Ray McDonald

Career overview

Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Task: Write a 180-260 word career overview of Ray McDonald (Acting).
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from provided sources.
No invented titles, names, dates, etc.
Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Length: 180-260 words.
Structure: 2-3 short paragraphs.
No preamble or JSON.
Name: Ray McDonald.
Aliases: Conte, Ray MacDONALD.
Birth: June 27, 1920 (Source 1, 3, 5) or June 27, 1921 (Source 2). Note: Sources 1, 3, and 5 agree on 1920. Source 2 says 1921. I will use 1920 as it is the majority/primary date in the provided text.
Death: February 20, 1959 (Source 1, 3, 5). Age 38.
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA.
Profession: Actor, tap dancer.
Early Career: Formed a vaudeville tap dancing act with his older sister Grace McDonald (who was three years older) while in grade school.
Career Progression: Made it to Broadway by age 16. Cast in a hit Broadway show and then in films.
Filmography/Known Credits: Singin' in the Rain, Good News, Babes on Broadway, Born to Sing, Morning Glory, Till the Clouds Roll By, Down in San Diego, Life Begins for Andy Hardy.
Specific Film Dates/Ratings: Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941), Babes on Broadway (1941).
Paragraph 1: Early life and start.
Ray McDonald was a tap dancer and actor born in New York City on June 27, 1920. He began his career as a vaudeville tap dancing act alongside his older sister, Grace McDonald, while he was still in grade school. By the age of 16, McDonald had reached Broadway. Following his work in a hit Broadway show, he transitioned into film work.
Paragraph 2: Filmography and death.
McDonald's film credits include Singin' in the Rain, Good News, Babes on Broadway, Born to Sing, Morning Glory, Till the Clouds Roll By, Down in San Diego, and Life Begins for Andy Hardy. His filmography includes the 1941 films Babes on Broadway and Life Begins for Andy Hardy. He is also known by the alias Conte. McDonald died on February 20, 1959, at the age of 38.
Drafting for word count:
Ray McDonald was a tap dancer and actor born in New York City on June 27, 1920. He began his professional career as a vaudeville tap dancing act with his older sister, Grace McDonald, during his grade school years. By the age of 16, McDonald had made it to Broadway. After being cast in a hit Broadway show, he moved into film acting.

His filmography includes several notable works, such as Singin' in the Rain, Good News, Babes on Broadway, Born to Sing, Morning Glory, Till the Clouds Roll By, Down in San Diego, and Life Begins for Andy Hardy. Specifically, his credits include the 1941 films Babes on Broadway and Life Begins for Andy Hardy. He was also known by the alias Conte. McDonald passed away on February 20, 1959, at the age of 38.
Word count check:
"Ray McDonald was a tap dancer and actor born in