Mona Ray
Encyclopedia
Mona Ray was an American stage and screen comedian / actress from the late 1920s to the early 1940s. Her most famous role was an appearance in black face
as the mischievous slave Topsy in the 1927 silent film Uncle Tom's Cabin. During the 1930s she starred in a number of musical/comedy films; she also appeared as Mammy Yokum in the 1940 version of Lil Abner. She last appeared on the Broadway stage in 1942.
Ray was born Mona Kelly in New York according to the California Death Index, though some references refer to her birthplace as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married scene writer and dialog director Hugh J. Cummings in the late 1920s. In May, 1945, Cummings was awarded a legal separation from Ray on charges of cruelty and adultery. He alleged that she had spent an evening with her brother-in-law, Josef Montiague (husband of her sister, actress Judy King) in only a "tightly clad sweater". Differences must have been resolved, however, as Ray remained with Cummings until his death of a heart attack in April, 1953, at the age of 69. Ray married a second time to Raymond A. Pestana, and continued her life as a housewife along with being involved in various organizations including the Film Welfare League, Inc. Ray died in Nevada on July 3, 1986. Her second husband, Raymond, followed her in death in October 1987.
Black Face
Black Face is the south wall of an east-west ridge in Arena Valley, south of East Beacon, in the Quartermain Mountains, Victoria Land. The feature is a prominent landmark and is formed by a dolerite dike which rises over above the floor of the valley...
as the mischievous slave Topsy in the 1927 silent film Uncle Tom's Cabin. During the 1930s she starred in a number of musical/comedy films; she also appeared as Mammy Yokum in the 1940 version of Lil Abner. She last appeared on the Broadway stage in 1942.
Ray was born Mona Kelly in New York according to the California Death Index, though some references refer to her birthplace as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married scene writer and dialog director Hugh J. Cummings in the late 1920s. In May, 1945, Cummings was awarded a legal separation from Ray on charges of cruelty and adultery. He alleged that she had spent an evening with her brother-in-law, Josef Montiague (husband of her sister, actress Judy King) in only a "tightly clad sweater". Differences must have been resolved, however, as Ray remained with Cummings until his death of a heart attack in April, 1953, at the age of 69. Ray married a second time to Raymond A. Pestana, and continued her life as a housewife along with being involved in various organizations including the Film Welfare League, Inc. Ray died in Nevada on July 3, 1986. Her second husband, Raymond, followed her in death in October 1987.
Partial filmography
- 1940 Lil Abner - Mammy Yokum
- 1930 Pardon My GunPardon My Gun (1930 film)- Cast :*Sally Starr as Mary Martin*Tom Keene as Ted Duncan*Mona Ray as Peggy Martin*Lee Moran as Jeff Potter*Robert Edeson as Pa Martin*Hank MacFarlane as Hank Martin*Tom MacFarlane as Tom Martin*Harry Woods as Cooper...
- Peggy Martin - 1930 Half-Pint Polly - Half-Pint Polly
- 1927 Uncle Tom's CabinUncle Tom's Cabin (1927 film)Uncle Tom's Cabin is a silent film directed by Harry A. Pollard and released by Universal Pictures. The film is based on the eponymous novel written by Harriett Beecher Stowe and was the last silent film version....
- Topsy