Clara Dray

born: 02 August 1898
Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America
died: 04 March 1980
Los Angeles, California,
United States of America
(cardiopulmonary arrest, age 81)

Blonde, blue-eyed American actress who acted in films of the 1910s and 1920s, including appearing in some of the earlier films with Harold Lloyd. She was the older sister of Loretta Dray (a.k.a. Theresa Claire). Their parents were Rose Leona (née Johnson, 1875-1946) and Daniel John Dray (1870-1950), of whom they were the only two children; Daniel was a café waiter who later worked for motion picture studios as a date man and watchman. Beginning around 1922-23, Clara began using the professional name of Rita Claire. In the 1930 U.S. Census, both sisters were studio dancers; in the 1940 U.S. Census, Clara is a teacher at the M-G-M studio. Both she and Loretta/Theresa would go on to work for the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Clara spending 24 years with the aircraft company becoming executive office clerk. Both sisters, neither of whom married, lived at 8349 Blackburn Avenue, Los Angeles, for over 50 years.
Some sources list her surname as "Drey."
Real name: Clara Rosa Dray
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography.

9


1917
Stop! Luke! Listen!
[?]

1917
Lonesome Luke, Messenger
[?]

1917
Lonesome Luke's Wild Women
[?]

1917
Lonesome Luke Loses Patients
[?]

1917
Over The Fence
[?]

1917
Pinched
[?]

1917
All Aboard
[?]
*listed on IMDb; not listed by Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia

1917
Step Lively
[?]

1919
Bumping Into Broadway
[?]

MISCELLANEOUS
(click any image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXNX-61K (birth register)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DC58-F26Z (birth register)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F42H-3JL (birth record)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9TR-VS9 (1900 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVM5-6CH1 (1905 IA Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV2Y-PD9 (1910 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHQN-NFM (1920 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCV3-MLQ (1930 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9C2-N3H (1940 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGC-VL1W (1950 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPJK-311 (CA Death Index)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HGCG-VB6Z (death/burial records)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BZ-C3DT-W (funeral service records, images 615-639)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BZ-C3CT-L (death certificate)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BZ-C3XR-5 (funeral service record)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9TK-XNP (Social Security Death Index)
https://archive.org/details/camera04unse/page/n831/mode/1up?q=%22clara+dray%22 (Camera!, 28 Jan 1922)
https://archive.org/details/camera05unse/page/n57/mode/1up?q=%22clara+dray%22 (Camera!, 29 Apr 1922)
https://archive.org/details/camera06unse/page/n555/mode/1up?q=%22rita+claire%22 (Camera!, 22 Sep 1923)
https://archive.org/details/camera06unse/page/n564/mode/1up?q=%22rita+claire%22 (Camera!, 22 Sep 1923)
1926 L.A. City Dir.: Claire Rita actor r5843 Camerford av
1926 L.A. City Dir.: Claire Theresa actor r5843 Camerford av
1926 L.A. City Dir.: Dray Danl J waiter h5843 Camerford av
Jesse Brisson (bio notes and research)

This page was last updated on: 10 January 2026