II* (1976), series, as Duncan Calderwood - *Aces High* (1976), as Brigadier General Whale - *The Swiss Conspiracy* (1976), as Johann Hurtil - *Rich Man, Poor Man* (1976), series, as Duncan Calderwood - *Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects* (1975), as Carson McKell - *Escape to Witch Mountain* (1975), as Aristotle Bolt - *The Dead Don't Die* (1975), as Jim Moss / Varrick - *Gold* (1974), as Hurry Hirschfeld - *Witness to Murder* (1974), as Dr. Roger Mann - *Terror in the Wax Museum* (1973), as Harry Flexner - *The Big Game* (1973), as Pete Handley - *The House in Nightmare Park* (1973), as Stewart Henderson - *Cool Million* (1972), series, as Neil Fitzsimmons - *The Thing with Two Heads* (1972), as Maxwell Kirshner - *Frogs* (1972), as Jason Crockett - *Embassy* (1972), as Ambassador - *Black Noon* (1971), as Caleb Hobbs - *Columbo* (1971), series, as Jarvis Goodland, Arthur Kennicutt — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md) - *River of Gold* (1971), as Evelyn Rose - *Love Story* (1970), as Oliver Barrett III — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/love-story.md) - *Company of Killers* (1970), as George DeSalles - *Daughter of the Mind* (1969), as Prof. Samuel Hale Constable - *Bracken's World* (1969), series, Actor - *Hostile Witness* (1968), as Simon Crawford · Director - *Quick, Let's Get Married* (1964), as Mario Forni - *X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes* (1963), as James Xavier - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Howard Fennick - *Panic in Year Zero!* (1962), as Harry Baldwin · Director - *The Premature Burial* (1962), as Guy Carrell - *King of Kings* (1961), as Satan (voice) (uncredited) - *Kraft Mystery Theatre* (1961), series, Actor - *Thriller* (1960), series, Director - *Markham* (1959), series, Actor - *The Safecracker* (1958), as Colley Dawson · Director, Story - *Suspicion* (1957), series, as Roy Markham - *High Flight* (1957), as Wing Commander Rudge - *The River's Edge* (1957), as Nardo Denning - *Three Brave Men* (1956), as Joe DiMarco - *Lisbon* (1956), as Robert John Evans · Director, Associate Producer - *A Man Alone* (1955), as Wes Steele · Director - *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Markheim - *The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing* (1955), as Stanford White - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Aristotle Bolt - *Dial M for Murder* (1954), as Tony Wendice — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/dial-m-for-murder.md) - *Meet Mr. McNutley* (1953), series, Actor - *Let's Do It Again* (1953), as Gary Stuart - *Jamaica Run* (1953), as Patrick Fairlie - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Russel Kent, Woodward, John, Caradoc Williams · Director - *The Thief* (1952), as Allan Fields - *Something to Live For* (1952), as Alan Miller - *Bugles in the Afternoon* (1952), as Kern Shafter - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Harry Carstairs · Director - *Close to My Heart* (1951), as Brad Sheridan - *Rhubarb* (1951), as Eric Yeager - *Night Into Morning* (1951), as Philip Ainley - *Circle of Danger* (1951), as Clay Douglas - *Copper Canyon* (1950), as Johnny Carter - *A Life of Her Own* (1950), as Steve Harleigh - *A Woman of Distinction* (1950), as Alexander "Alec" Stevenson - *It Happens Every Spring* (1949), as Vernon Simpson - *Alias Nick Beal* (1949), as Nick Beal - *Sealed Verdict* (1948), as Robert Lawson - *So Evil My Love* (1948), as Mark Bellis - *The Big Clock* (1948), as George Stroud - *Variety Girl* (1947), as Ray Milland - *Golden Earrings* (1947), as Ralph Denistoun - *The Trouble with Women* (1947), as Gilbert Sedley - *California* (1947), as Jonathan Trumbo - *The Imperfect Lady* (1946), as Clive Loring - *The Well Groomed Bride* (1946), as Dudley Briggs - *The Lost Weekend* (1945), as Don Birnam — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lost-weekend.md) - *Kitty* (1945), as Sir Hugh Marcy - *Till We Meet Again* (1944), as John - *Ministry of Fear* (1944), as Stephen Neale - *The Uninvited* (1944), as Roderick Fitzgerald - *Lady in the Dark* (1944), as Charley Johnson - *The Crystal Ball* (1943), as Brad Cavanaugh - *Forever and a Day* (1943), as Bill Trimble - *The Major and the Minor* (1942), as Major Kirby - *Are Husbands Necessary?* (1942), as George Cugat - *Reap the Wild Wind* (1942), as Stephen Tolliver - *Star Spangled Rhythm* (1942), as Joe - *The Lady Has Plans* (1942), as Kenneth Harper - *Sullivan's Travels* (1941), as Near-Collision Man (uncredited) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/sullivans-travels.md) - *Skylark* (1941), as Tony Kenyon - *I Wanted Wings* (1941), as Jeff Young - *Arise, My Love* (1940), as Tom Martin - *Untamed* (1940), as Dr. William Crawford - *The Doctor Takes a Wife* (1940), as Dr. Timothy Sterling - *Irene* (1940), as Don Marshall - *French Without Tears* (1940), as Alan Howard - *Everything Happens at Night* (1939), as Geoffrey Thompson - *Beau Geste* (1939), as John Geste - *Hotel Imperial* (1939), as Lieutenant Nemassy - *Say It in French* (1938), as Richard Carrington, Jr. - *Men with Wings* (1938), as Scott Barnes - *Tropic Holiday* (1938), as Ken Warren - *Her Jungle Love* (1938), as Bob Mitchell - *Wise Girl* (1937), as John O'Halloran - *Ebb Tide* (1937), as Robert Herrick - *Easy Living* (1937), as John Ball Jr. - *Wings Over Honolulu* (1937), as Richard "Stony" Gilchrist - *Bulldog Drummond Escapes* (1937), as Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond - *Three Smart Girls* (1936), as Lord Michael Stuart — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/three-smart-girls.md) - *The Jungle Princess* (1936), as Christopher Powell - *The Big Broadcast of 1937* (1936), as Bob Miller - *The Return of Sophie Lang* (1936), as Jimmy Dawson - *Next Time We Love* (1936), as Tommy Abbott - *The Glass Key* (1935), as Taylor Henry - *Alias Mary Dow* (1935), as Peter Marshall - *Four Hours to Kill!* (1935), as Carl Barrett - *The Gilded Lily* (1935), as Charles Gray Granville - *One Hour Late* (1934), as Tony St. John - *Menace* (1934), as Freddie Bastion - *Charlie Chan in London* (1934), as Neil Howard - *Many Happy Returns* (1934), as Ted Lambert - *We're Not Dressing* (1934), as Prince Michael (as Raymond Milland) - *Bolero* (1934), as Robert Coray - *This Is the Life* (1933), as Bob Travers - *Orders Is Orders* (1933), as Dashwood - *Payment Deferred* (1932), as James Medland - *But the Flesh Is Weak* (1932), as Mr. Stewart - *Polly of the Circus* (1932), as Church Usher (uncredited) - *The Man Who Played God* (1932), as Eddie (uncredited) - *Ambassador Bill* (1931), as King Lothar - *Blonde Crazy* (1931), as Joe Reynolds - *Bought!* (1931), as Charles Carter Jr. - *Just a Gigolo* (1931), as Freddie - *Strangers May Kiss* (1931), as 3rd Admirer - *The Bachelor Father* (1931), as Geoffrey Trent - *Passion Flower* (1930), as Party Guest with Letter (uncredited) - *Way for a Sailor* (1930), as Ship's Officer - *The Informer* (1929), as Sharpshooter · Technical Advisor - *The Plaything* (1929), as Ian - *The Flying Scotsman* (1929), as Jim Edwards - *The Lady from the Sea* (1929), as Tom Roberts - *Piccadilly* (1929), as Diner in Nightclub (uncredited) - *Moulin Rouge* (1928), as Theater Patron (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Ray Milland](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-8d29b735f522.jpg) Ray Milland — Whitey Schafer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Ray_Milland_by_A._L._Whitey_Schafer%2C_1947.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Airport Drive-In First advertisement for the American western film California (1947) - 12 Aug. 1949 Morning Call, Allentown PA](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-44d7aa908292.jpg) Airport Drive-In First advertisement for the American western film California (1947) - 12 Aug. 1949 Morning Call, Allentown PA — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/1949_-_Airport_Drive-In_First_Ad-_12_Aug_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1949_-_Airport_Drive-In_First_Ad-_12_Aug_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![L. to R. : Ray Milland, Robert Cummings & John Williams in Dial M for Murder - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1954)](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-a6ebf9027cd4.jpg) L. to R. : Ray Milland, Robert Cummings & John Williams in Dial M for Murder - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1954) — film trailer screenshot (Warner Bros.), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Dial_M_for_Murder_%281954%29_trailer_4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Ray Milland, Walt Disney, and Jane Wyman. Disney won for Best Short Subject (Live Action) for Water Birds. (Despite the Flickr page's description, this photo is (1953)](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-5af891800897.jpg) Ray Milland, Walt Disney, and Jane Wyman. Disney won for Best Short Subject (Live Action) for Water Birds. (Despite the Flickr page's description, this photo is (1953) — UCLA Library Special Collections, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Disney_Oscar_1953.jpg/1280px-Disney_Oscar_1953.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Ray Milland](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-05bdc92dc7d8.jpg) Ray Milland — Image via TMDB - ![Ray Milland](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-47f8e22dcefd.jpg) Ray Milland — Image via TMDB - ![Ray Milland](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-d683ec960106.jpg) Ray Milland — Image via TMDB - ![Poster of the American science fiction film X: The Man With X-ray Eyes (1963). (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-26c4bcd1de66.jpg) Poster of the American science fiction film X: The Man With X-ray Eyes (1963). (2014) — Felipebeltran01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/El_hombre_con_rayos_X_en_los_ojos-784037784-large.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Fox Theatre and Tri-City Drive-In advertisement for the science fiction horror film X: The Man With X-ray Eyes (1963). From the 6 December 1963 San Bernardino S](https://film.one/media/person/106325/gallery-615d0b61d082.png) Fox Theatre and Tri-City Drive-In advertisement for the science fiction horror film X: The Man With X-ray Eyes (1963). From the 6 December 1963 San Bernardino S — American International Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Fox_Theatre%2C_Tri-City_Drive-in_ad_-_6_December_1963%2C_CA.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won - 1946: Best Actor (won), for *The Lost Weekend* ### Golden Globes — 1 won - 1946: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), for *The Lost Weekend* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1976: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (nominated), for *Rich Man, Poor Man* ### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won - 1946: Best Actor (won), for *The Lost Weekend* ### Other awards — 1 won - National Board of Review Award for Best Actor 1945: National Board of Review Award for Best Actor (won), for *The Lost Weekend* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ray-milland