Ray Mala

Ray Mala
Photograph by Melbourne Spurr, c. 1933
Born
Ray Wise

(1906-12-27)December 27, 1906
District of Alaska, U.S.
DiedSeptember 23, 1952(1952-09-23) (aged 45)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1921–1952
Spouses
Gertrude Becker
​
​
(m. 1932, divorced)​
Galina Kropotkin Liss
​
​
(m. 1937)​

Ray Mala (born Ray Agnaqsiaq Wise,[1] also known as Ach-nach-chiak (Iñupiaq othography: Aġnatchiaq or Aġnasiaq); December 27, 1906 – September 23, 1952) was a prominent Alaska Native actor. He was one of Hollywood's Native American movie actors along with Lillian St. Cyr, Jesse Cornplanter, Chief Yowlachie, William Eagle Shirt, and Will Rogers who also had successful careers during that time. Mala's career peaked in the 1930s and he was best known for his lead role in Republic Pictures' 14-part serial Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island (1936) following his feature role in MGM's Eskimo, directed by Woody Van Dyke. He was named a "Top Ten Alaskan" by TIME Magazine in 2009.[2]

  1. ^ Stern, Pamela R. (2013). Historical Dictionary of the Inuit. Scarecrow Press. p. 197. Stern gives Mala's birth year as 1908.
  2. ^ TIME Magazine, January 2, 2009