- Born in Harlem, he landed the part of Leroy in Alan Parker's film, Fame (1980), when he was 17, after skipping school to go to the auditions.
- According to Selma Rubin, who managed him for 24 years, Ray's last video project is a one-hour BBC Fame (1980) reunion documentary, "Fame Remember My Name," which was taped in Los Angeles in April 2003, and aired in the United Kingdom shortly after his death.
- He was HIV-positive at the time he suffered a stroke in June 2003. He died a few months later, on November 14.
- Known for his wild, rebellious character Leroy in the TV series Fame (1982), the similarly styled Gene attended New York's High School of the Performing Arts, but dropped out after a year due to the strict discipline.
- In real life, he was expelled from the New York School for the Performing Arts, where the series Fame (1982) was set.
- In 1982, he toured the UK to perform with other Fame (1982) cast members in 10 concerts. A compilation of footage from the concerts was edited together as an episode of the series, The Kids from Fame in Concert (1983), which was broadcast in the United States a year after the concerts.
- Appeared in a Fame (1980) reunion documentary entitled "Fame Remember My Name," which was taped in April 2003 for the BBC.
- Lived on West 153rd Street. After he gained stardom for his roles in Fame (1980) and Fame (1982), he left school to pursue his career.
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