Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

127

Gender

Male

Birthday

1930-09-23

Day of Death

2004-06-10 (74 years old)

Place of Birth

Albany, Georgia USA

Also Known As

Ray Charles

Biography

Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.” Rolling Stone ranked Charles number 10 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004, and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"

Known For

Acting

The Blues Brothers

1980

The Blues Brothers

as

Ray

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

1990

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

as

Self

Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

1968

Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris

as

Self

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

2023

Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Beatles Forever

1977

The Beatles Forever

as

Self

Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997

2008

Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997

as

Self

Piano Greats at the BBC

2022

Piano Greats at the BBC

as

Self (archive footage)

Ballad in Blue

1965

Ballad in Blue

as

Himself

Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

2002

Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival

as

Self

The Big T.N.T. Show

1965

The Big T.N.T. Show

as

Self

Piano Blues

2003

Piano Blues

as

Self

Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

2004

Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963

as

Self

Ray Charles - In Concert

2001

Ray Charles - In Concert

as

Self

I Love Quincy

1984

I Love Quincy

as

Self

Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

2003

Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'

as

Self

Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

2006

Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia

as

Self

Blue's Big Musical Movie

2000

Blue's Big Musical Movie

as

G-Clef (voice)

Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

2007

Glen Campbell | Good Times Again

as

Self

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

1988

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

as

Self

Rat Pack

2022

Rat Pack

as

Self (archive footage)

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

2005

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

as

Self (archive footage)

The Greatest Night in Pop

2024

The Greatest Night in Pop

as

Self (archive footage)

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

1989

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

as

Ray Charles

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

1995

Sinatra: 80 Years My Way

as

Self - Performer

Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years

1998

Quincy Jones...The First 50 Years

as

Self

The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

1987

The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki

as

Self

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2022

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

as

Self (archive footage)

Rockin' Pianos

2004

Rockin' Pianos

as

Self

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

2022

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

as

Self (archive footage)

Face of Unity

2014

Face of Unity

as

Self

Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

1981

Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony

as

Self

They All Came Out to Montreux

2023

They All Came Out to Montreux

as

Self (archive footage)

Spy Hard

1996

Spy Hard

as

Busdriver

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

1978

NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney

as

Self

Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

2004

Tom Dowd & The Language of Music

as

Self

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

2007

Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built

as

Self

Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

2007

Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans

as

Self

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

2004

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

as

Self (archive footage)

Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

1973

Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments

as

Self

Jazz Evolution

2008

Jazz Evolution

as

Self - Piano, Vocals

Limit Up

1989

Limit Up

as

Julius

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

1990

Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones

as

Self

Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me

1979

Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me

as

Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

2004

Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues

as

Self (archive footage)

Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra

2012

Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra

as

Self

Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

2006

Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir

as

Self

The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

2002

The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles

as

Self

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

2008

Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On

as

Self

Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

2004

Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land

as

Self

Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

1991

Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

as

Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

2006

Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976

as

Self

Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

2011

Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

as

Self

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

1986

The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years

as

Self (archive footage)

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

1985

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

as

Self

The World of Jim Henson

1994

The World of Jim Henson

as

Self (archive footage)

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

2001

Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration

as

Self

Swingin' Along

1961

Swingin' Along

as

Self

The Statue of Liberty

1985

The Statue of Liberty

as

Self - Composer

Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

1993

Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O

as

Self

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

2001

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

as

Self (archive footage)

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

2001

The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

as

Self (archive footage)

Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival

1980

Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival

as

Self

Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

2004

Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company

as

Self

Billy Joel: Building the Bridge

1986

Billy Joel: Building the Bridge

as

Self

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

1994

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

as

Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul

1983

Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul

as

John Schneider: Back Home

1980

John Schneider: Back Home

as

Lynda Carter's Celebration

1981

Lynda Carter's Celebration

as

Self

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

1994

Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!

as

Self (archive footage)

The Second Barry Manilow Special

1978

The Second Barry Manilow Special

as

Self

Love Affair

1994

Love Affair

as

Self

O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

2009

O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar

as

Self (archive footage)

Hallelujah Gospel

1983

Hallelujah Gospel

as

Self

Merci Dorothée !

2025

Merci Dorothée !

as

Self (archive footage)

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

as

Self

Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres

2021

Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres

as

Self (archival footage)

Fats and Friends

2007

Fats and Friends

as

Self

WrestleMania 2

1986

WrestleMania 2

as

Self

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

2023

Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan

as

Self (archive footage)

Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer

Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer

as

Self (archive footage)

Quincy Jones | Music Man

2025

Quincy Jones | Music Man

as

Self (archive footage)

Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration

1993

Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration

as

Self(segment "Monster in the Mirror")

St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere

as

Arthur Tibbits

Who's the Boss?

Who's the Boss?

as

The Nanny

The Nanny

as

Sammy

Moonlighting

Moonlighting

as

Ray Charles

Wings

Wings

as

Ray Charles

The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace

as

Self - Singer

Shindig!

Shindig!

as

Self - Singer

The Johnny Cash Show

The Johnny Cash Show

as

Self

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

as

Self

The Flip Wilson Show

The Flip Wilson Show

as

Self

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

as

Self

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

as

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

Victoires de la musique

Victoires de la musique

as

Self

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Kennedy Center Honors

as

Self

Cher

Cher

as

Self

The Blues

The Blues

as

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

as

Self - Host & Musical Guest

The Midnight Special

The Midnight Special

as

Self

The Midnight Special

The Midnight Special

as

Host - Self

Cachitos de hierro y cromo

Cachitos de hierro y cromo

as

Self (archive footage)

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

as

Self

Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music

Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music

as

Self

Bio’s Bahnhof

Bio’s Bahnhof

as

Self

Musikladen

Musikladen

as

Self

CMT Crossroads

CMT Crossroads

as

Self

The Carol Burnett Show

The Carol Burnett Show

as

Self - Guest

The John Larroquette Show

The John Larroquette Show

as

Ray Charles

Champs-Elysées

Champs-Elysées

as

Self

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

as

Self - Guest

Star Academy

as

Self

Le monde est à vous

Le monde est à vous

as

Self (archive footage)

Kraft Music Hall

Kraft Music Hall

as

Self

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

as

Self - Co-Host

Téléthon

Téléthon

as

Self

Sacrée Soirée

Sacrée Soirée

as

Self

Super Dave

Super Dave

as

The Smothers Brothers Show

The Smothers Brothers Show

as

Saturday Live

Saturday Live

as

Self

Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde

Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde

as

Self

Production

Crew

Directing