Ray Teal
Acting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Elgin Teal (January 12, 1902 – April 2, 1976) was an American actor. His most famous role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee on the television series Bonanza (1959–1972), which was only one of dozens of sheriffs on television and in movies that he played during his long and prolific career stretching from 1937 to 1970. He appeared in pictures such as Western Jamboree (1938) with Gene Autry, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) with Fredric March and Myrna Loy, The Black Arrow (1948), Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole (1951) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) with Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster. Teal was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A saxophone player, he worked his way through the University of California, Los Angeles as a bandleader before becoming an actor. His longest-running role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee, a law-enforcing sheriff on Bonanza. Teal was one of the most senior members of the crew having a permanent role. He had also played a sheriff in the Billy Wilder film Ace in the Hole (1951). Teal co-starred in numerous TV westerns throughout his career: he appeared five times on Cheyenne, four times on The Lone Ranger, on The Alaskans, three times in different roles on another long-running western series, Wagon Train, on NBC's Tales of Wells Fargo, on the ABC western series Broken Arrow, five times on the ABC western comedy Maverick, on the CBS western series The Texan, the NBC western series The Californians, twice on Colt .45, once on Wanted: Dead or Alive, and as "Sheriff Clay" for a single 1960 episode of the NBC western series Riverboat, and four times on a western series about the rodeo titled Wide Country. After more than 15 years performing in films and in early television, Teal secured a recurring role as a police officer in the 1953–1955 ABC sitcom with a variety-show theme, Where's Raymond?, later renamed The Ray Bolger Show. In 1955, Teal appeared as McCanles, a ruthless cattle baron in the episode "Julesburg" of the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series, Cheyenne. Altogether, Teal appeared five times on Cheyenne. He later appeared in a guest-starring role in another ABC/WB Western series, The Alaskans. From 1957 to 1962, Teal was cast three times in different roles on the Western series, Wagon Train. He also appeared in a number of episodes of Bat Masterson, an episode of The Rifleman and later in Green Acres. In 1957, Teal played a lawman, Captain McNelly, in the episode "Sam Bass" of NBC's Tales of Wells Fargo. Teal was cast as Fenster in "The Bounty Hunters" (1957) on the ABC Western series, Broken Arrow. In 1958, Teal guest-starred "No Tears for the Dead" on the CBS Western series, The Texan. He also later appeared in the CBS sitcom, Dennis the Menace. In 1960, Teal was cast as Sheriff Roy Coffee in Bonanza, a role he played until 1972, appearing in 98 episodes, occasionally as the lead character. He also portrayed judge/dentist/shoe repairman H.G. Cogswell in Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry. He died of undisclosed causes on April 2, 1976, at age 74 in Santa Monica, California. CLR
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
as Chief of Police
Age 68 (now 74)
Gallegher: The Mystery of Edward Sims
as Sheriff Snead
Age 66 (now 74)
The Secret of Convict Lake
as Sheriff Cromwell (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 74)
Home Town Story
as Complaining Electrical Worker (uncredited)
Age 49 (now 74)
The Redhead and the Cowboy
as Brock (Union agent)
Age 49 (now 74)
The Asphalt Jungle
as Cop in Car Barn Slugged by Dix (uncredited)
Age 48 (now 74)
I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes
as Death Row Guard (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 74)
Tenth Avenue Angel
as Mounted Train Yard Guard (uncredited)
Age 46 (now 74)
My Favorite Brunette
as State Trooper Sergeant (uncredited)
Age 45 (now 74)
Till the Clouds Roll By
as Movie Studio Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
Age 44 (now 74)
The Missing Lady
as Interrogating Detective with Black Mustache (uncredited)
Age 44 (now 74)
Keep Your Powder Dry
as Army Captain/Camouflage Leader (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 74)
Main Street After Dark
as Cop at Finale (uncredited)
Age 43 (now 74)
The Princess and the Pirate
as Guard (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 74)
The Missing Juror
as Chief of Detectives at Line-Up (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 74)
Main Street Today
as Ed a Citizen at Committee Meeting (uncredited)
Age 42 (now 74)
Whistling in Brooklyn
as Traded Beaver Baseall Player (uncredited)
Age 41 (now 74)
The Chance of a Lifetime
as Policeman Joe (Uncredited)
Age 41 (now 74)
Dangerous Blondes
as Detective Charlie Temple (uncredited)
Age 41 (now 74)
Ode to Victory
as Master Sergeant - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
Age 41 (now 74)
Slightly Dangerous
as Pedestrian lifting Peggy up (uncredited)
Age 41 (now 74)
Calling Dr. Gillespie
as Detroit Policeman (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 74)
Fingers at the Window
as Police Car #12 Driver (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 74)
Woman of the Year
as Married Sports Reporter (uncredited)
Age 40 (now 74)
They Died with Their Boots On
as Barfly (uncredited)
Age 39 (now 74)
A Volta do Besouro Verde
as Chief Guard at Steel Mill
Age 38 (now 74)
Third Finger, Left Hand
as Cameraman in Ohio (uncredited)
Age 38 (now 74)
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
as Sheriff Blaney
Age 56 (now 74)
Shirley Temple's Storybook
as Judge Thatcher
Age 56 (now 74)
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
as Sheriff Carson Singletary
Age 54 (now 74)
Screen Director's Playhouse
as Farmer Clark
Age 53 (now 74)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Police Detective
Age 53 (now 74) Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Chief of Detectives
Age 53 (now 74) Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Police Lieutenant
Age 53 (now 74)
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Justice Mackley
Age 52 (now 74) The Wonderful World of Disney
as Frank Oxford
Age 52 (now 74) The Wonderful World of Disney
as Sheriff Snead
Age 52 (now 74)
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
as Mr. Sanders
Age 50 (now 74)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Capt. Donovan
Age 49 (now 74)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
as Lt. Boyd
Age 48 (now 74)
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Also Known As
Ray E. Teal, Рэй Тил, Ray Elgin Teal
IMDB
nm0853576