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The name Ray shows up across music, film, television, and even behind the camera, attached to people who changed how their industries sound and look. From groundbreaking soul music and British rock classics to unforgettable screen performances and genre-defining visual effects, these Rays left work that’s easy to recognize and hard to forget. You’ll see chart-topping hits, cult favorites, awards, and long-running series connected to the same short, punchy name.
Below is a friendly, fact-packed tour of notable celebrities named Ray. Each entry highlights what they’re best known for, the projects that made them widely recognized, and a couple of career details fans often want to know. Movie, TV, and anime titles are in single quotes everywhere, exactly as requested.
Ray Charles
TMDbRay Charles was an American singer, pianist, composer, and bandleader whose blend of gospel, blues, and jazz helped define soul music. His catalog includes signature songs such as ‘What’d I Say’, ‘Georgia on My Mind’, ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’, and ‘Hit the Road Jack’. He won multiple Grammy Awards across several decades, earned the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and received the Kennedy Center Honors.
Beyond the hits, Charles ran his own label and publishing companies, toured internationally for decades, and recorded landmark albums that crossed over to pop and country audiences. His version of ‘America the Beautiful’ became a standard at major events, and he collaborated with artists across genres, from Willie Nelson to Norah Jones.
Ray Liotta
TMDbRay Liotta was an American actor widely recognized for his starring role as Henry Hill in ‘Goodfellas’, a performance that remains one of the most referenced portrayals of organized crime in modern cinema. He first drew national attention with ‘Something Wild’ and later appeared in films like ‘Field of Dreams’, ‘Cop Land’, and ‘Marriage Story’. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for a guest role on ‘ER’.
Liotta worked steadily in television, leading the crime drama ‘Shades of Blue’ alongside Jennifer Lopez and appearing in limited series and miniseries across streaming platforms. His voice work included the video game ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City’, where he portrayed Tommy Vercetti, bringing his distinct presence to interactive media.
Ray Romano
TMDbRay Romano is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director best known for creating and starring in the sitcom ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, which earned him multiple Primetime Emmy Awards. He became a familiar voice for family audiences as Manny in the animated franchise ‘Ice Age’ and expanded into dramatic roles with appearances in ‘Parenthood’ and ‘The Irishman’.
Romano developed and starred in stand-up specials for cable and streaming platforms and co-created series that draw on his observational humor and quiet, character-driven storytelling. He made his feature directing debut with ‘Somewhere in Queens’, adding filmmaker to a résumé already spanning network TV, film, and animation.
Ray Winstone
TMDbRay Winstone is an English actor known for tough, nuanced characters in films such as ‘Sexy Beast’, ‘Nil by Mouth’, ‘The Departed’, and ‘Black Widow’. He has been a frequent presence in British television and film since his breakthrough, building a reputation for intense performances grounded in authenticity.
Beyond screen roles, Winstone has narrated documentaries and worked across genres, from period dramas to crime thrillers and action adventures. He contributed voice and performance capture to ‘Beowulf’ and has continued to appear in international productions that pair him with directors from the UK, Europe, and the United States.
Ray Stevenson
TMDbRay Stevenson was a Northern Irish actor recognized for roles that balanced physical presence with nuance, including Titus Pullo in the HBO series ‘Rome’. In film, he played the Marvel character Frank Castle in ‘Punisher: War Zone’ and portrayed Volstagg in the ‘Thor’ films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Stevenson’s work ranged from historical epics and fantasy to crime drama and adventure. He appeared in Indian cinema with ‘RRR’ and joined the ‘Star Wars’ universe as Baylan Skoll in ‘Ahsoka’. His credits also include the ‘Divergent’ series and notable guest arcs on television, reflecting a career that crossed franchises and formats.
Ray Fisher
TMDbRay Fisher is an American actor best known for playing Victor Stone, also known as Cyborg, in ‘Justice League’. He has a strong stage background, earning acclaim for portraying Muhammad Ali in ‘Fetch Clay, Make Man’ at the Signature Theatre in New York. His screen work expanded to limited series and dramas with socially engaged themes.
Fisher became a central figure in industry conversations about on-set conduct and accountability after raising concerns about the production of ‘Justice League’. WarnerMedia conducted an internal investigation that concluded with statements about remedial action. He has since continued to work in television and film, adding dramatic and genre roles to his résumé.
Ray Park
TMDbRay Park is a Scottish actor and martial artist known worldwide for portraying Darth Maul in ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’, a performance that combined athletic stunt work with stylized combat. He also played Toad in ‘X-Men’ and Snake Eyes in ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ and ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’.
Park began as a stunt performer and fight choreographer before moving into on-camera roles that showcased wushu-influenced movement. He has taught martial arts workshops, appeared at major fan conventions, and contributed motion capture and voice work to ‘Star Wars’ projects connected to his signature character.
Ray Davies
TMDbRay Davies is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known as the frontman and principal songwriter of The Kinks. His songwriting credits include ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Waterloo Sunset’, ‘Lola’, and ‘Sunny Afternoon’, songs that helped define British rock and pop. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire and later received a knighthood for services to the arts.
Davies has released solo albums, published memoirs and fiction, and staged concert tours that mix storytelling with performances of his catalog. He has also produced and collaborated with other artists, and his songs continue to be covered, licensed, and anthologized internationally.
Ray LaMontagne
TMDbRay LaMontagne is an American singer-songwriter known for a husky vocal style and introspective, roots-inflected songwriting. His debut album ‘Trouble’ introduced him to a wide audience with the title track and ‘Jolene’. He later earned a Grammy Award for ‘God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise’, credited to Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs.
LaMontagne’s discography spans quiet folk, soul influences, and more psychedelic textures on albums like ‘Supernova’. He tours regularly in theaters and festivals and maintains a reputation for low-key stagecraft focused on musicianship and sound rather than spectacle.
Ray Manzarek
TMDbRay Manzarek was an American keyboardist, producer, and author, best known as a founding member of The Doors. His Vox Continental organ and Fender Rhodes bass parts are central to tracks such as ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Riders on the Storm’, and ‘Break On Through’. He co-founded the band with Jim Morrison after the two met in Los Angeles.
After The Doors, Manzarek produced albums for the punk band X, released solo work, and collaborated with poets and filmmakers. He wrote memoirs and commentary on the Los Angeles music scene and later toured with Robby Krieger under variants of The Doors’ name, performing the band’s catalog to new generations.
Ray Bolger
TMDbRay Bolger was an American actor, singer, and dancer whose most famous role is the Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’. He also had a long Broadway career, starring in musicals that showcased his rubber-limbed physical comedy and soft-shoe technique. He received a Tony Award for ‘Where’s Charley?’.
Bolger worked in film, television, and stage over many decades, appearing in variety programs and guest roles that highlighted his vaudeville roots. His stage training and screen presence made him a go-to performer for musical numbers that demanded precision timing and expressive movement.
Ray Harryhausen
TMDbRay Harryhausen was an American stop-motion animator and visual-effects pioneer whose techniques shaped fantasy and adventure filmmaking. His Dynamation process brought creatures to life in films like ‘Jason and the Argonauts’ and ‘The 7th Voyage of Sinbad’, inspiring generations of filmmakers and effects artists.
Harryhausen received lifetime honors from major industry organizations and published books detailing his models, armatures, and production methods. The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation preserves his collection and promotes education in animation and practical effects through exhibitions and archives.
Ray McKinnon
TMDbRay McKinnon is an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for ‘The Accountant’, which he directed and starred in, and later created the critically acclaimed drama ‘Rectify’. As an actor, he appeared in projects such as ‘Deadwood’, ‘Sons of Anarchy’, and ‘The Blind Side’.
McKinnon co-founded the independent production company Ginny Mule Pictures, producing features that toured the festival circuit and received regional and national awards. His work often centers on Southern settings and character-driven narratives, and he has collaborated repeatedly with the same creative teams across film and television.
Ray Toro
TMDbRay Toro is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer, best known as the lead guitarist of My Chemical Romance. He co-wrote and recorded on albums featuring songs such as ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’, ‘Helena’, and ‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’, contributing layered guitar arrangements and harmonized leads.
Outside the band, Toro has released solo material, produced tracks for other artists, and contributed to film and TV music projects. He has toured arenas and festivals worldwide and taken part in reunion performances that drew large audiences across North America and beyond.
Ray Cooper
TMDbRay Cooper is an English percussionist and session musician renowned for long-running collaborations with Elton John, George Harrison, and many others. He is recognized for dynamic live solos and multi-instrument setups that include timpani, vibraphone, and a wide array of hand percussion featured in concerts and recordings.
Cooper’s credits span pop, rock, and film score sessions, and he has appeared in concert films and televised specials that showcase his theatrical approach to percussion. He has also toured in intimate duo formats, most notably with Elton John, presenting re-arranged versions of well-known songs with expanded percussion textures.
Share your favorite “Ray” and the projects you love most in the comments!
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English (US) ·