Mala on AllMovie

Half Jewish, half Inuit, Mala (born Ray Wise) appeared in Ewing Scott's drama-documentary Igloo and then starred in the 1932 MGM production Eskimo. With his rugged physique, Mala was destined for action melodrama and would in fact be billed as "Mala the Magnificent" for his starring role in the 1936 Republic serial Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island. He was also in Hawk of the Wilderness (1938) as Bruce Bennett's native sidekick and was the "Prince of the Rock" in Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). Mala later became an assistant cameraman but returned to play a supporting role opposite Guy Madison in Red Snow (1942), billed -- as he sometimes was -- as Ray Mala. His early death was attributed to heart troubles.