What's After the Movie
George Raft
George Raft (born George Ranft on 1901-09-26) was an American actor, dancer, and film producer whose career spanned the golden age of Hollywood. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, the son of German‑immigrant Eva Glockner and Conrad Ranft, and left school at twelve to work a series of odd jobs ranging from errand boy to professional boxer. By his mid‑teens he was already a seasoned carnival performer, a taxi dancer, and a champion Charleston competitor, which led to nightclub gigs in New York and eventually a European tour that popularized the tango. After befriending notorious gangsters such as Owney Madden, Raft moved to Los Angeles in 1927 and broke into film with a small, later cut, part in Queen of the Night Clubs. His breakthrough came with a supporting gangster role in Quick Millions (1931) and was cemented by his iconic turn as Guino Rinaldo in Howard Hawks’ Scarface (1932), where his habit of flipping a coin became a lasting cinematic trope. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s he starred in dozens of classics – Bolero, The Glass Key, Each Dawn I Die, They Drive by Night and the beloved comedy Some Like It Hot (1959) – often playing the suave, morally ambiguous tough‑guy that audiences adored.
Despite a reputation for being difficult, walking out on several high‑profile projects, and numerous alleged ties to organized crime, Raft remained a Hollywood fixture for over five decades, transitioning from leading man to character actor and even to television host. His later years saw him manage casino interests in Las Vegas, Havana, and London, though legal and immigration troubles curtailed many of these ventures. He died of emphysema in Los Angeles on 1980-11-24, leaving behind two Hollywood Walk‑of‑Fame stars and a legacy that influenced future on‑screen gangsters such as Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about George Raft, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how George Raft rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: George Ranft
Born: New York City, New York, U.S.
Citizenship: American
Birthday: September 26, 1901
Occupations: Actor, Dancer, Film producer
Years Active: 1924-1980
Spouses: Grace Mulrooney
External Links and Streaming Options
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Movies Featuring George Raft
Scarface
Some Like It Hot
Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films
The Man with Bogart’s Face
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Intrigue
A Bullet for Joey
Sextette
Skidoo
All of Me
Mr. Ace
Under-Cover Man
Loan Shark
Stage Door Canteen
The Upper Hand
Nocturne
Red Light
Breakdowns of 1941
Bolero
For Those Who Think Young
Rumba
The Movie Orgy
Manpower
Limehouse Blues
Gold Diggers of Broadway
Ocean’s Eleven
Background to Danger
Escape Route
Breakdowns of 1940
Taxi!
Breakdowns of 1942
I’ll Get You for This
A Dangerous Profession
Johnny Angel
The Fashion Side of Hollywood
The Ladies Man
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her
Christmas Eve
If I Had a Million
Rogue Cop
Jet Over The Atlantic
Side Street
Outpost in Morocco
Midnight Club
Nob Hill
Palmy Days
Pick-up
Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film
Dancers in the Dark
Quick Millions
Deadhead Miles
You and Me
Invisible Stripes
The House Across the Bay
Each Dawn I Die
The Glass Key
Souls at Sea
Five Golden Dragons
Night World
Winner Take All
The Bowery
Night After Night
Follow the Boys
Madame Racketeer
I Stole a Million
Race Street
The Man From Cairo
Black Widow
Whistle Stop
Hammersmith Is Out
It Had to Happen
Spawn of the North
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Broadway
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of George Raft, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1940
Breakdowns of 1940
Self
The House Across the Bay
Steve Larwitt
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
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