#M(ichigan)M(ovie)H(istory) On this day, April 2, 1976 actor Ray Teal dies

It was on this day, April 2, 1976, actor Ray Teal  died in his home in Santa Monica, California  of undisclosed causes

An American actor Teal was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  A saxophone player, Teal worked his way through University of California, Los Angeles as a bandleader before becoming an actor.

His longest-running role was as Sheriff Roy Coffee on NBC’s western series Bonanza (1960–1972). He also played a sheriff in the film Ace in the Hole (1951).

He appeared in more than 250 films and some 90 television programs in his 37-year career

Teal was 74