Wilton Graff

Wilton Graff (born Wilton Calvert Ratcliffe; August 13, 1903 – January 13, 1969) was an American actor.

Wilton Graff
Graff in Bloodlust! (1961)
Born
Wilton Calvert Ratcliffe

(1903-08-13)August 13, 1903
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedJanuary 13, 1969(1969-01-13) (aged 65)
Pacific Palisades, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1939–1964
Spouses
Mary Goodwin
​
​
(m. 1938; died 1950)​
    Elizabeth W. Wilson
    ​
    (m. 1952)​
    Children1

    Early years

    The son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Graff,[1] he was born Wilton Calvert Ratcliffe in St. Louis, Missouri, US. He graduated from West Hartford High School in 1921.[2]

    Career

    Before he became an actor, Graff worked for newspapers, including The Hartford Times, The Springfield Republican, and the Paris Herald.[3]

    Graff debuted on Broadway in Fantasia (1933). His last Broadway appearance was in Gabrielle (1941).[4] He began working in movies in the 1940s and eventually appeared in dozens, usually as a professional man or an authority figure, such as a military officer. He starred in only one film, Bloodlust!, playing against type as an obvious, deranged villain. Most of his work in the last 10 years of his career was on television.[5]

    In 1956, he guest starred on James Arness’s TV Western Series Gunsmoke, as “Troy Carver”, in the episode “20-20” (S1E19) as an aging lawman losing both his eyesight and his faith in his ability to handle his job.

    Personal life

    Graff was married twice, firstly to Mary Goodwin, from August 6, 1938, until her death on April 11, 1950. They had one child, Nancy Graff. On June 12, 1952, he married Elizabeth W. Wilson, and they remained together until his death.

    Death

    Graff died in Pacific Palisades, California on January 14, 1969. He was 65 years old.[6]

    Partial filmography

    References
    1. "'Beauty And the Beast' Seen By Child Audience". Hartford Courant. Connecticut, Hartford. December 13, 1931. p. 9. Retrieved May 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
    2. "Cars Available for Voters Today". Hartford Courant. Connecticut, Hartford. June 6, 1921. p. 13. Retrieved May 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
    3. Hay, Calla (August 5, 1951). "Actor Wilton Graff Plays Actor Role In New Play At Teatro". The Santa Fe New Mexican. New Mexico, Santa Fe. p. 19. Retrieved May 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
    4. "Wilton Graff". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
    5. Senn, Bryan (2013). The Most Dangerous Cinema: People Hunting People on Film. McFarland. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7864-3562-3. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
    6. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 291. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
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