Ray Hanford

Ray Hanford
Hanford in or before 1922
Born
Raymond Francis Finigan

(1887-09-16)September 16, 1887
Oakland, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 30, 1939(1939-03-30) (aged 51)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years activec. 1911–1938
Spouse
Anita Gibson
​
​
(m. 1920; div. 1922)​

Raymond Francis Finigan[1][2][n 1] (September 16, 1887 – March 30, 1939), better known by his stage name Ray Hanford, was an American character actor active from the 1910s to 1930s.[7][8]

Biography

Hanford was born on September 16, 1887, in Oakland, California.[1] His earliest documented roles were in stage plays in 1911 and 1912.[9][10][11]

In August 1914, while on a trip to San Diego to star in The Trey o' Hearts, Hanford rescued a boy who fell from a forty-foot cliff.[12] A month later, Hanford was nearly killed during a controlled landslide on the set of the same film.[13]

Hanford died of bronchopneumonia on March 30, 1939, in Los Angeles, California. He was 51 years old.[14]

Scandals

In April 1920, Hanford married an Oakland singer-socialite named Anita Gibson.[2][15] Within the first year of their marriage, Gibson allegedly had affairs with Frederick B. Warren, a multimillionaire who was president of the American Releasing Corporation, and William Harrison Clem, a wealthy oilman.[16] After launching an investigation into the activities of his wife, she filed for divorce on the grounds of cruelty, claiming that he was physically and verbally abusive and that he was once arrested after a "wild orgy" was held at their home.[5][17] During the divorce, Gibson sued for their property valued at $60,000 (equivalent to $1,200,000 in 2025), while Hanford filed a counter-complaint regarding her infidelity.[2] As Hanford did not appear in court, Gibson was granted a divorce and ownership of their property in December 1922.[18] One year later, Gibson married Clem.[19]

In September 1930, Hanford accidentally shot a man named Douglass Kendall during a bet at a Hollywood party.[20] Kendall's injuries were minor, and he refused to press charges.[7][8]

Selected filmography

Notes

  1. ^ Some contemporary sources spell his last name as "Finnigan" or "Finnegan".[2][3] He has also been referred to as "Ray Hanford Finigan".[4][5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Raymond Francis Finigan". United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936–2007. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via FamilySearch.
  2. ^ a b c d "Beauty, Film Actor and Osage Indian in Tangle". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 20, 1922. pp. 23, 27. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Oil King of Osage Tribe in Movie Divorce". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. October 21, 1922. p. 13. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "As Usual". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 21, 1922. p. 17. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Charges Film Actor With Act of Cruelty". Los Angeles Herald-Express. Los Angeles, California. November 28, 1922. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "New Charges in Polygon Case". Los Angeles Evening Record. Los Angeles, California. November 29, 1922. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Balducci, Anthony (2023). Lloyd Hamilton: Poor Boy Comedian of Silent Cinema. McFarland & Company. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-7864-4159-4 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ a b "Hollywood Screen 'Mystery' Shooting Is Cleared Up". Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal. Dubuque, Iowa. United Press. September 14, 1930. p. 21 – via Google News Archive.
  9. ^ "Scored Success in Spite of Drawbacks". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. December 22, 1912. p. 5. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Good Performance of the Henrietta". Daily Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California. June 8, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Attractions at the Local Theatres". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino County, California. July 28, 1911. p. 4. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Film Star Risks His Life to Aid Youth Injured By Falling Over Steep Cliff". Los Angeles Tribune. Los Angeles, California. August 24, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Movie Actors Almost Hurt". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 29, 1914. p. 24. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Raymond Francis Finegan". California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800–1994. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via FamilySearch.
  15. ^ "Berkeley Girl, Indian Accused". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. October 20, 1922. p. 17. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Ray Hanford's Charges Denied by Anita Gibson". St. Louis Star-Times. St. Louis, Missouri. International News Service. October 22, 1922. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Wife of Actor Wins Divorce". San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. December 22, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Divorce Granted to Anita Finigan". Los Angeles Evening Record. Los Angeles, California. December 21, 1922. p. 9. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Former Oakland Girl, Now Bridge of Wealthy Oil Man". The Oakland Post Enquirer. Oakland, California. January 12, 1924. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Actor Ray Hanford Clears Up Mystery of Friend's Wound". Pasadena Star-News. Pasadena, California. United Press. September 13, 1930. p. 21. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
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