Spoiler : born in Twin Valley, Minnesota 12/29/1904; died 3/30/1994 at his home in Toluca Lake, California. Brother of Ken Niles. Father of Wendell E. Niles, Jr. (the former producer of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show on NBC-TV). Niles was raised in Livingston, Montana, where he began his career as an announcer on local radio stations. Screen debut playing an uncredited role of radio announcer in The Crowd Roars (1932). Last movie was playing a newscaster in the 1966 television movie, Sakima and the Masked Marvel. So as not to be confused with his brother Niles, Wendell used the name of Ronald Drake in the beginning of his radio announcing career.

Spoiler : Announcer for radio programs including The Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show on NBC (1937- 1939); The Fitch Bandwagon on NBC 1938?-1945); When A Girl Marries on CBS (1939-1941); The Bob Hope Show on NBC (1943-1948); The Chesterfield Music Shop on NBC (1944); Here Comes Elmer (The Al Pearce Show) on CBS (1944-45); The Charlotte Greenwood Show on ABC (1944-1946); The Tommy Dorsey Show on NBC (1946); Hollywood Startime on CBS (1946-1947); The Adventures Of Philip Marlowe on NBC (1947); The Man Called X on CBS (1947-48); Lum And Abner on CBS (1948-50); Hollywood Star Playhouse on NBC (1952-1953). Niles and Don Prindleon starred on the comedy program, Niles And Prindle (Ice Box Follies) for NBC-BLUE (1945).

Spoiler : Announcer on NBC television programs including The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950-1954); It Could Be You (1956-1961); Truth or Consequences (1957-1958); Let's Make a Deal (1963-1964); Chain Letter (1966).