Gregory Ratoff

Gregory Ratoff (20 April 1897 - 14 December 1960) was a Russian-born American film director, actor and producer. His most famous role as an actor was as producer Max Fabian who feuds with star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) in All About Eve (1950). Ratoff was born in Samara, Russia. The Russian Jewish actor first came to the United States in 1922 and returned, passing through Ellis Island in July 1925; on the steerage passenger list of the SS Maure... more

Gregory Ratoff (20 April 1897 - 14 December 1960) was a Russian-born American film director, actor and producer. His most famous role as an actor was as producer Max Fabian who feuds with star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) in All About Eve (1950). Ratoff was born in Samara, Russia. The Russian Jewish actor first came to the United States in 1922 and returned, passing through Ellis Island in July 1925; on the steerage passenger list of the SS Mauretania he was listed as Gregoire Ratoff; for next of kin he listed his mother, Mme. Sophie Ratner of Paris. Ratoff is most noted for having directed the pro-Soviet propaganda film Song of Russia (1944), and for being one of the two producers to have purchased and developed the original rights to the James Bond franchise from Ian Fleming in 1955. He married the actress Eugenie Leontovich in 1923. They were divorced in 1949. Gregory Ratoff died on 14 December 1960 of leukemia in Solothurn, Switzerland, and was later returned to the U.S. and... less