Ray Aranha

{{Infobox person | name = Ray Aranha | image = RayAranhaPic.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Raymond Douglass Aranha | birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|05|01|mf=y}} | birth_place = [[Miami, Florida]], U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|10|09|1939|05|01}} | death_place = [[Stamford, Connecticut]], U.S. | other_names = Ray Arahna | occupation = [[Actor]], [[playwright]], [[theater director]] | years_active = | spouse = Jean Aranha | children = Marc Aranha, Teri Pauline Aranha Tate, Delaine Aranha | website = www.prometheusfire.org }}

'''Ray Aranha''' (May 1, 1939 – October 9, 2011) was an American [[actor]], [[playwright]], and [[stage director]].

==Career== Born in [[Miami]], [[Florida]], Aranha appeared in and written numerous stage productions. In 1974, he won a [[Drama Desk Award]] for Outstanding New Playwright for ''My Sister, My Sister''. Aranha also wrote and toured in a one-man show, ''I Am Black'', and later appeared as "Jim Bono" in ''[[Fences (play)|Fences]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/89/Ray-Aranha.html|title=Ray Aranha Biography (1939-)|publisher=filmreference.com|accessdate=2009-11-10}}</ref>

In addition to stage work, Aranha appeared in various film and television roles. In 1990, he co-starred in the short-lived [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series ''[[Married People]]''. After the series was canceled in 1991, he appeared in yet another short-lived series ''[[The Heights (American TV series)|The Heights]]'' in 1992. Aranha has since had roles in ''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'', ''[[New York Undercover]]'', and ''[[Law & Order]]'', and has roles in ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1995), ''[[Deconstructing Harry]]'' (1997), and ''[[Maid in Manhattan]]'' (2002).

==Death== On October 9, 2011, Aranha died at the age of 72 from a stroke.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stamfordadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=ray-aranha&pid=154175541&fhid=11211|title=Ray Aranha Obituary|publisher=legacy.com|accessdate=17 October 2011}}</ref>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1982 | ''[[A Stranger Is Watching (film)|A Stranger Is Watching]]'' | Cop in Bathroom | |- | 1987 | ''[[Five Corners (film)|Five Corners]]'' | Arthur | |- | 1990 to 1991 | ''[[Married People]]'' | Nick Williams | 18 episodes |- | 1991 | ''[[City of Hope (1991 film)|City of Hope]]'' | Errol | |- | 1992 | ''[[The Heights (American TV series)|The Heights]]'' | Mr. Mike | 12 episodes |- | 1994 | ''[[Drop Squad]]'' | Bruford Jamison Sr | |- | 1993 | ''[[American Playhouse]]'' | Reverend Foy | Episode: "Hallelujah" |- | 1994 | ''[[Lifestories: Families in Crisis]]'' | Victor | Episode: "POWER: The Eddie Matos Story" |- | 1994 to 1997 | ''[[New York Undercover]]'' | Jamell Johnson<br>Mel Dunston | 2 episodes |- | 1994 to 1999 | ''[[Law & Order]]'' | Dr. Henry "Papa Doc" Doirnell<br>Judge | 2 episodes |- | 1995 | ''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'' | Cap Anderson | Episode: "The Tale of Train Magic" |- | 1995 | ''[[Die Hard with a Vengeance]]'' | Janitor | Credited as Ray Arahna |- | 1995 | ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'' | Luis Montoya | |- | 1995 to 1997 | ''[[As the World Turns]]'' | Sparky Wells | 2 episodes |- | 1996 | ''[[City Hall (1996 film)|City Hall]]'' | James Bone | |- | 1996 | ''[[Box of Moon Light]]'' | Soapy | |- | 1996 | ''[[Twisted (1996 film)|Twisted]]'' | Can Man | |- | 1997 | ''[[Deconstructing Harry]]'' | Professor Aranha | |- | 1997 | ''The Kid'' | Cappy Dover | |- | 1998 | ''[[Cosby (TV series)|Cosby]]'' | James | Episode: "Chemistry" |- | 2000 | ''[[Third Watch]]'' | Barnett Freeman | Episode: "Journey to the Himalayas" |- | 2001 | ''[[Ed (TV series)|Ed]]'' | Harry Lockemather | 2 episodes |- | 2001 | ''[[Good Advice (film)|Good Advice]]'' | Man in Central Park | |- | 2002 | ''[[Maid in Manhattan]]'' | Bus driver | |- | 2003 | ''[[Shortcut to Happiness]]'' | Mailman | (final film role) |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IBDB name}} * {{iobdb name|16250}} * {{IMDb name|id=0033068}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aranha, Ray}} [[Category:1939 births]] [[Category:2011 deaths]] [[Category:Male actors from Miami]] [[Category:African-American dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:American theatre directors]] [[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]] [[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]] [[Category:21st-century American male actors]] [[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]] [[Category:20th-century American male actors]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:American male stage actors]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:American male dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:20th-century African-American writers]] [[Category:21st-century African-American writers]] [[Category:20th-century American male writers]] [[Category:African-American male writers]] [[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Florida]]