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Ray Collins
ACTOR

Ray Collins

Known for Perry Mason

Ray Bidwell Collins (December 10, 1889 – July 11, 1965) was an American character actor in stock and Broadway theatre, radio, films, and television. With 900 stage roles to his credit, he became one of the most successful actors in the developing field of radio drama. A friend and associate of Orson Welles for many years, Collins went to Hollywood with the Mercury Theatre company and made his feature-film debut in Citizen Kane, as…

Snapshot 2026-10-13

Born
Dec 10, 1889
Died
Jul 11, 1965
Birthplace
Sacramento, California, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Ray Bidwell Collins (December 10, 1889 – July 11, 1965) was an American character actor in stock and Broadway theatre, radio, films, and television. With 900 stage roles to his credit, he became one of the most successful actors in the developing field of radio drama.

A friend and associate of Orson Welles for many years, Collins went to Hollywood with the Mercury Theatre company and made his feature-film debut in Citizen Kane, as Kane's ruthless political rival.

Collins appeared in more than 75 films and had one of his best-remembered roles on television, as the irascible Lieutenant Arthur Tragg on the television series Perry Mason.

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Known For

Filmography

Movies

OW
One Way OutPolice Sergeant on Bicycle (uncredited)
1931
Words & MusicMr. Lambert (uncredited)
1931
The Trans-Atlantic MysteryWaite
1932
Valley Town: A Study of Machines and MenMayor (voice)
1940
Citizen KaneJim W. Gettys
1941
Commandos Strike at DawnJohan Bergesen
1942
Highways by NightBen Van Steel, Tommy's Uncle
1942
The Big StreetProfessor B
1942
The Magnificent AmbersonsJack Amberson
1942
The Navy Comes ThroughCapt. McCall
1942
Crime DoctorDr. John Carey
1943
Madame CurieLecturer (voice) (uncredited)
1943
Salute to the MarinesCol. John Mason
1943
Slightly DangerousSnodgrass
1943
The Human ComedyMr. Macauley
1943
Whistling in BrooklynGrover Kendall
1943
Barbary Coast GentJohnny Adair
1944
Can't Help SingingSenator Frost
1944
Main Street TodayOtis Bird
1944
See Here, Private HargroveBrodie S. Griffith
1944
The Eve of St. MarkDeckman West
1944
The Hitler GangCardinal von Faulhaber
1944
The Seventh CrossWallau
1944
Leave Her to HeavenGlen Robie
1945
Roughly SpeakingJohn Chase Randall
1945
The Hidden EyePhillip Treadway
1945
Badman's TerritoryColonel Farewell / Narrator
1946
Boys' RanchDavis Banton
1946
Crack-UpDr. Lowell
1946
Miss Susie Slagle'sDr. Elijah Howe
1946
Night in ParadiseLeonides
1946
The Best Years of Our LivesMr. Milton
1946
The Return of Monte CristoEmil Blanchard
1946
Three Wise FoolsJudge Watson
1946
Two Years Before the MastGordon Stewart
1946
Up Goes MaisieMr. Floyd Henderickson
1946
A Double LifeVictor Donlan
1947
The Bachelor and the Bobby-SoxerBeemish
1947
The Red StallionPerry Barton
1947
The Senator Was IndiscreetFred Houlihan
1947
Trail StreetOpening Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1947
Command DecisionMaj. Desmond Lansing
1948
For the Love of MaryHarvey Elwood
1948
Good SamRev. Daniels
1948
HomecomingLt. Col. Avery Silver
1948
The Man from ColoradoBig Ed Carter
1948
The SwordsmanMacCoppin
1948
Free For AllA B Blair
1949
HideoutArthur Burdett, alias Philip J. Fogarty
1949
It Happens Every SpringAlfred Greenleaf
1949
Red Stallion In The RockiesMatthew 'Matt' Simpson
1949
The FountainheadRoger Enright
1949
The HeiressJefferson Almond
1949
TP
The Price of FreedomThomas Vollmer
1949
FrancisColonel Hooker
1950
Kill the UmpireJonah Evans
1950
Paid in FullDr. Fredericks
1950
Summer StockJasper G. Wingait
1950
The Reformer and the RedheadCommodore Parker
1950
I Want YouJudge Kenneth Turner
1951
Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the FarmJonathan Parker
1951
Reunion in RenoJudge Thomas Kneeland
1951
The RacketMortimer Welsh
1951
Vengeance ValleyArch Strobie
1951
You're in the Navy NowRear Adm. L. C. Tennant
1951
DreamboatTimothy Stone
1952
InvitationWarren Pritchard
1952
Ma and Pa Kettle on VacationJonathan Parker
1952
Young Man with IdeasEdmund Jethrow
1952
Bad for Each OtherDan Reasonover
1953
Column SouthStorey
1953
The Desert SongGen. Birabeau
1953
The Kid from Left FieldFred F. Whacker
1953
AthenaMr. Tremaine
1954
Rose MarieInsp. Appleby
1954
Texas LadyMica Ralston (rancher)
1955
The Desperate HoursSheriff Masters
1955
The Miracle on 34th StreetJudge Harper
1955
Never Say GoodbyeDr. Bailey
1956
The Go-GetterJ.P. Miller (sometimes called J.B. Miller)
1956
The Solid Gold CadillacAlfred Metcalfe
1956
Invitation to a GunfighterHarris Clayton
1957
Spoilers of the ForestEric Warren
1957
Touch of EvilDistrict Attorney Adair
1958
I'll Give My LifeJohn Bradford
1960
Viva la clase media
1980
JC
Jamaica's Cool Runners: Pushcarts and the Art of Living
2014

Television

Studio OneGen. Sam Woolery · 1 eps
1948
Lux Video TheatreBarton Keyes · 1 eps
1950
Lux Video TheatreMax · 1 eps
1950
Cavalcade of AmericaDaniel Webster · 1 eps
1952
Climax!Jerome Harris · 1 eps
1954
Father Knows BestDean Wilson · 1 eps
1954
TH
The Halls of Ivy38 eps
1954
Alfred Hitchcock PresentsHerbert Brenner · 1 eps
1955
The 20th Century Fox HourCallicott · 1 eps
1955
The 20th Century Fox HourJudge Harper · 1 eps
1955
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreEvan Gracie · 1 eps
1956
OT
On TrialCorbett · 1 eps
1956
Perry MasonLieutenant Tragg · 271 eps
1957

Photos

Ray Collins photo
Ray Collins photo
Ray Collins photo
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