Synopsis: Thrust Into Television

Many movie character actors found steady work and arguably more exposure with the advent of television. 

PETER BROCCO (1903-1992) was an American film, television, and stage actor. He has over 300 credits during his sixty-year career. Typically uncredited in his pre-television roles, it was in this medium that he became a frequent actor in Westerns, dramas, and comedies. 

Brocco kept busy from the late 1930s through the 1980s with various ethnic and supporting roles as a clerk, a shop owner, a bartender, a doctor, or a villain. There was always a spot in films where he could fill a scripted character. His supporting role in Spartacus (1960) is of note, as is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) as the wheelchair-bound patient.

But Brocco was most visible on the more intimate small screen, like displaying a comedic talent portraying Peter the Waiter for eight episodes of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1955–1956). He was cast in criminal roles for The Adventures of Superman, as an Organian council member in a Star Trek episode. He appeared three times in the police drama, Adam-12, and three times in The Rockford Files. For the television miniseries, The Winds of War (1983), he played the father of Ali MacGraw's character. He kept working until 1991, a little over a year before his death.

Synopsis: Thrust Into Television

Many movie character actors found steady work and arguably more exposure with the advent of television.

MORRIS ANKRUM (1897-1964) 

Ankrum was an American radio, television, and film character actor appearing in countless films from the 1930s to the mid-1950s. His credits were largely concentrated in the Western and Science-Fiction genres, often as authority figures, scientists, numerous military figures, judges, bankers, and even psychiatrists in more than 270 films and television episodes. His portrayal of Native Americans was less believable, however. Because of his commanding facial countenance, Ankrum could also play believable villains. Between numerous and varied television appearances, he could be seen as a judge on twenty-two episodes of Perry Mason. Somewhat ironic since Ankrum had a law degree from the University of Southern California. A career he pursued before getting the acting bug.

Discover more about Ankrum's career at IMDB.

Synopsis: Thrust Into Television

Many movie character actors found steady work and arguably more exposure with the advent of television. 

DOUGLAS KENNEDY (1915-1973)

The American character actor appeared in more than 190 films from the 1930s in uncredited spots, then in countless supporting roles through the 1960s. The 6' 3" Kennedy often portrayed Western villains, unscrupulous modern-day businessmen, as well as isolated romantic or positive leads in low-budget films. His long list of movie credits is nearly surpassed by his television appearances. Certainly becoming a more familiar face on the small screen. He appeared on many short-lived shows as well as long-running famous Westerns and modern-day crime series. Many of those were multiple appearances. His last credits were for three 1973 episodes of Hawaii Five-O. Kennedy died in Hawaii later that year.

Find out more about Kennedy's career at IMBD.

Television Transition

 

Don Dubbins (1928-1991)

The television medium offered a career shift for some movie character actors. Many were kept busy, becoming a household face if not a name.

Don Dubbins was an American television actor in westerns and dramas from the early days of the medium throughout the 1980s. His film credits after signing with Columbia Pictures are sparse but James Cagney took a liking to him and he garnered roles in two of his films, one being, Tribute to a Bad Man. He made a quick transition to the small screen where his boyish good looks provided the best benefits. As he matured, his roles were varied, working non-stop throughout his forty-year career.

The Brooklyn-born Marine veteran typically made single appearances on most shows in such classics as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Twilight Zone, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Rockford Files, and Murder, She Wrote. Additionally, he also appeared in other popular series ranging from the comedy Mork & Mindy to the police drama Hunter. However, Dubbins spent extra time with Perry Mason for seven appearances, and five roles each for Dragnet 1967 and Barnaby Jones.

Reel Character Series

Frank de Kova (1910-1981) was an American character actor in films, stage, and TV, often playing a Native American or Mexican bandit in westerns, or a modern-day gangster, all befitting his craggy face.

Born Frank Campanella, it was imperative a name change was in order so there was no confusion with the film actor of the same name, the older brother of television stalwart, Joseph Campanella. As DeKova, or De Kova, or de Kova—per his grave plot—he made his Broadway debut in Detective Story and was subsequently discovered by director Elia Kazan. In Hollywood, he appeared in Viva Zapata! in 1952 as the Mexican Colonel, and played Abiram in The Ten Commandments. He appeared in three films released in 1958: Cowboy with Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon, a quirky role in Machine Gun Kelly opposite Charles Bronson, and as the restrictive, old-school tribe counselor in Teenage Caveman, where Robert Vaughn played the cool, teen rebel with the perfect barber shop haircut. De Kova would reunite with Bronson in, The Mechanic in 1972.

De Kova was certainly most visible from his television work, including a role as Mafia hitman Jimmy Napoli in the ABC crime drama, The Untouchables, the western, Cheyenne, and a recurring role in Gunsmoke as a Kiowa Indian who is a trusted friend with Dodge City's marshal. He gained new fame as "Chief Wild Eagle" in the wacky western comedy spoof, F Troop, from 1965-1967. As the Seventies dawned, his work was less frequent, split between television and film. 

Reel Character Series

 

Ian Wolfe (1896-1992) was an American character actor with nearly 400 film and television credits spanning fifty-six years, beginning in 1934. His last screen credit was as the Forger in 1990's Dick Tracy. He appeared in countless films, often uncredited, including  Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), The Prince and The Pauper (1937), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Saboteur (1942), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and THX 1138 (1971) among many other lesser-known films. The face of "what's his name" could be either sad, kindly or menacing and he could easily slip into the role of a minister, a clerk, a store owner, a doctor, or a professor. 

His television credits were equally impressive. One could find him on Perry Mason, or the Rev. Leighton on The Andy Griffith Show. He also appeared in two episodes of the original Star Trek series. Wolfe would show up in sitcoms of the day including Barney Miller, Soap, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He gained newfound fame as Mama Carlson's doddering, sarcastic butler "Hirsch" in several episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati. His dramatic television credits on popular shows spanned the Fifties through the Eighties, as well. 

An Endless Furrowed Brow

 

If one were to identify Robert Simon (1908-1992) it would probably be his appearances in a multitude of television westerns. But he knew few limitations, though seemingly always with a perpetual furrowed brow. Popular dramas of the Fifties and Sixties and playing the straight man in situation comedies were also staples. The Ohio-born character actor honed his craft in theater during the Forties before breaking into notable films such as The Buccaneer (1958), Compulsion (1959), The Last Angry Man (1959), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) in which he played Handy Strong. 

Simon's credits in television seem endless. Just a sampling of his dramatic roles was for episodes of Medic, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, State Trooper, The Millionaire, M Squad, and with three appearances on Perry Mason. Many were not surprised to see Simon pop up in the popular sitcoms of the era. He portrayed Darren Stephens' father on Bewitched, and appeared in McHale's Navy, Get Smart, and The Andy Griffith Show, among others. He made three guest appearances as hard-nosed General Mitchell on M*A*S*H. His modern roles continued in the Seventies through the mid-Eighties in countless police dramas, but it was the television western where he may be best remembered or disliked. Simon became nearly typecast with authoritarian figures, often as a general, sheriff, doctor, journalist, an attorney, or an angry land owner with an uncompromising disposition. One could almost count on one hand how many times Simon's characters smiled, coming in second only to actor, Charles McGraw.

More details can be found at https://wikimili.com/en/Robert_F._Simon

Television Transition

The new television medium offered a career shift for some movie character actors. Many were kept busy, becoming a household face if not a name.

Lawrence Dobkin (1919-2002) 

An American television director, character actor and screenwriter, Dobkin's career spanned seven decades on radio, film and television. He could be heard regularly on radio's Gunsmoke (1952–1961), Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (1956–1960), and the anthology series Lux Radio Theater. On television, he was the voice before the closing credits of each episode of the ABC television network series, Naked City (1958–1963), "There are eight million stories in the naked city. This has been one of them." Among his many uncredited film roles in some significant films during the early Fifties, his voice was used to narrate the classic western Broken Arrow (1950) and as an actor in notable films such as Never Fear (1949), Sweet Smell of Success (1957 above) and North by Northwest (1959). He worked alongside many superstars in Hollywood.

Toupee or not Toupee

In addition to his eighty-three television director credits from the late Fifties through the Eighties, he appeared in countless—sometimes thankless—series as a doctor, villain, western gunslinger, clerk, judge, doctor or any number of professional or everyday employees. Though a familiar face to most small screen viewers, he was more likely known as “that bald guy” when not wearing a toupee. Among his most famous supporting roles were Wanted: Dead or Alive, Gunsmoke, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Rifleman, Have Gun – Will Travel, and The Untouchables. Though his appearances were less frequent, he popped up in the Seventies for The Streets of San Francisco, The Waltons, and The F.B.I. to name a few. Dobkin created the title character for the 1974 film and the 1977–1978 NBC series, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams. Television continued to depend on him up until the turn of the Century.

Well-hidden Professional

 

Philip Coolidge (1908-1967) was an American film and stage actor almost exclusively as a supporting player. His first film was Boomerang (1947). In his later films, he was a small-town mayor in Inherit the Wind (1960), Dr. Cross in North by Northwest (1959), and Mr. Porter in The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming (1966). His final role, as Fingers Nelson, was in the gangster comedy, Never A Dull Moment (1968). Yet it was television that kept him most busy.

The physically lean Coolidge, whose balding, and severe angular facial profile made him look older than his years, could appear as an angry citizen, an insurance agent, a clerk, or a sly criminal. He could also play victimized roles, exacerbated by his crestfallen demeanor. As the trained professional he was, Coolidge was adept with comedic scripts as well. Some of his best were his three of six appearances on, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Perfect Murder (1956), De Mortuis (1956), and The Dusty Drawer (1959). The latter, in which Coolidge's character, Mr. Tritt, an uppity bank teller, is suspected of stealing money from the bank by Dick York, his boarding house roommate. Around this time Coolidge made two appearances on Have Gun - Will Travel, three appearances on The Gertrude Berg Show as Professor Burke, and he played Throckmorton, the shopkeeper in an episode of The Twilight Zone (1962), "A Piano in the House." He was a cast member in 1964 on The Farmer's Daughter series as Chester Cooper.

Actor and Teacher

 

Cliff Osmond (Clifford Osman Ebrahim 1937-2012) was an American character actor, screenwriter, and drama teacher. He appeared in a few films, most notably in four Billy Wilder comedies, but he was most visible from his over 100 appearances on television. Though few knew his name. A veteran acting teacher in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and nationwide, he also operated his own scene study studios for decades while conducting seminars throughout the US.

Osmond was active in television from 1962 to 1996. His first small-screen appearance was in The Rifleman playing a vengeful blind man. That same year he was cast in "The Gift", an episode of The Twilight Zone. He later appeared on six episodes of Gunsmoke and he played a lieutenant and personal aide to an Indian Princess on Have Gun -- Will Travel. The 6' 5" actor was in countless dramas and comedies from the Sixties to the Eighties, typically as a heavy, a sheriff, or a slow-witted strongman. Given his facial features and command of dialects, there were few ethnic characters he could not play.

Reel Character Series

 

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.

Ordinary Appearance. Extraordinary Talent.

 

Though a few notable supporting roles in major films made their way into Edward Binns (1916-1990) resume, 12 Angry Men (1957), North by Northwest (1959), Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), the B-52 aircraft commander in Fail Safe (1964), Patton (1970) and The Verdict (1982), it was the mass audience of television of which he was most associated. The American stage and television actor often portraying competent, dedicated, and purposeful characters in various roles.

The Philadelphia native's theatrical career began shortly after his 1937 college graduation when he participated in a repertory theatre in Cleveland. He followed that with a year as actor and director of the Pan-American Theatre in Mexico City. He was involved in television productions early in its infancy, appearing in over 500 television programs, either live, taped or on film. Binns had his own series, Brenner (1959-62), playing the title character as a police lieutenant. His casting calls were endless as a sought-after actor in most of the popular series of their day such as, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, The Fugitive, M*A*S*H, a recurring role on It Takes a Thief, The Rockford Files, and many others.

Some sources say he was somewhat peeved that he was often mistaken for the actor Frank Lovejoy who shared a similar career path and sandpaper voice. Binns also was employed as a narrator, voicing commercials for Amtrak and United Way. He served in the Army Air Forces in 1942.