Austin, Texas, USA: The University of Texas's Harry Ransom Center announced it bought Ray's voluminous archives from his widow, Susan. [July 2011]
Children: producer Anthony Ray, cameraman Timothy Ray (mother is Gloria Grahame), actress Nica Ray, and Julie Ray.
Had a severe heart attack during the filming of 55 Days at Peking (1963) in 1962, bringing his career in movies to a premature finish.
He was a good friend and protégé of Elia Kazan. They were both members of the Group Theater in the 1940s.
He worked with principally younger cast members throughout his career and always preferred hanging out with them, having flings with young actresses like Natalie Wood and sharing beers with James Dean.
In August 2007, Total Film ranked him as the 56th greatest director of all time, citing his best film as Bigger Than Life (1956).
Influenced a younger generation of directors, especially in Europe, such as Jean-Luc Godard and Wim Wenders.
Is the subject of the song "Nicholas Ray" by Sea Ray, from their album Stars at Noon.
Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1961
Of his own films, his personal favorite was Rebel Without a Cause (1955), which is also easily his most commercially successful film. Ray was also proud of his work on They Live by Night (1949), and the fact that he had been able to "wing it" on The Lusty Men (1952). He admitted that In a Lonely Place (1950) was "a very personal film".
Prior to entering the film business, he studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright. As a result, many critics note his brilliant use of geography and space.
The marriage of his ex-wife Gloria Grahame and his son Anthony Ray caused a big scandal in Hollywood and led to a battle over custody (1960).
Though rarely credited with a screenwriter's credit, Ray often re-wrote large portions of his scripts, usually with feedback and support from his actors. He also greatly encouraged improvisation.
To honor the centennial of Ray's birth, the Venice International Film Festival is set to screen his experimental 1976 film We Can't Go Home Again (1976). [August 2011]
Was voted the 36th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
Went to the same high school in La Crosse, Wisconsin, as Joseph Losey.