Nicholas Ray studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright, worked in the New York theater and became involved in progressive politics, and directed "Lovers of the Night (1945)", one of his few totally controlled pieces of work. In this movie he touched upon his favorite theme: two lovers searching for a quiet place to live in peace. His most important films were made in the next decade, though, such as Johnny Guitar and Bigger Than Life. Tiring of Hollywood, he traveled to Europe for Bitter Victory and other movies. For producer Samuel Bronston he made King of Kings and 55 Days at Peking.


Children: producer Anthony Ray, cameraman Timothy Ray (mother is Gloria Graham) actress Nica Ray and Julie Ray. 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. Went to the same high school in La Crosse, Wisconsin, as Joseph Losey. Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1961 Influenced a younger generation of directors, especially in Europe, such as Jean-Luc Godard and Wim Wenders. In August 2007, Total Film ranked him as the 56th greatest director of all time, citing his best film as Bigger Than Life (1956). Is the subject of the song "Nicholas Ray" by Sea Ray, from their album Stars at Noon. 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".