Gene Raymond was born on August 13, 1908, in New York City as Raymond Guion. He was a child performer and a Broadway veteran by the age of 12. Gene, a blond, husky, handsome actor, had his greatest popularity in the '30s and early '40s. His big break came in Personal Maid (1931). He was soon cast in classics such as Red Dust (1932) opposite Jean Harlow and Clark Gable and in Ex-Lady (1933) as Bette Davis 's husband. He was known around Hollywood as being a dependable leading man and an all-around great guy with an almost pretty face and a pleasant singing voice. Raymond's career continued to grow with a starring role in Sadie McKee (1934) opposite Joan Crawford. Soon after, he met and fell in love with one of MGM's stars, the beautiful red-headed singer and actress Jeanette MacDonald. They married in 1937, after MacDonald completed her third of eight movies with Nelson Eddy. Her fans may have wanted her to marry Nelson Eddy, but it was Gene who stole her heart and she his. In 1941, he and Jeanette were cast opposite one another in Smilin' Through (1941), their only picture together, and a picture they both treasured.In 1948, Gene tried his hand at directing and producing with Million Dollar Weekend (1948), but unfortunately it wasn't very successful. In 1949, he and Jeanette decided to slow down their careers: Jeanette left the movies, and he became very selective on the ones he did. They spent the next 14 years traveling together and staying active in Hollywood society.In 1963, Jeanette, who had a weak heart, had an arterial transplant, and Gene tried to nurse her back to health. In 1965, she had a heart attack and died with Gene by her side. This brought an end to their 28-year marriage, one of Hollywood's longest-lasting. Every year after her death, he attended the Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club convention in Los Angeles. He shared stories with her fans and friends, a thing he once said he would do "till Jeanette and I are together again". Show less «