Ray
Blind prodigy Ray Charles battles poverty, abuse, and addiction to forge a groundbreaking music career that reshapes American sound.
“The extraordinary life story of Ray Charles.”
Synopsis
Ray Charles was born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida and became blind at the age of seven. Influenced by his fiercely independent mother, who encouraged him to forge his own path, he discovered his talent and passion for music through the piano. As he toured across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer built a reputation and achieved worldwide fame by pioneering the fusion of gospel and country music.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 772+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Paul HirschShot by Pawel EdelmanScored by Craig ArmstrongDesigned by Stephen AltmanSound by Karen Baker Landers Nm0048623Costumes by Sharen Davis Nm0205446Stunts by Jeff GalpinVFX by Lisa Dennis
Box Office
2004 · Box office
✅ Made its money back — grossed 3.1× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$124.7M
US & Canada: $75.3M — 60% of worldwide · International: $49.4M (40%)
Opening weekend: $20.0M — 27% of its US run.
Opening week (7-day): $26.0M — 35% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 2,006 theaters
Full synopsis
Versions & cuts
- extended· 178 min
Also known as
- (English)Ray
- (Bulgarian)Рей
Release dates around the world4 countries · showhide
- CanadaSep 12, 2004
- United StatesOct 14, 2004
- AustriaOct 24, 2004
- Puerto RicoOct 28, 2004
Companies
Community tags
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Cast & Crew
772 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Jamie Foxx
as Ray Charles
Regina King
as Margie Hendricks
Kerry Washington
as Della Bea Robinson
Clifton Powell
as Jeff Brown
Harry Lennix
as Joe Adams
Bokeem Woodbine
as Fathead Newman
Aunjanue Ellis Taylor
as Mary Ann Fisher
Sharon Warren
as Aretha Robinson
C J Sanders
as Young Ray Robinson
Curtis Armstrong
as Ahmet Ertegun
Richard Schiff
as Jerry Wexler
Larenz Tate
as Quincy Jones
Supporting cast
83Terrence Howard
as Gossie McGee
David Krumholtz
as Milt Shaw
Wendell Pierce
as Wilbur Brassfield
Chris Thomas King
as Lowell Fulson
Thomas Jefferson Byrd
as Jimmy
Rick Gomez
as Tom Dowd
Denise Dowse
as Marlene
Warwick Davis
as Oberon
Patrick Bauchau
as Dr. Hacker
Robert Wisdom
as Jack Lauderdale
Kurt Fuller
as Sam Clark
Julian Bond
as Self
Kimberly J Ardison
as Ethel McRae
Renee Wilson
as Pat Lyle
Willie Metcalf
as Mr. Pitt
Mike Pniewski
as Bus Driver
Terrone Bell
as Young George Robinson
Richard A Smith
as Til
Gary Grubbs
as Billy Ray
Carol Sutton
as Eula
Bill Breaux
as Cop #1
Alex Van
as Cop #2
Roland Bob Harris
as Jesse Stone
Tom Clark
as Alan Freed
Afemo Omilami
as Angry Husband
Elizabeth Omilami
as Angry Wife
Vernel Bagneris
as Dancin' Al
Fahnlohnee R Harris
as Trudy Daniels
Michael Travis Stone
as Robert
Eric O Neal Jr
as Ray Charles Jr. - 5-6 Yrs.
Tequan Richmond
as Ray Charles Jr. - 9-10 Yrs.
Matthew Benjamin
as Musician in Billy Ray's
John Swasey
as Customs Agent #1
James Huston
as Customs Agent #2
Marc Lynn
as Downbeat Reporter
Kyle Scott Jackson
as King Bee
J Todd Smith
as Student Reporter
Rutherford Cravens
as White Promoter
Darnell Rhea
as Fast Girl
Jedda Jones
as Mercedes
Jeff Galpin
as Cop #3
Michael Arata
as Cop #4
Estella Denson
as Lady in Rain
Johnny O Neill
as Art Tatum Piano Interpretations
Jamil Sharif
as Ray's Band - 1st Trumpet
Edward Anderson
as Ray's Band - 2nd Trumpet
Alonzo Bowens
as Ray's Band - Alto Saxophone
Clarence Johnson
as Ray's Band - Baritone Saxophone
Edwin Livingston
as Ray's Band - Bass
Herman Lebeaux
as Ray's Band - Drums
Raymond Webber
as Lowell Fulson's Band - Drums
Joey Alonzo
as Reporter
Joseph Buttler
as Studio Engineer
Ray Charles
as Self
Carrie Daniel
as Featured Dancer
James J Duhon
as Protester
Tobi Gadison
as Paul
Larry Gamell Jr
as Bouncer
Carlos Gonzalez
as Sound Booth Tech
Shaun Grant
as Dancer
Rusty Gregoire
as Passenger
Justin Groetsch
as Fan
Gene Kevin Hames Jr
as Legislator
Trae Ireland
as Neighbor
Summer Leann
as Beach Dancer
Benee Leavy
as Violinist for 'Georgia On My Mind
Chris Love
as Jazz musician
Murphy Martin
as Fan
Jonathan Mcintosh
as Reporter
Darlene Moore
as Airline Stewardess
Jacqueline L Murray
as Ray's girlfriend in the yellow dress
Paula Jai Parker
as Ruth Brown
Karen Pritchett
as Concert Go'er
Ben Pronsky
as Southern Marine
Carlos Rivero
as Custom Agent
Sonny Shroyer
as Gov. Jimmie Davis
Curt Sobel
as Conductor
Thomas Sobel
as Sam Clark's Assistant
Clif St Laurent
as Protestor
Ayanna Tatum
as Woman in Sandpiper Lounge
Avery White
as Bar Owner
Travis Willingham
as Northern Marine
Don Yesso
as State Policeman
Directors
1Writers
4Producers
70Ahmet Ertegun
producers wish to thank
Alise Benjamin
co-producer
Barbara A Hall
line producer
Ben Apley
producer: Imaginary Forces
Beth James
producers wish to thank: office of Economic Development, City of New Orleans
Brad Reinke
digital intermediate producer, producer of digital effects: Cinesite (uncredited)
Brad Rosenberger
producers wish to thank
Chappy Hardy
field producer: EPK
Craig Armstrong
choral arranger / musician: piano solo / orchestrator / original score arranger / original score producer
Danny Bramson
producers wish to thank
Dave May
producers wish to thank
David Donaldson
music engineer / music programmer / original score producer
David Fathead Newman Jr
producers wish to thank (as David 'Fathead' Newman)
Della Bea Robinson
producers wish to thank (as Mrs. Della Bea Robinson)
Don J Hutchinson
producers wish to thank: secretary - Louisiana Economic Development
Eddie Compass
producers wish to thank: superintendent of Police for New Orleans Police Department
Ernest Collins
producers wish to thank: executive in the Arts and Entertainment Department, City of New Orleans
Gary Le Mel
producers wish to thank (as Gary LeMel)
Geoff Foster
original score producer / score mixer / score recordist
Greg O Brien
producers wish to thank (as Chancellor Greg O'Brien)
Howard Baldwin
Producer, Producers
Jack Rosner
producers wish to thank
Jaime Rucker King
executive producer
James Austin
producers wish to thank
Jason Cienkus
producers wish to thank
Jeffrey Conroy
producers wish to thank
Jerry Mckee
producers wish to thank: Laurel Valley Corporation
Jerry Wexler
producers wish to thank
Joe Adams
producers wish to thank
Joel Sill
producers wish to thank
Karen Elise Baldwin
Producer, Producers
Keith Bryant
producer: Imaginary Forces
Ken Hollis
producers wish to thank (as Senator Ken Hollis)
Kevin Gore
producers wish to thank
Larry Fitzgerald
producers wish to thank
Leonard Alsfeld
producers wish to thank: First Bank and Trust, New Orleans
Les Bider
producers wish to thank
Lisa Dennis
visual effects producer (as Lisa Ann Dennis)
Lois Dejean
producers wish to thank: Ebeneezer Baptist Church (as Reverend Lois DeJean)
Marian Foster
producers wish to thank: mayor, City of Hammond, Louisiana (as Mayor Marian Foster)
Mark Hartley
producers wish to thank
Mark Herzog
executive producer: EPK
Mark S Smith
producers wish to thank: Louisiana Governor's Office Film and Television Development (as Mark S. Smith Esq.)
Mike Engstrom
producers wish to thank
Nick Morton
co-producer
Niki Gascon
producers wish to thank
Patrick Bonneau
digital intermediate mastering producer: Cinesite
Paulette Hawkins
producers wish to thank
Peter L Funsten
producers wish to thank (as Peter Funsten Esq.)
Quincy Jones
producers wish to thank
Raena Winscott
producers wish to thank
Ralph Smith
producers wish to thank
Ray Charles Robinson Jr
co-producer
Ray Nagin
the producers wish to thank (as Mayor C. Ray Nagin)
Rick Shoemaker
producers wish to thank
Robin Hurley
producers wish to thank
Roger Benischek
the producers wish to thank
Ruth Brown
producers wish to thank
Sal Migliore
digital intermediate mastering producer: Cinesite
Scott Pascucci
producers wish to thank
Sig Sigworth
producers wish to thank
Stephanie Dupuy
producers wish to thank: New Orleans Office of Film and Video
Steve Scalise
producers wish to thank (as Rep. Steve Scalise)
Stuart Benjamin
Producer, Producers
Taylor Hackford
Producer
Terry Haggar
producers wish to thank
Tico Soto
producers wish to thank: tourism sales manager, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Valerie Ervin
producers wish to thank
Vernon Troupe
producers wish to thank
William J Immerman
executive producer
Other crew
616June Marshall
accounting clerk
Alexander Lasseigne Iii
accounting staff assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer L Brooks
accounting staff assistant (uncredited)
Jeffrey M Hoffman
additional camera operator (uncredited)
Michael Applebaum
additional camera operator (uncredited)
Adrienne Childers
additional costumer
Amy Lynch
additional costumer
Carol Cutshall
additional costumer
Caroline Eselin
additional costumer
Dana Embree
additional costumer
Kim Martinez
additional costumer
Liz Staub
additional costumer
Parents Guide
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