Personable actor Charles Drake was born Charles Ruppert on October 2, 1917, in New York City. He graduated from Nichols College in 1937 and initially became a salesman before switching to acting in 1939 and appearing in little theater productions. He changed his stage name to the more suitable Charles Drake and in the late 1930s managed to snag a contract with Warner Brothers. Drake started apprenticing in small, often unbilled roles in what would become enduring WWII-era classics: _The Hunchback of Notre Dame . He finished off his career on TV before retiring. Drake died in 1994 at age 76.
Was chosen by Audie Murphy to play the role of Brandon in "To Hell and Back" because according to Murphy and other army buddies, he reminded Murphy of a friend in his army unit.
Mr. Drake arrived in Hollywood in the late 1930s after being discovered in a talent contest sponsored by R.K.O. Studios.
