Original Name: Raymond Nicholas Kienzle
Nickname: Nick
Date of Birth: August 7, 1911
Place of Birth: Galesville, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Date of Death:: June 16, 1979 (age 67)
Cause of Death: Lung Cancer (New York, New York)
Burial Site: Oak Grove Cemetery, La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin

Did you know that Nicholas Ray's childhood dream was to become a orchestra conductor? Not until he went to high school when he discovered his interest in theater and literature. He was enrolled in University of Chicago and Taliesin later for further study on music, philosophy, sculpture, and theater. In the next couple of years followed, he threw himself entirely into theatric and broadcasting productions.

Nick Ray didn't arrive Hollywood until 1945, when he was serving as an assistant director to Elia Kazan in the director's feature debut A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945). Ray had directed many films we consider as classics today, including Knock on Any Door (1949), In A Lonely Place (1949), Johnny Guitar (1954), and the most famous of all--Rebel Without a Cause (1955).

Rebel Without a Cause was undoubtedly the most celebrating film Ray had ever directed. It was the film that made James Dean a pop-cultural icon. It was the film that gave Natalie Wood a beautiful transformation from a child star to a mature actress. It was also one of the earliest films that deals with adolescence violence and misconceptions. Despite his juicy affairs and relationships with various young actors and actresses (including Natalie Wood), Ray would always be considered as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.

Johnny Guitar (1954) - Director
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) - Director
Bigger Than Life (1956) - Director
The True Story of Jesse James (1957) - Director
King of Kings (1961) - Director
55 Days at Peking (1963) - Director

1956
- Academy Awards - Rebel Without a Cause (1955) -  Best Writing, Motion Picture Story (nominated)
- Venice Film Festival - Bigger Than Life (1956) (nominated)

1957
- Venice Film Festival - Amère Victorie (1957) (nominated)

Great Directors: A Critical Database: Nicholas Ray
The Films of Nicholas Ray
Nicholas Ray at IMDB.com

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