Ray Sharkey
USABiography of Ray Sharkey
Ray Sharkey (full name Raymond Sharkey, Jr.) was an American film and television actor. He was born in 1952 in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Ray Sharkey Sr., was a professional musician and drummer who abandoned the family. Ray was raised by his mother Cecelia, with the help of her parents who lived nearby.
At the age of 17, Ray became interested in acting after watching the Broadway production of "Hair". He decided to pursue a career in acting and enrolled in the H.B. Studio acting class in New York City. In 1974, he made his film debut in "The Lords of Flatbush" and soon began to land more prominent roles.
By the end of the 1970s, Ray was starring in films such as "Stunts", "Who'll Stop the Rain", "Paradise Alley", "Heart Beat", and "Willie & Phil". In the 1980s, he gained even more recognition with lead roles in "The Idolmaker", "Love & Money", and "Some Kind of Hero". In 1981, he won a Golden Globe award for his role in "The Idolmaker".
In addition to his film career, Ray also found success on television. In 1987, he starred as Sonny Steelgrave in the popular TV series "Wiseguy", which brought him immense popularity. However, he struggled with drug addiction and spent time in a rehabilitation center in 1987.
In 1981, Ray was romantically linked to Italian actress Ornella Muti. He married actress Rebecca Wood that same year, but the marriage ended in 1986. He then married Carole Graham in 1988, and they had a daughter named Cecelia Bonnie Sharkey in 1989. They divorced in 1992, and Ray was involved with actress and model Elena Monica.
In the 1990s, Ray continued to act in both film and television, starring in movies such as "Round Trip to Heaven", "Chrome Soldiers", and "In the Line of Duty: Street War". Throughout his career, he appeared in over 50 roles.
Ray's final role was in the family comedy "Cop and ½" in 1993. Unfortunately, he had been diagnosed with HIV and tried to keep it a secret. In 1992, he was arrested for drug possession in Vancouver, Canada. His former girlfriend Elena Monica filed a lawsuit against him for intentionally infecting her with HIV, although she did not receive any money from the lawsuit.
Ray Sharkey passed away from AIDS at the Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York on June 11, 1993. He was buried at Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York.
