Date of Birth: September 26, 1901
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Date of Death: November 24, 1980
Biography
George Raft, born George Ranft on September 26, 1901, in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, was an American film actor identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. Raft grew up in a tough neighborhood and learned to dance at a young age, which led to a career as a dancer and actor. He made his Broadway debut in the late 1920s and transitioned to film in the early 1930s. Raft’s breakthrough came with the role of the stylish but ruthless gangster Guino Rinaldo in the 1932 film “Scarface”. His performance drew critical acclaim and established him as a leading actor in Hollywood. Raft became known for his unique and charismatic style, often portraying suave, elegant, and tough characters. Despite his success, Raft’s career was marked by a series of poor decisions where he turned down key roles in major films, including the lead in “High Sierra” and “The Maltese Falcon,” which went to Humphrey Bogart. Nevertheless, he maintained a steady presence in films and television until the early 1980s. Raft’s personal life was as colorful as his on-screen persona. Known for his connections with real-life gangsters, he navigated a world that blurred the lines between Hollywood and the criminal underworld. Raft passed away from leukemia on November 24, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 79.
5 Interesting Facts about George Raft
1. George Raft was a proficient dancer and often performed in nightclubs before becoming an actor.
2. He was close friends with notorious gangster Bugsy Siegel and had several other associations with the criminal underworld.
3. Raft famously turned down roles that made other actors famous, such as Sam Spade in “The Maltese Falcon” and Rick Blaine in “Casablanca.”
4. He was one of the inspirations for the character Johnny Fontane in Mario Puzo’s novel “The Godfather.”
5. Raft’s distinctive coin-flipping gesture in “Scarface” became one of his trademarks and a much-imitated piece of movie lore.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Raft
1. “Part of it went on gambling, and part of it went on women. The rest I spent foolishly.”
2. “I must have made a hundred pictures that didn’t make a dime.”
3. “Who can blame me for being a gangster? It’s just business.”
4. “I was always a better dancer than an actor, and I knew it.”
5. “Every time I made a picture the critics’ knives were out. But I kept on trying.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth George Raft achieved during his lifetime was estimated to be around $1 million.
Children
George Raft did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [George Raft – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706368/
2. [George Raft – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Raft
4. [George Raft – Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actor/george-raft
5. [George Raft – Find a Grave](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/722/george-raft
