From 1953 to 1954 Anthony was musical director of the television series "TV's Top Tunes", and he also appeared as himself in the 1955 film "Daddy Long Legs". In 1955 he married his second wife, actress Mamie Van Doren. Their son Perry Ray was born March 18, 1956. He then began expanding his own acting career. In 1956–1957 he starred in a short-lived television variety show, "The Ray Anthony Show". Anthony also appeared in several films during the late 1950s, including "The Five Pennies" (in which he portrayed Jimmy Dorsey), and Van Doren's movies "High School Confidential" (as "Bix") and "Girls Town". In the 1959–1960 television season, he guest-starred in the episode "Operation Ramrod" of David Hedison's espionage series "Five Fingers" on NBC. Anthony and his band appeared in the movie "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956). In 1957, Anthony and his orchestra recorded the music score for the film "This Could Be The Night", with vocals performed by Julie Wilson.