Brad Dexter (Boris Michel Soso 1917-2002) was an American supporting actor and film producer. Known for his tough-guy crime drama or western villain roles, he was credited under several names early in his career. At the advice of actor/director John Huston, he became Brad Dexter, landing roles in Huston's film, The Asphalt Jungle (1950) followed by a breakthrough role as a smarmy villain in RKO's The Las Vegas Story (1951), starring Victor Mature and Jane Russell. RKO cast him in a similar part in the weaker, Macao (1952), also with Russell, with RKO signing him to a contract. Dexter was the villain to John Payne in the hard-hitting, 99 River Street (1953) followed by the captivating, though rather implausible, Violent Saturday (1955) and Between Heaven and Hell (1956), both for director Richard Fleischer. Television kept him busy in bit parts on numerous popular shows during the late Fifties and early Sixties.
His most famous film is probably the gunslinger in The Magnificent Seven (1960). Dexter will forever be overshadowed by the big box office competition dominating the film. His friendship with Frank Sinatra reached its peak when he saved 'Ol Blue Eyes from drowning during the production of None but the Brave (1965). Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery. Grateful, Sinatra made him vice president of Sinatra Enterprises. Dexter joined Sinatra in, Von Ryan's Express (1965) but a friendship with Sinatra could be fleeting. He produced Sinatra's espionage film, The Naked Runner (1967). Speculation surrounds his clashing with the director and Sinatra over creative differences. Their two-year friendship possibly came to a screeching halt. It was back to television for Dexter in the Seventies to help finish out his career.
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