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Ray [2004]
  • Caption: Ray [2004]
  • Description: Jamie Foxx stars in this biopic of legendary soul and R&B singer Ray Charles. Skilfully edited and with a keen eye for period detail, the narrative weaves in and out of the past in an interlocking tapestry of the man's rise to fame in the 1950s and '60s. Growing up poor, black, and blind in the rural south, Charles learns under the tutelage of his tough-love mother (Sharon Warren) to turn these handicaps into assets. With this training, Ray eventually plays his way into a major deal with Atlantic records and earns icon status as an American legend. Along the way, the high cost of fame leads him to engage in abusive relationships, manipulative behaviour, and struggles with drug and alcohol problems. This is a dynamite film for the music alone (Charles's actual recordings are used in the film), but Foxx's career-benchmark performance transcends RAY's biopic roots, turning this into a piercing, full-on character study: unflinching, sometimes harrowing, and ultimately deeply moving. The sheer joy of Charles's music comes alive in Foxx's movements, and his character matures convincingly and powerfully. A stellar supporting cast is on hand to back him up every step of the way, including Larenz Tate as producer Quincy Jones, and Kerry Washington as Ray's long-suffering wife, Regina.

    Directed by
    Taylor Hackford

    Writing credits
    (WGA)
    Taylor Hackford (story) and
    James L. White (story)


    James L. White (screenplay)



    Cast (in credits order) verified as complete

    Jamie Foxx ... Ray Charles

    Kerry Washington ... Della Bea Robinson

    Regina King ... Margie Hendricks
    Clifton Powell ... Jeff Brown

    Harry J. Lennix ... Joe Adams (as Harry Lennix)
    Bokeem Woodbine ... Fathead Newman

    Aunjanue Ellis ... Mary Ann Fisher

    Sharon Warren ... Aretha Robinson

    C.J. Sanders ... Young Ray Robinson

    Curtis Armstrong ... Ahmet Ertegun

    Richard Schiff ... Jerry Wexler

    Larenz Tate ... Quincy Jones

    Terrence Howard ... Gossie McKee (as Terrence Dashon Howard)

    David Krumholtz ... Milt Shaw
    Wendell Pierce ... Wilbur Brassfield
    Chris Thomas King ... Lowell Fulson
    Thomas Jefferson Byrd ... Jimmy
    Rick Gomez ... Tom Dowd

    Denise Dowse ... Marlene

    Warwick Davis ... Oberon

    Patrick Bauchau ... Dr. Hacker

    Robert Wisdom ... Jack Lauderdale
    Kurt Fuller ... Sam Clark
    Julian Bond ... Himself

    Kimberly J. Ardison ... Ethel McRae

    Renee Wilson ... Pat Lyle
    Willie Metcalf ... Mr. Pitt

    Mike Pniewski ... Bus Driver
    Terrone Bell ... Young George Robinson
    Richard A. Smith ... Til

    Gary Grubbs ... Billy Ray
    Carol Sutton ... Eula
    Bill Breaux ... Cop #1

    Alex Van ... Cop #2
    Bob Harris ... Jesse Stone (as Roland 'Bob' Harris)
    Tom Clark ... Alan Freed
    Afemo Omilami ... Angry Husband
    Elizabeth Omilami ... Angry Wife

    Vernel Bagneris ... Dancin' Al
    Fahnlohnee R. Harris ... Trudy Daniels (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
    Michael Travis Stone ... Robert

    Eric O'Neal Jr. ... Ray Charles Jr., 5-6 yrs.

    Tequan Richmond ... Ray Charles Jr., 9-10 yrs.
    Matthew Benjamin ... Musician in Billy Ray's

    John Swasey ... Customs Agent #1
    James Huston ... Customs Agent #2
    Marc Lynn ... Downbeat Reporter
    Kyle Scott Jackson ... King Bee

    J. Todd Smith ... Student Reporter
    Rutherford Cravens ... White Promoter (as Rutherford 'Rudy' Cravens)
    Darnell Williams ... Fast Girl
    Jedda Jones ... Mercedes

    Jeff Galpin ... Cop #3 (as Jeffrey Galpin)

    Michael Arata ... Cop #4
    Estella Denson ... Lady in Rain
    rest of cast listed alphabetically:
    Edward Anderson ... Ray's Band - 2nd Trumpet
    Alonzo Bowens ... Ray's Band - Alto Saxophone
    Clarence Johnson ... Ray's Band - Baritone Saxophone
    Herman LeBeaux ... Ray's Band - Drums
    Edwin Livingston ... Ray's Band - Bass
    Johnny Oneal ... Art Tatum (as Johnny O'Neill)

    Ben Pronsky ... Southern Marine (scenes deleted)
    Jamil Sharif ... Ray's Band - 1st Trumpet
    Ross Durocher ... Bus Passenger (uncredited)

    Tobi Gadison ... Paul the Trumpet Player (uncredited)
    Larry Gamell Jr. ... Bouncer (uncredited)
    Justin Groetsch ... Fan (uncredited)

    Trae Ireland ... Neighbor (uncredited)

    Summer LeAnn ... Beach Dancer (uncredited)
    Murphy Martin ... Fan (uncredited)

    Darlene Moore ... Airline Stewardess (uncredited)
    Sonny Shroyer ... Governor Jimmie Davis (uncredited)

    Curt Sobel ... Conductor (uncredited)

    Tommy Sobel ... Sam Clark's Assistant (uncredited)

    Travis Willingham ... Northern Marine (uncredited)
  • Actor/Actress/Director:
  • Movie: Ray
  • Id: 10916857
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