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Ellen Becker-Gray grew up in the seacoast town of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Her first experience on stage was as a 10 year old when she performed in the "Dream Ballet" in the musical, Oklahoma. This initiated a life-long dream for an acting career. Ellen comes from a show biz background. Her mother was an accomplished dancer and model. Her father, a well-known dentist in the Boston area, was a jazz lover who treated such celebrated jazz musicians as Jack Teagarden, Cozy Cole and Buck Clayton. One of the only non-musicians in the International Press Club Jazz Hall of Fame, her father was a TV and radio personality, focusing on dental health. Ellen was treated to jazz jam sessions and cook outs with such talents as Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars.
Ellen also aspired to entertain, teach and integrate performing arts with curriculum. After earning a M.Ed. from Smith College, she was employed as a college and a public school teacher. As a teacher, Ellen was honored when a published Children's Book was dedicated to her. After an established teaching career for over 30 years, Ellen took early retirement to focus on an acting career. In addition to performing, she directs, produces and teaches acting.
Ellen's transition to film began in the summer of 2004, following what turned out to be her final year of teaching. On break during summer stock, she attended a casting call for a television pilot. She had no illusions and knew film acting would be different from theater. However, she appreciated that her theater training has great value to film work, enabling her to improvise, analyze a character emotionally and bring that insight into the process naturally. She was cast in the pilot and later appeared in a dozen episodes of the series. That initial booking was a turning point. Since then, she has worked in more than 85 films, commercials, educational videos and television. Ellen received the "Best Actress Award" in 2007 for the Providence 48 Hour Film Project. In 2008, she directed the film selected as the "Audience Choice Award" for that year's Film Project. Ellen was featured in Imagine Magazine issues: Talented New England Actors (March, 2013); New England Actors (March, 2011); and Women in the Industry (November, 2009).
Ellen is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actor's Equity. At a party in LA following the SAG Awards, she congratulated Julie Andrews who had just received the Lifetime Achievement Award. At that special moment, Ellen had the opportunity to tell Ms. Andrews that she has been one of Ellen's inspirations.
Ellen is married to Rob Gray who is also active in the industry. They met more than 35 years ago while working in a theatre in New England.
