- Born
- Died
- Birth nameSanford Rainey
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- American character actor of stage, films, and television. A native of
Idaho, Rainey was the son of a colorful character who was, among many
other things, a champion of local dance contests. As a boy, Rainey was
painfully shy, but found an outlet in school plays. He pursued stage
work in regional companies, then went to New York to study with the
legendary Michael Chekhov. He worked numerous "civilian" jobs while attempting
to make a career as an actor, including work as a logger, a lineman,
and a licensed carpenter. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during
World War II, then went to California where he helped start the Ojai
Valley Players and then acted in his first film in 1949. He became a
familiar face in films and television shows of all sorts during the
next five decades while maintaining a deep attachment to the theatre.
In his ninetieth year, he played Giles Corey in "The Crucible" at
Theatricum Botanicum, the Topanga, California theatre founded by his
friend, the late Will Geer.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
- SpousesSheila Hayden(March 4, 1954 - July 25, 2005) (his death, 3 children)Mary Lou Taylor(September 5, 1942 - ?) (divorced)
- ChildrenRobert Ford RaineyJames Coleman RaineyKathleen Faith Rainey
- ParentsArchie Coleman RaineyLuvernia Kinkade
- Tended beehives at his Malibu ranch house in later years. He owned his
own solar heater and earned the nickname "The Wizard" from neighborhood
children. At age 90 he was breeding birds and won trophies from several
Southern California competitions. - Was an excellent horseman and fencer which served him well in westerns
and dashing adventures. - His austere, authoritative looks were perfect for playing presidents, which he did several times during his career.
- Served in the US Coast Guard during World War II.
- Before he was able to make a full-time living as an actor he held a
variety of other jobs, including logger, lineman, fruit picker,
fisherman and clam digger.
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