Mala
Acting
Biography
Ray Mala (born Ray Agnaqsiaq Wise) was an American actor. Born to a Native Alaskan Inupiaq mother and Russian Jewish immigrant father, he was one of Hollywood's foremost Native actors from the early 1920s until his death in 1952.
Born: December 27, 1906
Place of Birth: Alaska
Known For
Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island
A 14-episode serial in which Mala, a Polynesian in the employ of U.S. Intelligence investigates sabotage on Clipper Island. A gang of spies causes the eruption of a volcano, for which our hero is blamed. He convinces the local Princess Melani of his innocence and helps her ward off a takeover by rival high priest Porotu.
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake
Sir Arthur Blake has inherited title and lands from his brother. He also has his orphaned nephew Benjamin working for him as a bonded servant. While he believes the lad was born out of wedlock and so cannot claim the inheritance, he is taking no chances. Benjamin eventually rebels against his uncle and sets sail to try and make his fortune. This may enable him to return to prove his claim to being the rightful heir to the estate.
Hawk of the Wilderness
An expedition arrives on an uncharted jungle island to rescue the local natives, led by a jungle boy, from a volcano that is about to erupt.
Hold Back the Dawn
Romanian-French gigolo Georges Iscovescu wishes to enter the USA. Stopped in Mexico by the quota system, he decides to marry an American, then desert her and join his old partner Anita, who's done likewise. But after sweeping teacher Emmy Brown off her feet, he finds her so sweet that love and jealousy endanger his plans.
Union Pacific
One of the last bills signed by President Lincoln authorizes pushing the Union Pacific Railroad across the wilderness to California. But financial opportunist Asa Barrows hopes to profit from obstructing it. Chief troubleshooter Jeff Butler has his hands full fighting Barrows' agent, gambler Sid Campeau; Campeau's partner Dick Allen is Jeff's war buddy and rival suitor for engineer's daughter Molly Monahan. Who will survive the effort to push the railroad through at any cost?
Eskimo
The happy life of an Eskimo is disastrously changed when he mingles with an unscrupulous white trader.
North West Mounted Police
Texas Ranger Dusty Rivers ("Isn't that a contradiction in terms?", another character asks him) travels to Canada in the 1880s in search of Jacques Corbeau, who is wanted for murder. He wanders into the midst of the Riel Rebellion, in which Métis (people of French and Native heritage) and Natives want a separate nation. Dusty falls for nurse April Logan, who is also loved by Mountie Jim Brett. April's brother is involved with Courbeau's daughter Louvette, which leads to trouble during the battles between the rebels and the Mounties. Through it all Dusty is determined to bring Corbeau back to Texas (and April, too, if he can manage it.)
The Jungle Princess
Christopher Powell is in Malaysia with his fiancée and her father, capturing wild animals. While out hunting, he is attacked by a tiger, and his native guides run away, leaving him for dead. But the tiger is the pet of Ulah, a beautiful young woman who grew up by herself in the jungle. She rescues Chris and takes him back to her cave, where she nurses him to health and falls in love with him. When he eventually returns to camp, she follows. The fiancée is jealous, and the natives don't like Ulah or her pet tiger either, all of which leads to a lot of trouble.
The Devil's Pipeline
A secretary sends a coded plea for help in her monthly report; two detectives investigate and find out that men are jailed on phony charges, forced to work in oil fields and then murdered if they try to escape.
Last of the Pagans
Two South Sea Islanders fall in love, followed by a hurricane.
Filmography
as Sgt. Koovuk
as Nat
as Charley
as Barab
as Native Cop
as Young Mexican Bridegroom (uncredited)
as Talamu
as Indian
as Joe
as Native Diver
as Mala
as Prince of the Rock People (uncredited)
as Mala
as Eskimo Driver (uncredited)
as Wani - Native Slave Leader
as Indian Finding Cigar Store Indian (uncredited)
as Kias
as Little Elk
as Olee John
as Melan
as Agent Ray Mala
as Taro
as Mala, aka Kripik (uncredited)
as The Young Hunter