Ray Wise Biography: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Children, Height, Parents, Movies & TV Shows

Ray Wise is an American actor who first won widespread attention for his portrayal of Leland Palmer in David Lynch’s television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991) and its 2017 revival, as well as the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992).

His intense performance as Laura Palmer’s anguished father established him as a memorable presence on screen and led to a steady stream of roles in both film and television, ranging from supporting parts in genre staples like RoboCop (1987) and Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003) to dramatic turns in Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and X‑Men: First Class (2011).

Profile

• Full name: Raymond Herbert Wise
• Date of birth: August 29, 1947
• Age: 78 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Akron, Ohio, U.S.
• State of origin: Ohio
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor
• Height: 5 ft 9½ in (1.77 m)
• Eye color: Blue
• Hair color: Salt & Pepper
• Parents: Herbert Wise; Valerie Wise
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Juliet Burr (m. 1974; div. 1977); Kass McClaskey (m. 1978)
• Children: Gannon McClaskey Wise (b. 1985), Kyna Wise (b. 1987)
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Raised Romanian Baptist; later Methodist
• Ethnicity: German descent (paternal); Romanian descent (maternal)
• Net worth: $7 million

Early Life and Education

Ray Wise is now 78 years old and was born on August 29, 1947, in Akron, Ohio.

He grew up in a household where his father, Herbert Wise, and his mother, Valerie (née Romas), practiced Romanian Baptist faith traditions, later attending a Methodist church together.

Wise graduated from Akron’s Garfield High School in 1965, then enrolled at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, where he completed his studies—earning his degree around 1969—before moving to New York City to pursue acting on stage.

Personal Life

In 1974, Wise married actress Juliet Burr; the couple divorced in 1977.

He wed film producer Kass McClaskey in 1978, and they remain together.

The pair have two children: their son, Gannon McClaskey Wise (born 1985), who works as an actor and writer, and their daughter, Kyna Wise (born 1987), who has pursued acting and singing.

Career

Ray Wise began his on-screen career in 1969 and spent much of the 1970s playing attorney Jamie Rollins on the soap opera Love of Life for nearly 950 episodes.

He transitioned into film with roles in Swamp Thing (1982) and The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) before delivering his breakout performance as Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks (1990–1991; 2017) and its prequel film.

Over the following decades, he balanced character work in feature films—RoboCop (1987), Bob Roberts (1992), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), X‑Men: First Class (2011), and God’s Not Dead 2 (2016)—with recurring television roles, notably as Vice President Hal Gardner on 24 (2006), the Devil on Reaper (2007–2009), and Marvin on Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020).

Into the mid‑2020s he continued to appear on shows like The Young and the Restless and in films such as Poolman (2024).

Additionally, he guest-starred in Tim & Eric’s Grill Vogel sketches and science fiction staples like Star Trek: TNG and Voyager.

Awards

• Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

Net Worth

Ray Wise’s estimated net worth is approximately US $7 million, accumulated through a sustained career of leading and supporting roles in television series, feature films, voice work, and stage performances.

Social Media

• Instagram: @therealraywise
• X: @therealraywise

Filmography

• Swamp Thing
• The Journey of Natty Gann
• RoboCop
• Bob Roberts
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
• Jeepers Creepers 2
• Good Night, and Good Luck
• X‑Men: First Class
• God’s Not Dead 2
• Poolman