Ray Dooley — Crafting a Life

by Greg Petty
April 2009

Ray Dooley plays the fool in King Lear.

North Carolina is fortunate to have an actor as consummate and accomplished as Ray Dooley. He embodies both an actor’s searching spirit and the professionalism needed to perform a wide variety of roles with distinction. Perhaps his most important current role is that of mentor… but more on that subject a little latter.

Ray Dooley was born and raised in Mineola, NY (Long Island). While in High School he was active in multiple sports as well as the drama department. He eventually came to realize that he enjoyed the social and intellectual aspects of acting and carried that orientation with him to college. He attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York and graduated with a double major in English and Theatre & Drama. He excelled and thrived at Hamilton as evidenced by his election to Phi Beta Kappa.

But the crossroad of a life-altering decision was not far away. After completing his B.A. Ray was accepted to the University of Virginia’s graduate school for Literature and to the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco at the same time. Ray chose acting and relocated to San Francisco where he completed his dramatic studies and received an M.FA.

Mr. Dooley in Amadeaus.

After receiving his graduate degree Ray wasted no time in becoming involved in his craft. Performances in multiple Shakespeare plays shaped his work in the 70s and, as many actors will tell you, became some of his favorite dramas to act in and engage the audiences. He played Alonso in the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s production of The Tempest, Ariel in the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Tempest production as well as King of Navarre in Loves Labor’s Lost and Octavius Caesar in Julius Caesar. When asked about Shakespeare, Ray replied, "Shakespeare is the best. An actor can return to great roles. The Hamlet I performed at 35 is not the same perspective of Hamlet I brought to the role when I was 42… Shakespeare encompasses the entire range of human emotions and inexhaustible challenges. You are called upon to use your training, life experience, physical and vocal strength. His plays, along with Chekov’s, are the most rewarding and intellectually stimulating."

From 1982-87 Ray joined a New York — based organization called Affiliate Artists, Inc. that placed performance artists in communities under the sponsorship of leading corporations. This allowed Ray to give over 300 lecture-demonstrations and performances in various community locations from Fairfield, CT, to Walnut Creek, CA with many stops in between. Of course Ray also performed in a wide range of repertory productions in America and Canada during these years.

In 1989, Ray stopped in Chapel Hill on his way back to New York after performing in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Luckily for the Triangle, he took a liking to the community and has been here ever since.

Suffice it to say that his acting experience to date in film, television, Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional and international repertory theatre productions is extensive and impressive. But while the acting, directing roles and awards are important and listed on his curriculum vitae; it is not what Ray would typically talk to you about. His interest is in exploring the many facets of a character and of continually seeking ways to translate and express that to his audiences. Ray concedes that every performance is different… the actors may change, the director wants to get across another point, an actor may want another point stressed. Ray states he is fortunate to have worked with several directors several times and found it a great joy. He also enjoys directors who do not dictate action but, "allow the actors to breathe." Ray compliments Playmaker’s Joe Haj when he quotes him as saying, "I am looking for the best idea in the room."

Dooley puts his best nose forward as Cyrano de Bergerac.

When asked what roles he would like to play that he has not yet performed he responds, "I always wanted to do Cyrano, but Joe (Haj) recently cast me in that role so I suppose I would like a chance at the role of Lt. Colonel Vershinin in Chekov’s The Three Sisters."

Ray’s current life revolves around his wife of 15 years, Rebecca Bailey and their two dogs. He remains active at Playmaker’s Repertory Theatre. Do not miss your chance to see him April 1st-19th playing Sir William Lucas, Mr. Gardiner, and Mr. Collins in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

The majority of the time Ray is busy with his role as teacher, mentor and chairman of the graduate studies Professional Actor Program (PAP) at UNC-CH. He teaches an undergraduate class also, but the PAP program consumes most of his time. As he spoke with Boom! we could tell from the animation in his voice that this is one man who is doing exactly what he loves! Earlier in our interview he expressed how much he learned from various older actors while on the stage performing with them. Ray is now returning the many gifts obtained along the path of his career to all of his students and fellow actors. He conveyed his feelings and gratitude graciously when he stated, "I am so fortunate to work with the fantastic colleagues on the UNC faculty and I love working with the students. They are a constant source of inspiration and renewal. I believe in passing on the craft of what we do."