Raymond Massey
ActingAbout Raymond Massey
Raymond Hart Massey (August 30, 1896 – July 29, 1983) was a Canadian actor known for his commanding stage-trained voice. For his lead role in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), Massey was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He reprised his role as Lincoln on TV and in How the West Was Won (1962). Among his other well-known roles were Dr Gillespie in the NBC TV series Dr Kildare (1961–1966), John Brown in Santa Fe Trail (1940), Seven Angry Men (1955), Abraham Farlan in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), and Jonathan Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace (1944).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Raymond Massey reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Raymond Massey's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 44% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Raymond Massey remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in A Matter of Life and Death, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Raymond Massey Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Raymond Massey's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Raymond Massey.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | My Darling Daughters' Anniversary | Matthew Cunningham | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The President's Plane Is Missing | Secretary of State Freeman Sharkey | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | All My Darling Daughters | Matthew Cunningham | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Mackenna's Gold | The Preacher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | How the West Was Won | Abraham Lincoln | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Great Impostor | Abbott Donner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Naked and the Dead | General Cummings | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Omar Khayyam | The Shah | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | Mayerling | The Prime Minister | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The True Story of the Civil War | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | East of Eden | Adam Trask | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Seven Angry Men | John Brown | Flop | Similar → |
| 1955 | Battle Cry | Major General Snipes | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Desert Song | Sheik Yousseff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Carson City | Big Jack Davis | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Come Fill the Cup | John Ives | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | David and Bathsheba | Nathan | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Sugarfoot | Jacob Stint | Flop | Similar → |
| 1950 | Dallas | Will Marlow | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Barricade | Boss Kruger | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Chain Lightning | Leland Willis | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Roseanna McCoy | Old Randall McCoy | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Fountainhead | Gail Wynand | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Mourning Becomes Electra | Ezra Mannon | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Possessed | Dean Graham | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | A Matter of Life and Death | Abraham Farlan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | God Is My Co-Pilot | Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Hotel Berlin | Arnim von Dahnwitz | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Woman in the Window | Dist. Attorney Frank Lalor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Jonathan Brewster | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Action in the North Atlantic | Capt. Steve Jarvis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Breakdowns of 1942 | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Desperate Journey | Major Otto Baumeister | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Reap the Wild Wind | King Cutler | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Dangerously They Live | Dr. Ingersoll | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | 49th Parallel | Andy Brock | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Santa Fe Trail | John Brown | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Abe Lincoln in Illinois | Abe Lincoln | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Black Limelight | Peter Charrington | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Drum | Prince Ghul | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Hurricane | DeLaage | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Prisoner of Zenda | Black Michael | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Under the Red Robe | Cardinal Richelieu | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Fire Over England | King Philip II of Spain | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Dreaming Lips | Miguel del Vayo | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Things to Come | John Cabal / Oswald Cabal | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Chauvelin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Old Dark House | Philip Waverton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Speckled Band | Sherlock Holmes | Average | Similar → |
| 1929 | High Treason | Member of Federated States Council | Average | Similar → |
Raymond Massey - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Raymond Massey?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Raymond Massey is "A Matter of Life and Death" with a rating of 7.7/10.
How many movies has Raymond Massey acted in?
Raymond Massey has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Raymond Massey?
Other notable films include "Arsenic and Old Lace", "East of Eden", and "The Prisoner of Zenda".