Ray Danton

Handsome lead with dark good looks and sleek black hair who began his career as a child actor on radio and appeared in early live TV dramas in New York. After making his film debut in "Chief Crazy Horse" (1954), Danton gained notice for his portrayal of Lillian Roth's first love in the soapy biopic "I'll Cry Tomorrow" (1955). Danton is best remembered for his portrayal of ruthless mobster "Legs" Diamond in both Budd Boetticher's gangster melodrama, "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" (1960), and the 1961 biopic of gangster Dutch Schultz, "Portrait of a Mobster." That same year he also starred in the title role of "The George Raft Story."

In 1964 Danton moved to Italy, where he starred in numerous low-budget films and turned to directing with "Deathmaster" (1972). He formed his own production company in Barcelona before returning in 1975 to the US, where he become a TV director for Universal. Danton helmed episodes of "Cagney and Lacey," "Quincy," "Fame" and "Dallas" and served as supervising producer on "The New Mike Hammer" TV series (1986-87). Danton was at one time married to actress Julie Adams.