Career

Wray, born John Griffith Malloy, was one of the many Broadway actors to descend on Hollywood in the aftermath of the sound revolution, and quickly appeared in a variety of substantial character roles, such as the Arnold Rothstein-like gangster in The Czar of Broadway (1930). Himmelstoss, the sadistic drill instructor in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). And as the contortionist the Frog in the remake of The Miracle Manitoba (1932), in the role previously played by Lon Chaney in the 1919 original.

Wray"s roles grew increasingly smaller as the decade progressed but he was very visible as the starving farmer threatening to kill Gary Cooper"s Longfellow Deeds in Frank Capra"s classic Mr.

Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and as the warden in Fritz Language"s You Only Live Once (1937).