Birth Day: 1902-01-12
Place of birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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
Credits
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As Judge Homer Bayne -
As The Rancher -
As Justice J.B. Wilson -
As Chief of Police -
As Sheriff Snead -
As Snead -
As Ralph Taggart -
As Justice Mackley -
As Townsman -
As Edwin 'Ed' Winters (Teton Ranch Foreman) -
As Barney -
As Curtiss Ives -
As Banker -
As Dr. Carson -
As Jessie H. Dunlap -
As Jensen Sieverts -
As Lt. Harper -
As Brick Larson -
As Jason - Stableman -
As Salt Pork -
As Russ Nevers -
As Morley Chase -
As Sheriff Ned Riorden -
As Cap -
As Mr. Calloway -
As Sheriff -
As Josh -
As Mr. O'Hara -
As Joe Sutton -
As Sheriff of Seymour -
As Morgan -
As Sheriff -
As State Police Lt. Fredericks -
As Shep Bascom -
As Sgt. Tim O'Roarke -
As Dr. Trent -
As Barney -
As Thayer Crony (uncredited) -
As Patrolman Mullins -
As Doc -
As Frank Bleeker -
As W.W. Timmons -
As Allen - Bondsman -
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As Quincey -
As Clint, Police Captain -
As Judd Hastings -
As Chief Gillette -
As Ruger -
As Dave Tracy -
As Emmett Dalton -
As Deputy Lou Gray -
As Maj. Reno (uncredited) -
As Brock (Union agent) -
As Pvt. Mohair -
As Sheriff -
As Complaining Electrical Worker (uncredited) -
As Mr. Dawson -
As Sheriff Cromwell (uncredited) -
As Gabe Clevenger -
As Captain McHale -
As Detective -
As Cop in Car Barn Slugged by Dix (uncredited) -
As Man at Bar -
As Jim Lynch -
As Ned Moore -
As Day Deputy in Hospital Prison Ward (uncredited) -
As California Border Inspector (uncredited) -
As Marshall Noonan (uncredited) -
As Steve -
As Capt. J.R. Wolverson -
As Policeman #1 (uncredited) -
As Cell Block / Yard Guard (uncredited) -
As Sheriff Joe Borden (uncredited) -
As Sheriff Rand -
As Motorcycle Officer -
As Frank Leggett -
As Truck Driver -
As Virgil Neeley
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As Mac (uncredited) -
As Cantrel -
As McCready -
As Policeman Bob -
As The Husband -
As Policeman -
As Squad Car Police Officer (Uncredited) -
As Mounted Train Yard Guard (uncredited) -
As Police Sergeant -
As Bertrand de Poulengy, a squire -
As Policeman -
As Koslick, Miner -
As Jim Mitchell -
As Nick Appleyard -
As Bartender (uncredited) -
As Policeman at Bus Depot (uncredited)
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As Charlie -
As Plain Clothes Policeman in L.A. (uncredited) -
As Pete (uncredited) -
As Policeman on bicycle -
As Seagrue -
As Sergeant (uncredited) -
As Bartender
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As (uncredited) -
As Death Row Guard (uncredited) -
As State Trooper Sergeant (uncredited) -
As Weston -
As Cattleman (uncredited) -
As Dr. Miller -
As Wolf at Union Station (uncredited) -
As Mr. Perkins -
As Jackson - Guard (uncredited) -
As Mr. Hudson (uncredited) -
As Sergeant -
As Gambler (uncredited) -
As Bus Driver (uncredited) -
As Ed Burma -
As Man at Union Station
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As Prison Official -
As Police Lieutenant (uncredited) -
As Detective Jones (Uncredited) -
As Frank (uncredited) -
As Alex Duncan (uncredited) -
As Mr. Mollett -
As Little John -
As Policeman (uncredited) -
As Interrogating Detective with Black Mustache (uncredited) -
As Movie Studio Orchestra Conductor (uncredited) -
As Conductor (uncredited) -
As Motorcycle Cop (uncredited) -
As Neal Howison (uncredited) -
As Capt. Andrews -
As Plainclothesman (uncredited) -
As Police Lt. O'Neill (uncredited) -
As Policeman -
As Slave Trader (uncredited) -
As Kriendler -
As Army Captain/Camouflage Leader (uncredited) -
As Assistant Movie Director (uncredited) -
As Cop at Finale (uncredited) -
As Steve - Maritime Commissioner (uncredited) -
As Lt. Col. Roberts (uncredited) -
As Michael O'Shawn (uncredited) -
As Policeman -
As Police Officer (uncredited) -
As Guard (uncredited) -
As Chief of Detectives at Line-Up (uncredited) -
As Ed, a Policeman (uncredited) -
As Oremski -
As Truck Driver (uncredited) -
As Ed a Citizen at Committee Meeting (uncredited) -
As Policeman (Uncredited) -
As Truck Driver (uncredited) -
As Maitre d' at Adams Club (uncredited) -
As C.P.O. Shaw (uncredited) -
As Army Captain (uncredited) -
As Shipyard Worker (uncredited) -
As Traded Beaver Baseall Player (uncredited) -
As Cop (uncredited) -
As Sam -
As Ringmaster at Circus (uncredited) -
As Driver (uncredited) -
As Detective with Pipe (uncredited) -
As Master Sergeant - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited) -
As Pedestrian lifting Peggy up (uncredited) -
As Policeman Joe (Uncredited) -
As Detective Charlie Temple (uncredited) -
As Police Car #12 Driver (uncredited) -
As Gangster -
As Gang Radioman Barker -
As Sergeant -
As Ed Cotton -
As Married Sports Reporter (uncredited) -
As Officer Graves (uncredited) -
As Detroit Policeman (uncredited) -
As Casey (uncredited) -
As Phony Indian -
As Poker Player -
As Jack Handley -
As Cab Driver (uncredited) -
As Marching Soldier (uncredited) -
As Pawnbroker (uncredited) -
As Sammy Axel (uncredited) -
As Barfly (uncredited) -
As Walt Burnett -
As Poker Player on Train (uncredited) -
As Soldier -
As Watchman (uncredited) -
As Bartender (uncredited) -
As Josh - Stage Holdup Man -
As Chief Guard at Steel Mill -
As Wolf Tanner -
As Claud Richards -
As Shark -
As Deputy Sheriff -
As Cameraman in Ohio (uncredited) -
As Bradley McNeil -
As Henchman -
As Clarinet Player (uncredited) -
As Bondsman -
As Guard (uncredited) -
As Crook -
As McCall -
As Sailor Playing Clarinet (uncredited) -
As Perkins