Ray Teal
Known for: Acting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Elgin Teal (January 12, 1902 – April 2, 1976) was an American actor. His most famous role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee on the television series Bonanza (1959–1972), which was only one of dozens of sheriffs on television and in movies that he played during his long and prolific career stretching from 1937 to 1970. He appeared in pictures such as Western Jamboree (1938) with Gene Autry, The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) with Fredric March and Myrna Loy, The Black Arrow (1948), Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole (1951) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) with Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster. Teal was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A saxophone player, he worked his way through the University of California, Los Angeles as a bandleader before becoming an actor. His longest-running role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee, a law-enforcing sheriff on Bonanza. Teal was one of the most senior members of the crew having a permanent role. He had also played a sheriff in the Billy Wilder film Ace in the Hole (1951). Teal co-starred in numerous TV westerns throughout his career: he appeared five times on Cheyenne, four times on The Lone Ranger, on The Alaskans, three times in different roles on another long-running western series, Wagon Train, on NBC's Tales of Wells Fargo, on the ABC western series Broken Arrow, five times on the ABC western comedy Maverick, on the CBS western series The Texan, the NBC western series The Californians, twice on Colt .45, once on Wanted: Dead or Alive, and as "Sheriff Clay" for a single 1960 episode of the NBC western series Riverboat, and four times on a western series about the rodeo titled Wide Country. After more than 15 years performing in films and in early television, Teal secured a recurring role as a police officer in the 1953–1955 ABC sitcom with a variety-show theme, Where's Raymond?, later renamed The Ray Bolger Show. In 1955, Teal appeared as McCanles, a ruthless cattle baron in the episode "Julesburg" of the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series, Cheyenne. Altogether, Teal appeared five times on Cheyenne. He later appeared in a guest-starring role in another ABC/WB Western series, The Alaskans. From 1957 to 1962, Teal was cast three times in different roles on the Western series, Wagon Train. He also appeared in a number of episodes of Bat Masterson, an episode of The Rifleman and later in Green Acres. In 1957, Teal played a lawman, Captain McNelly, in the episode "Sam Bass" of NBC's Tales of Wells Fargo. Teal was cast as Fenster in "The Bounty Hunters" (1957) on the ABC Western series, Broken Arrow. In 1958, Teal guest-starred "No Tears for the Dead" on the CBS Western series, The Texan. He also later appeared in the CBS sitcom, Dennis the Menace. In 1960, Teal was cast as Sheriff Roy Coffee in Bonanza, a role he played until 1972, appearing in 98 episodes, occasionally as the lead character. He also portrayed judge/dentist/shoe repairman H.G. Cogswell in Bat Masterson starring Gene Barry. He died of undisclosed causes on April 2, 1976, at age 74 in Santa Monica, California. CLR
Filmography
Series
Perry Mason
Joe Downing
1957
Series
Lassie
1954
Series
Lassie
Jim Teal
1954
Series
The Rifleman
1958
Series
Bonanza
Roy Coffee
1959
Series
Bonanza
Sheriff Roy Coffee
1959
Series
The Fugitive
Sheriff McNary
1963
Series
Maverick
Mart Fallon
1957
Series
Maverick
Sheriff Chick Tucker
1957
Series
Wagon Train
Ray Tarback
1957
Series
Wagon Train
Shag Dorty
1957
Series
The Twilight Zone
Mr. Franklin
1959
Series
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Lt. Boyd
1950
Series
Cheyenne
McCanles
1955
Series
Cheyenne
Maj. Heffler (uncredited)
1955
Series
Rawhide
Hennegan
1959
Series
Rawhide
Sheriff
1959
Series
I Dream of Jeannie
Admiral Tugwell
1965
Series
Lawman
Judge Leonard Whitehall
1958
Series
Gunsmoke
Sgt. Jones
1955
Series
Zorro
Vasquez (uncredited)
1957
Series
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Nebro
1958
Series
Green Acres
Mr. Grimes
1965
Series
Route 66
1960
Series
Thriller
Sheriff Wiley
1960
Series
Bat Masterson
Virgil Gardiner
1958
Series
Bat Masterson
H.G. Cogswell
1958
Series
The Lone Ranger
Doc Grayson
1949
Series
Laramie
1959
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Police Lieutenant
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Warden Jacobs
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Sheriff Briggs
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Chief of Detectives
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Fire Chief
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Ben Tulip
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Jim Hale
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Police Detective
1955
Series
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Mr. Sanders
1952
Series
77 Sunset Strip
1958
Series
77 Sunset Strip
Captain Hobart
1958
Series
77 Sunset Strip
Pete Collier
1958
Series
The Millionaire
Roger Willard
1955
Series
Dennis the Menace
Mr. Phillips
1959
Series
Bronco
1958
Series
The Texan
Sheriff Dave Travers
1958
Series
Trackdown
Ward
1957
Series
Trackdown
Sheriff Michaels
1957
Series
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Judge Thatcher
1958
Series
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Bartlett
1955
Series
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Sheriff
1955
Series
Studio 57
Marshal Frank
1954
Series
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
Series
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Sheriff Blaney
1958
Series
The Doris Day Show
Mr. Eric Ekstrom
1968
Series
87th Precinct
Sam Thorpe
1961
Series
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
Sheriff Carson Singletary
1956
Series
Public Defender
1954
Series
Cavalcade of America
Howard
1952
Series
Riverboat
Sheriff Clay
1959
Series
The Lieutenant
Mr. Coolidge
1963
Series
Screen Director's Playhouse
Farmer Clark
1955
Lux Video Theatre
Chief Rowan
1950
Series
Bus Stop
1961
Broken Arrow
Col. McBride
1956
Series
The Monroes
1966
Film
Taggart
Ralph Taggart
1965
Series
The Alaskans
1959
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Snead
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Frank Oxford
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Sheriff Snead
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Justice Mackley
1954
Series
Everglades
1961
Film
Chisum
Justice J.B. Wilson
1970
Series
Wire Service
Captain Gormand
1956
Film
Judgment at Nuremberg
Curtiss Ives
1961
Film
Sergeant York
Marching Soldier (uncredited)
1941
Film
The Best Years of Our Lives
Mr. Mollett
1946
Series
Panic!
1957
Film
Bathing Beauty
Adams Club Maitre D' (uncredited)
1944
Film
Winchester '73
Marshall Noonan (uncredited)
1950
Series
Frontier
Kennicut
1955
Series
Western von gestern
Pete, 1. Bombenleger
1978
Film
The Asphalt Jungle
Cop in Car Barn Slugged by Dix (uncredited)
1950
Series
Casey Jones
Pete Dunlap
1957
Film
One-Eyed Jacks
Barney
1961
Film
Distant Drums
Pvt. Mohair
1951
Film
Brute Force
Jackson - Guard (uncredited)
1947
Film
Joan of Arc
Bertrand de Poulengy, a squire
1948
Film
The Wild One
Frank Bleeker
1953
Film
Inherit the Wind
Jessie H. Dunlap
1960
Film
They Died with Their Boots On
Barfly (uncredited)
1941
Film
Ace in the Hole
Sheriff
1951
Film
Dead Reckoning
Motorcycle Cop (uncredited)
1946
Conflict
1956
Film
The Clock
Policeman
1945
Film
Gun Crazy
California Border Inspector (uncredited)
1950
Film
The Burning Hills
Joe Sutton
1956
Film
Canyon Passage
Neal Howison (uncredited)
1946
Film
The Desperate Hours
State Police Lt. Fredericks
1955
Film
Home from the Hill
Dr. Carson
1960
Film
Kitty Foyle
Clarinet Player (uncredited)
1940
Film
Till the Clouds Roll By
Movie Studio Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
1946
Film
The Men
Man at Bar
1950
Series
Klondike
Augie Teege
1960
Film
Honky Tonk
Poker Player on Train (uncredited)
1941
Film
No Way Out
Day Deputy in Hospital Prison Ward (uncredited)
1950
Film
Anchors Aweigh
Assistant Movie Director (uncredited)
1945
Film
Raw Deal
(uncredited)
1948
Film
Back to Bataan
Lt. Col. Roberts (uncredited)
1945
Film
Gunman's Walk
Jensen Sieverts
1958
Series
Frank Sinatra Show
Self
1957
Film
The Indian Fighter
Morgan
1955
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Capt. Donovan
1951
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Linc Johnson
1951
Film
Along Came Jones
Kriendler
1945
Film
The Oklahoman
Jason - Stableman
1957
Film
Posse from Hell
Banker
1961
Film
Black Bart
Pete (uncredited)
1948
Film
Shadow of the Thin Man
Cab Driver (uncredited)
1941
Film
Hacksaw
The Rancher
1971
Film
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
Salt Pork
1957
Film
A Volta do Besouro Verde
Chief Guard at Steel Mill
1940
Film
Along the Great Divide
Deputy Lou Gray
1951
Film
The Princess and the Pirate
Guard (uncredited)
1944
Film
The Harvey Girls
Conductor (uncredited)
1946
Film
My Favorite Brunette
State Trooper Sergeant (uncredited)
1947
Film
Woman of the Year
Married Sports Reporter (uncredited)
1942
Film
The Man from Colorado
Bartender
1948
Film
The Man from Colorado
Bartender (uncredited)
1948
Film
Run for Cover
Sheriff
1955
Film
Desert Fury
Bus Driver (uncredited)
1947
Film
Ziegfeld Girl
Pawnbroker (uncredited)
1941
Film
The Redhead and the Cowboy
Brock (Union agent)
1951
Film
The Tall Stranger
Cap
1957
Film
Madame Curie
Driver (uncredited)
1943
Film
Captain Kidd
Michael O'Shawn (uncredited)
1945
Film
Warpath
Maj. Reno (uncredited)
1951
Film
Undercover Maisie
Man at Union Station
1947
Film
Undercover Maisie
Wolf at Union Station (uncredited)
1947
Film
Driftwood
Mr. Perkins
1947
Film
The Wild North
Ruger
1952
Film
I Love You Again
Watchman (uncredited)
1940
Film
Bullet for a Badman
Townsman
1964
Film
Ramrod
Ed Burma
1947
Film
Northwest Passage
Bradley McNeil
1940
Film
The Strange Woman
Alex Duncan (uncredited)
1946
Film
The Long Night
Mr. Hudson (uncredited)
1947
Film
Davy Crockett, Indian Scout
Captain McHale
1950
Film
Band of Angels
Mr. Calloway
1957
Film
Star Reporter
Crook
1939
Film
Saddle the Wind
Brick Larson
1958
Film
Hangman's Knot
Quincey
1952
Film
Decision at Sundown
Morley Chase
1957
Film
Edge of Doom
Ned Moore
1950
Film
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest
Little John
1946
Film
Fingers at the Window
Police Car #12 Driver (uncredited)
1942
Film
Rogue Cop
Patrolman Mullins
1954
Film
Carrie
Allen - Bondsman
1952
Film
Hollywood Canteen
Army Captain (uncredited)
1944
Film
The Man from Bitter Ridge
Shep Bascom
1955
Film
Road House
Policeman
1948
Film
Road House
Policeman at Bus Depot (uncredited)
1948
Film
High Wall
Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
1947
Film
The Miracle of the Bells
Koslick, Miner
1948
Film
Streets of Laredo
Cantrel
1949
Film
Strange Cargo
Guard (uncredited)
1940
Film
Florian
Soldier
1940
Film
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
Doc
1953
Film
Maisie Goes to Reno
Policeman (Uncredited)
1944
Film
Decoy
Policeman (uncredited)
1946
Film
Where Danger Lives
Sheriff Joe Borden (uncredited)
1950
Film
I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes
Death Row Guard (uncredited)
1948
Film
Third Finger, Left Hand
Cameraman in Ohio (uncredited)
1940
Film
The Liberation of L.B. Jones
Chief of Police
1970
Film
Quicksand
Motorcycle Officer
1950
Film
Cattle King
Edwin 'Ed' Winters (Teton Ranch Foreman)
1963
Film
The Turning Point
Clint, Police Captain
1952
Film
Main Street After Dark
Cop at Finale (uncredited)
1945
Film
The Sea of Grass
Cattleman (uncredited)
1947
Film
Kazan
McCready
1949
Film
Utah Blaine
Russ Nevers
1957
Film
Adventure
Steve - Maritime Commissioner (uncredited)
1945
Film
Cheyenne
Gambler (uncredited)
1947
Film
The Missing Lady
Interrogating Detective with Black Mustache (uncredited)
1946
Film
Fort Worth
Gabe Clevenger
1951
Film
The Secret of Convict Lake
Sheriff Cromwell (uncredited)
1951
Film
Circumstantial Evidence
Policeman
1945
Film
Mr. Soft Touch
Squad Car Police Officer (Uncredited)
1949
Film
The Blessed Midnight
Mr. O'Hara
1956
Film
The Captive City
Chief Gillette
1952
Film
Lucky Me
Thayer Crony (uncredited)
1954
Film
The Wayward Girl
Sheriff
1957
Film
The Chance of a Lifetime
Policeman Joe (Uncredited)
1943
Film
Slightly Dangerous
Pedestrian lifting Peggy up (uncredited)
1943
Film
Wild Bill Hickok Rides
Jack Handley
1942
Film
New Moon
Bondsman
1940
Film
The Command
Dr. Trent
1954
Film
Whispering Smith
Seagrue
1948
Film
Tenth Avenue Angel
Mounted Train Yard Guard (uncredited)
1948
Series
The Adventures of Gallegher
Snead
1965
Film
Rage at Dawn
Sheriff of Seymour
1955
Film
Billy the Kid
Sammy Axel (uncredited)
1941
Film
Deep Valley
Prison Official
1947
Film
Convicted
Cell Block / Yard Guard (uncredited)
1950
Film
Home Town Story
Complaining Electrical Worker (uncredited)
1951
Film
Daredevils of the Clouds
Jim Mitchell
1948
Film
Tomorrow Is Another Day
Mr. Dawson
1951
Film
Melody Ranch
Henchman
1940
Film
Montana Belle
Emmett Dalton
1952
Film
The Kid from Texas
Sheriff Rand
1950
Film
Apache Trail
Ed Cotton
1942
Film
Flaming Feather
1952
Film
Northwest Rangers
Poker Player
1942
Film
About Mrs. Leslie
Barney
1954
Film
Nazi Agent
Officer Graves (uncredited)
1942
Film
Walk a Crooked Mile
Police Sergeant
1948
Film
The Black Arrow
Nick Appleyard
1948
Film
Ambush
Capt. J.R. Wolverson
1950
Film
Secret Enemies
Casey (uncredited)
1942
Film
Sudan
Slave Trader (uncredited)
1945
Film
Hello Out There
The Husband
1949
Film
Trail of the Vigilantes
Deputy Sheriff
1940
Film
Adventures of Red Ryder
Shark
1940
Film
Thousands Cheer
Ringmaster at Circus (uncredited)
1943
Film
The Bugle Sounds
Sergeant
1942
Film
The Hanged Man
Judge Homer Bayne
1974
Film
Bad Boy
Policeman Bob
1949
Film
Apache Ambush
Sgt. Tim O'Roarke
1955
Film
Don Winslow of the Navy
Gang Radioman Barker
1942
Film
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Detroit Policeman (uncredited)
1942
Film
Jumping Jacks
W.W. Timmons
1952
Film
It Happens Every Spring
Mac (uncredited)
1949
Film
Keep Your Powder Dry
Army Captain/Camouflage Leader (uncredited)
1945
Film
The Phantom Stagecoach
Sheriff Ned Riorden
1957
Film
The Soul of a Monster
Truck Driver (uncredited)
1944
Film
Nothing But Trouble
Police Officer (uncredited)
1944
Film
Blonde Alibi
Detective Jones (Uncredited)
1946
Film
One Sunday Afternoon
Policeman on bicycle
1948
Film
The Lion and the Horse
Dave Tracy
1952
Film
Prairie Schooners
Wolf Tanner
1940
Film
Secret Command
Shipyard Worker (uncredited)
1944
Film
Main Street Today
Ed a Citizen at Committee Meeting (uncredited)
1944
Film
The Missing Juror
Chief of Detectives at Line-Up (uncredited)
1944
Film
Strange Affair
Truck Driver (uncredited)
1944
Film
Harbor of Missing Men
Frank Leggett
1950
Film
Radio Patrol
Perkins
1937
Film
Whistling in Brooklyn
Traded Beaver Baseall Player (uncredited)
1943
Film
Cry of the Werewolf
Ed, a Policeman (uncredited)
1944
Film
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
Policeman
1949
Film
She Has What It Takes
Cop (uncredited)
1943
Film
Our Very Own
Jim Lynch
1950
Film
Escape from Crime
Gangster
1942
Film
Fury at Furnace Creek
Sergeant (uncredited)
1948
Film
Give Me a Sailor
Sailor Playing Clarinet (uncredited)
1938
Film
Girl on the Run
Lt. Harper
1958
Film
Bristle Face
Justice Mackley
1964
Film
Ode to Victory
Master Sergeant - Orchestra Conductor (uncredited)
1943
Film
U-Boat Prisoner
C.P.O. Shaw (uncredited)
1944
Film
Viva Cisco Kid
Josh - Stage Holdup Man
1940
Film
The Petty Girl
Policeman #1 (uncredited)
1950
Film
A Gun in His Hand
Police Lt. O'Neill (uncredited)
1945
Film
Southside 1-1000
Detective
1950
Film
The Countess of Monte Cristo
Charlie
1948
Film
Outlaws of the Panhandle
Walt Burnett
1941
Film
Overland Mail
Phony Indian
1942
Film
Roses Are Red
Weston
1947
Rusty's Birthday
Virgil Neeley
1949
Film
Western Jamboree
McCall
1938
Film
American Spoken Here
Bartender (uncredited)
1940
Film
Michigan Kid
Sergeant
1947
Film
None Shall Escape
Oremski
1944
Film
When You're Smiling
Steve
1950
Film
Cattle Town
Judd Hastings
1952
Film
Dangerous Blondes
Detective Charlie Temple (uncredited)
1943
Film
Crime Doctor
Detective with Pipe (uncredited)
1943
Film
Gallegher Goes West
Snead
1966
Film
Deadline for Murder
Frank (uncredited)
1946
Film
Prairie Chickens
Sam
1943
Film
Gallegher: The Mystery of Edward Sims
Sheriff Snead
1968
Film
Once More, My Darling
Truck Driver
1949
Film
Dangerous Business
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
1946
Film
The Young Guns
Josh
1956
Film
Pony Post
Claud Richards
1940
Film
Strange Voyage
Capt. Andrews
1946
Film
Hazard
Plain Clothes Policeman in L.A. (uncredited)
1948
Film
The Peanut Man
Dr. Miller
1947