Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 â€" August 8, 2004) was a
Canadian-born American actress best remembered for starring as Ann
Darrow in the 1933 film King Kong. Through an acting career that
spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international recognition as
an actress in horror films. She has been dubbed one of the early
"scream queens".After appearing in minor film roles, Wray gained media
attention after being selected as one of the "WAMPAS Baby Stars" in
1926. This led to her being contracted to Paramount Pictures as a
teenager, where she made more than a dozen feature films. After
leaving Paramount, she signed deals with various film companies, being
cast in her first horror film roles, in addition to many other types
of roles, including in The Bowery (1933) and Viva Villa (1934), both
of which starred Wallace Beery. For RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., she
starred in the film with which she is most identified, King Kong
(1933). After the success of King Kong, Wray made numerous appearances
in both film and television; she retired in 1980.Wray was born on a
ranch near Cardston in the province of Alberta, Canada to parents who
were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Elvina Marguerite Jones, who was from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Joseph
Heber Wray, who was from Kingston upon Hull, England. She was one of
six children and was a granddaughter of LDS pioneer Daniel Webster
Jones. Her ancestors came from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Wray was never baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Canadian-born American actress best remembered for starring as Ann
Darrow in the 1933 film King Kong. Through an acting career that
spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international recognition as
an actress in horror films. She has been dubbed one of the early
"scream queens".After appearing in minor film roles, Wray gained media
attention after being selected as one of the "WAMPAS Baby Stars" in
1926. This led to her being contracted to Paramount Pictures as a
teenager, where she made more than a dozen feature films. After
leaving Paramount, she signed deals with various film companies, being
cast in her first horror film roles, in addition to many other types
of roles, including in The Bowery (1933) and Viva Villa (1934), both
of which starred Wallace Beery. For RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., she
starred in the film with which she is most identified, King Kong
(1933). After the success of King Kong, Wray made numerous appearances
in both film and television; she retired in 1980.Wray was born on a
ranch near Cardston in the province of Alberta, Canada to parents who
were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Elvina Marguerite Jones, who was from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Joseph
Heber Wray, who was from Kingston upon Hull, England. She was one of
six children and was a granddaughter of LDS pioneer Daniel Webster
Jones. Her ancestors came from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Wray was never baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
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