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Mala

Actor

Mala

Born December 27, 1906 in AlaskaDied September 23, 195225 films

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.

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The best way into Mala's work
Union Pacific posterFirst watchUnion Pacific19396.7as Indian Finding Cigar Store Indian (uncredited)One of the last bills signed by President Lincoln authorizes pushing the Union Pacific Railroad across the wilderness to California.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Hold Back the Dawn poster6.7Hold Back the Dawn1941

Filmography

25 films as actor
  1. 1952Red SnowSgt. Koovuk
  2. 1942The Tuttles of TahitiNat
  3. 1942The Girl from AlaskaCharley
  4. 1942Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin BlakeMarnoa
  5. 1942The Mad Doctor of Market StreetBarab
  6. 1941Honolulu LuNative Cop
  7. 1941Hold Back the DawnYoung Mexican Bridegroom (uncredited)
  8. 1940The Devil's PipelineTalamu
  9. 1940North West Mounted PoliceIndian
  10. 1940Girl from God's CountryJoe
  11. 1940South of Pago PagoNative Diver
  12. 1940ZanzibarMala
  13. 1940Flash Gordon Conquers the UniversePrince of the Rock People (uncredited)
  14. 1940Green HellMala
  15. 1939Coast GuardEskimo Driver (uncredited)
  16. 1939Mutiny on the BlackhawkWani - Native Slave Leader
  17. 1939Union PacificIndian Finding Cigar Store Indian (uncredited)
  18. 1938Hawk of the WildernessKias
  19. 1938S.O.S. Clipper Island
  20. 1938The Great Adventures of Wild Bill HickokLittle Elk
  21. 1938Call of The YukonOlee John
  22. 1936The Jungle PrincessMelan
  23. 1936Robinson Crusoe of Clipper IslandAgent Ray Mala
  24. 1935Last of the PagansTaro
  25. 1933EskimoMala, aka Kripik (uncredited)