Ola Ray (born August 26, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a model and actress best known for co-starring alongside Michael Jackson in his short film for Thriller in 1983.
Ray spent part of her childhood in Japan, where her stepfather was serving with the U.S. Air Force. She modelled for Playboy and was the Playmate of the Month for the June 1980 issue. Her centerfold was photographed by Richard Fegley. After Ray's career boost from Thriller, she was receiving phone calls non-stop for work. Ray claims she quit working in the mid-eighties because she refused to sleep with producers in exchange for roles. In 1992, Ola was stopped and charged for cocaine possession. Around this time Jim Brown ended his affair with Ola, allegedly because of her drug habit, although Ray denies that was the case. She stated the "relationship ended because Jim treated me badly." After being convicted of cocaine possession, Ray spent nine months in a treatment facility. In 1998, Ray hired an attorney to collect a percentage of profits (she claims she was promised) from the Thriller music video. She was awarded ten thousand dollars.
She currently lives in Sacramento, California with her daughter, Iam, and hosts parties for Playboy.
