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Ray Castellani was born in Albany, New York on February
13, 1933. Shuffled around through various homes for boys (orphanages), at seven years old,
Ray's Grandfather, an Italian immigrant, took him in. In Ray's most vivid memory,
Castellani plotted a run away from the home. He made it to his Grandfather's house
and went running to the basement door. He banged and banged until his Grandfather answered
the door, picked him up and said in his broken English, "No one is going to take you
anymore, Sonny Boy." Living in the basement with his grandfather in a nursing home
run by his grandmother, Ray grew up learning the skills of fine woodworking. His
grandfather was Ray's truth, a man of strength and conviction. |
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Castellani's grandparents managed to get him enrolled in
The Albany Academy for Boys in 4th grade. He received a fine education but because of his
mobility before the fourth grade, he could not read or write well. In high school at the
Academy he excelled in sports and was granted an athletic scholarship. He remained
on at The Academy graduating in 12th grade, but still to this day,has low reading skills. |
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Education and a loving grandfather though could not
squelch Ray's pain of being tossed around. Turning to alcohol at 7 years old, he soon
progressed in drinking at by 14 he was stashing whiskey in his room. Drinking plagued
Ray's life until he was 36. |
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| After high school, Castellani pursued his dream of becoming an actor for
about a year. Then, inspired by John Wayne, he joined the Marines and was honorably
discharged after three years of service. Then, moving to New York, he sought an acting
career for another three years, performing in plays, doing television shows, repertory
companies, etc. 1959 brought Ray to California with a wife and one child. The next ten
years brought a vast array of television shows (see acting pictures), three more children
and the escalation of alcoholism. By 1966, drinking had progressed to a point where he
stood outside of 20th Century Fox not knowing what show he was on, let alone the lines for
the day. |
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| In 1969, steeped in fears and self delusion, incapable of working, amassed
with sores all of his body, gaunt, separated from his wife and children, Castellani held a
bottle of Gin in his hands and said, "Please God help me. I don't want to drink
this." Since that moment Castellani has never touched alcohol again. He believes it
was his cry of despair. |
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| Two years down the road, he began to act again, although much of his
talent had dissipated. He began acting classes again at 40 years old, and it took 12 years
to see the talent arise again, during which time Castellani survived by painting houses,
making furniture and doing odd jobs. |
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| Able to act once again, Castellani did hundreds of TV shows. His acting
career pinnacled in 1981 when he got a major part in a Broadway play, On The Waterfront.
The play never got off the ground and Ray's heart was broken. |
| Still doing several shows, his spirit was no longer in acting. Not knowing
what he was to do with his life, he got in his truck and drove throughout the West, asking
God what he was to do. As the "idea" or calling of feeding people on Skid Row
grew stronger, he drove farther North and farther East until the feeling was so strong he
could not fight it or deny it. It brought him back. |
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| In 1987, not ever having served food to anyone, let alone homeless people
on Skid Row, he went to a Church and asked to use their kitchen. In a simple but powerful
gesture, he was handed the keys. He went to a neighborhood bakery for rolls, and then to
friends for peanut butter and jelly. At 3:00 am on December 5, Ray went to the kitchen and
personally made the sandwiches. Delivering them later that day, Castellani felt honored to
be used as an instrument of "His" will and he was humbled by the entire
experience. " It truly was, and always is," Castellani says, "about giving
for the purity of giving and asking nothing in return." |
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| The education of his life began on that day. |
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