Born Name:  Raymond Walter Goulding

Born Date:  March 20, 1922

Born Place:  Lowell, Massachusetts

Died Date:  March 24, 1990

Died Place:  Manhasset, New York

Occupations:  Comedian, actor

Brief Biography:  Raymond Walter Goulding was best known as the "Ray" in the legendary comedy duo Bob and Ray, alongside partner Bob Elliott. Famous for their deadpan, satirical, and often improvisational style, the pair spent four decades (1946–1990) as influential figures in radio and television.

Early Life and Career:
Early Radio: At 17, he began working as an announcer at WLLH in Lowell under the pseudonym "Dennis Howard" before joining WEEI in Boston.
Military Service: During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, graduating from Officer Candidate School (OCS) and becoming an instructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky, achieving the rank of Captain.

Bob and Ray:
Formation: In 1946, Goulding joined WHDH in Boston as a newsreader for Bob Elliott’s morning show. Their natural rapport led to a partnership.
Style: Known for absurdist, slow-burn satire, they often parodied broadcasting itself—soap operas, radio interviews, and giveaway shows.
Characters: Goulding was known for his distinct baritone voice, often playing eccentric, larger-than-life characters, including the cooking expert "Mary Margaret McGoon" and a dead-on parody of Senator Joseph McCarthy.
National Success: They moved to NBC Radio in 1951 and later joined the network's Monitor series in 1955.
Awards: The duo won a Peabody Award in 1956.
Goulding and Elliott were inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1995 (posthumously for Goulding).