Devin Ratray
Encyclopedia
Devin D. Ratray is an American
actor, singer and songwriter. He is most famous for his roles in Home Alone
and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
.
, the son of Ann Willis and Peter Ratray. He started acting at the age of nine years in the movie Where are the Children? (1986). He starred as a youth in various other programmes and movies until his acting pinnacle in 1990 as Buzz McCallister, the mean older brother of Macaulay Culkin
's character Kevin in Home Alone
. This role was continued in 1992 in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
, where the McCallister family journeys from Miami back to New York City to find their troublesome youngest member.
Ratray landed minor roles in Little Monsters
(as Ronnie Coleman, the bully), Dennis the Menace
(as Mickey, the boyfriend of one of Dennis's babysitters) and an episode as Martin in The Enforcers (1996). Another film role was The Prince and Me
as the computer-obsessed room-mate of "Eddy," the royal Prince of Denmark
. He was a regular improv actor on MTV's Damage Control
, notably as a director of an erotic film called Crazy Motor Hos, in which he was dressed as a naval captain. Ratray appeared in the September 29, 2006 episode of Law & Order
, "Avatar", as the mentally ill murderer Richard Elam. He later portrayed an antagonist in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
. He was a lisping doctor in the movie Slippery Slope
(2006). He performed as Jimmy Link in Serial
(2007). Ratray appeared in the 2009 film Surrogates as Bobby Saunders. Variety
said "Ratray gets good mileage out of his role as a computer whiz too proud of his corpulent geekiness to consider a more glamorous substitute." In 2009, he was also a guest star on the fifth season of Supernatural
in the episode "The Real Ghost Busters".
In late 2007, a documentary film crew followed Ratray's attempts to win the heart of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
. He used 'love disks' -- love letters set to music and images—to serenade her, and traveled from New York, to Alabama, Denver, Palo Alto and Washington DC to court her. The resulting film, Courting Condi
, was due for international release in fall 2008.
Ratray has appeared as a contestant on the game show Cash Cab
, and subsequently lost.
In 2010, Ratray played a mutual funds manager trapped in a Wall Street elevator with eight strangers, in the suspense thriller Elevator. The feature is expected to be released in 2011.
Ratray is part of a band he formed himself called Little Bill and the Beckleys in which he performs as the band's lyricist, vocalist and electric guitarist. The band has performed live on a number of occasions in New York (where the group initially formed). He is an alum (1994) of New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, singer and songwriter. He is most famous for his roles in Home Alone
Home Alone
Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation...
and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a 1992 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. It is the second film in the Home Alone series and the direct sequel to Home Alone. The film stars Macaulay Culkin in the lead role as Kevin McCallister, while...
.
Biography
Ratray was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Ann Willis and Peter Ratray. He started acting at the age of nine years in the movie Where are the Children? (1986). He starred as a youth in various other programmes and movies until his acting pinnacle in 1990 as Buzz McCallister, the mean older brother of Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He is also known for his roles in Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, My Girl, The Pagemaster, and Party Monster...
's character Kevin in Home Alone
Home Alone
Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation...
. This role was continued in 1992 in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a 1992 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. It is the second film in the Home Alone series and the direct sequel to Home Alone. The film stars Macaulay Culkin in the lead role as Kevin McCallister, while...
, where the McCallister family journeys from Miami back to New York City to find their troublesome youngest member.
Ratray landed minor roles in Little Monsters
Little Monsters
Little Monsters is a 1989 comedy-drama film starring Fred Savage as Brian Stevenson, a sixth-grader who has recently moved to a new town, and Howie Mandel as Maurice, the monster under the bed....
(as Ronnie Coleman, the bully), Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (film)
Dennis the Menace is a 1993 live-action American family film based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name....
(as Mickey, the boyfriend of one of Dennis's babysitters) and an episode as Martin in The Enforcers (1996). Another film role was The Prince and Me
The Prince and Me
The Prince and Me is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Martha Coolidge, and starring Julia Stiles, Luke Mably, and Ben Miller, with Miranda Richardson, James Fox, and Alberta Watson...
as the computer-obsessed room-mate of "Eddy," the royal Prince of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He was a regular improv actor on MTV's Damage Control
Damage Control (TV series)
Damage Control is a reality TV series produced by MTV. Hosted by Simple Plan frontman Pierre Bouvier, and directed by Sebastian Doggart, the show was a real-life version of the movie Risky Business. It first aired on MTV on March 6, 2005...
, notably as a director of an erotic film called Crazy Motor Hos, in which he was dressed as a naval captain. Ratray appeared in the September 29, 2006 episode of Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, "Avatar", as the mentally ill murderer Richard Elam. He later portrayed an antagonist in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
. He was a lisping doctor in the movie Slippery Slope
Slippery Slope
This article is about the 2006 film. For the novel, see The Slippery Slope.Slippery Slope is a 2006 independent film starring Tony Award-winning actor Dan Fogler....
(2006). He performed as Jimmy Link in Serial
Serial (film)
Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials, Film serials or Chapter plays, were short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a feature film. They were related to pulp magazine serialized fiction...
(2007). Ratray appeared in the 2009 film Surrogates as Bobby Saunders. Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
said "Ratray gets good mileage out of his role as a computer whiz too proud of his corpulent geekiness to consider a more glamorous substitute." In 2009, he was also a guest star on the fifth season of Supernatural
Supernatural (TV series)
Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
in the episode "The Real Ghost Busters".
In late 2007, a documentary film crew followed Ratray's attempts to win the heart of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
. He used 'love disks' -- love letters set to music and images—to serenade her, and traveled from New York, to Alabama, Denver, Palo Alto and Washington DC to court her. The resulting film, Courting Condi
Courting Condi
Courting Condi is a 2008 film by British filmmaker Sebastian Doggart that portrays the quest of a love-struck man, actor Devin Ratray, who wants to win the heart of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.-Plot:...
, was due for international release in fall 2008.
Ratray has appeared as a contestant on the game show Cash Cab
Cash Cab
Cash Cab is a TV game show devised by Adam Wood that originated in the United Kingdom and has been licensed to television networks in numerous other countries...
, and subsequently lost.
In 2010, Ratray played a mutual funds manager trapped in a Wall Street elevator with eight strangers, in the suspense thriller Elevator. The feature is expected to be released in 2011.
Ratray is part of a band he formed himself called Little Bill and the Beckleys in which he performs as the band's lyricist, vocalist and electric guitarist. The band has performed live on a number of occasions in New York (where the group initially formed). He is an alum (1994) of New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School.