Leah Ray: Movies & Filmography

Leah Ray Hubbard, known professionally as Leah Ray, was an American singer and actress whose career blossomed during the golden age of big‑band music and early Hollywood cinema. Born on February 16, 1915 in Norfolk, Virginia, she displayed vocal talent from a young age and was sent to California where her uncle arranged a tryout with bandleader Phil Harris, leading to her first professional engagement at just sixteen. Ray quickly became a favored vocalist for Harris’s orchestra and later lent her voice to the legendary Tommy Dorsey orchestra, earning a reputation for a clear, melodious tone that complemented the swing arrangements of the era. Her on‑screen debut arrived in 1934 when she co‑starred with Bob Hope in the short musical comedy Going Spanish, marking the beginning of a brief but prolific film stint that included titles such as One in a Million (1936), The Holy Terror (1937), Wake Up and Live (1937), and the Technicolor musical Sing and Be Happy (1937) opposite Tony Martin. An unusual family anecdote recorded in contemporary newspapers noted that Ray’s mother, also named Leah Ray Hubbard, occasionally served as her stand‑in, appearing alongside her daughter in several productions. While touring with Phil Harris, she met music‑industry executive Sonny Werblin, whom she married on March 27, 1938; the couple raised three sons—Robert, Thomas, and Hubbard—and remained together for more than five decades until Werblin’s death in 1991. Beyond entertainment, Leah Ray and her husband became prominent figures in thoroughbred racing under the Elberon Farm banner, famously owning the champion colt Silent Screen in 1969. Their philanthropy was expressed through the David and Leah Ray Werblin Foundation, which supported Rutgers University, cultural institutions, and charitable causes throughout New Jersey. Leah Ray Werblin passed away peacefully at her Rumson, New Jersey home on May 27, 1999, leaving a legacy that bridges music, film, sport, and community service. Throughout her career she was celebrated for her warm stage presence and her ability to effortlessly transition between live performances and cinematic appearances, a versatility that made her a sought‑after talent in both arenas.