The Resume

(August 13, 1908-May 2, 1998)
Born in New York, New York
Born Raymond Guion
Married to Jeanette MacDonald (1937–1965)
Brother-in-law of Blossom Rock
Appeared in ‘Personal Maid (1931),’ ‘Flying Down to Rio (1933),’ ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941),’ ‘Million Dollar Weekend (also directed, 1948),’ ‘Hit the Deck (1955),’ and ‘The Best Man (1964)’
Hosted ‘Fireside Theater’ (NBC, 1949–1955)
Legion of Merit (1960s)

Why he might be annoying:

He was widowed twice (1965, 1995).
It was not until 1931, at the discretion of the Paramount studio, that he would be billed by his iconic name.
He tended to be overshadowed by his leading ladies.
A biographer for Nelson Eddy (who sang at his first wedding) claimed he was prone to gay relationships.
Curiously, he made only one film with MacDonald (‘Smilin’ Through’ in 1941).

Why he might not be annoying:

Both marriages lasted more than 20 years; he waited about nine years to remarry.
He was also a writer, producer, director, songwriter, tenor, and host — and, predicting American entry into World War Two, an Air Force bomber pilot and colonel in the reserve!
Because he attended worldwide fan club meetings on behalf of his late first wife, he was not afraid to publicly reminisce about their relationship.
How many child stars of the 1910s make it into the 1990s?
He wound up with two Walk of Fame stars — not bad for never being an upper-tier star.

Credit: Cool It All Right?

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Bisexuals
• Blacklisted
• Celebrities who Served in World War II [1939-45]
• Child Stars [1900s and 1910s]
• Child Stars [1920s]
• Child Stars Who Became Grown-Up Stars
• Cool It All Right?'s Profiles [Series 11]
• Emergency - Guest Stars
• I Attended Jean Harlow’s Funeral [June 7, 1937]
• I Attended the Hollywood Premiere of ‘Giant’ [October 17, 1956]
• I Attended the Premiere of 'Diary of Anne Frank' [1959]
• I Died in 1998 (Ranked: 89)
• I Have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[R-T]
• Person to Person - Guests [L-Z]
• Pilots
• Profiles 35001-35250 (Ranked: 35034)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying