Fred Clark
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Fred Clark |
Bucks County Playhouse productions
The Biggest Thief In Town - Jay Stewart - 1961
The Interpreter - Jonathan M Schuyler (President of the United States) - 1961
Internet Movie Database - Fred Clark
Internet Broadway Database - Fred Clark
Fred Clark
(1914 - 1968)
American actor FRED CLARK embarked upon his lifelong career immediately upon graduation from Stanford University. With his lantern jaw, bald pate and ulcerated disposition, Clark knew he'd never be a leading man and wisely opted for character work.
He was best in contemporary dramas or comedies and was utilized mostly in authoritative type roles: a boss, a military officer, a detective or the like. He was tall, slender, and very bald with a dark neatly groomed fringe of hair, intense eyes and a neat pencil-thin mustache, which were his trademarks. He was born Frederic Leonard Clark on March 19, 1914 in Lincoln, California a small farming community. His father was the county agriculture commissioner. He initially aspired towards a medical career, but after appearing in a college play, "Yellow Jack", he was enthralled with acting. He eventually won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts where he trained. He became involved in summer stock and community theatre and by 1938 was making his Broadway debut. It was here where he was "discovered" by director Michael Curtiz, who cast him in his first film. His film credits include: Curtiz's "The Unsuspected" (1947) as Richard Donovan, his film debut; "Ride the Pink Horse" (1947) as Frank Hugo; "Cry of the City" (1948) as Lt. Collins; "Two Guys from Texas" (1948) as Dr. Straeger; "Hazard" (1948) as Lonnie Burns; "Flamingo Road" (1949) as Doc Waterson; "Alias Nick Beal" (1949) as Frankie Faulkner; "The Younger Brothers" (1949) as Ryckman; "White Heat" (1949) with James Cagney, as The Trader, one of his better roles; Disney's version of "Treasure Island" with Bobby Driscoll and Robert Newton, as Bray; "Sunset Boulevard" (1950) as Sheldrake; "A Place in the Sun" (1951) as Bellows; "The Lemon Drop Kid" (1951) with Bob Hope, as Moose Moran, one of my favorite of his roles; "Dreamboat" (1952) as Sam Levitt; "The Caddy" (1953) with Jerry Lewis, as Mr. Baxter; "How to Marry a Millionaire" (1953) as Waldo Brewster; "Living it Up" (1954) with Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, as Oliver Stone; "Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops" (1955) as Joseph Gorman/Sergei Trumanoff; "Daddy Long Legs" (1955) with Fred Astaire, as Griggs; "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" (1955) as Col. Moreland; "The Solid Gold Cadillac" (1956) as Clifford Snell; "Miracle in the Rain" (1956) as Steven Jalonik; "Back from Eternity" (1956) as Crimp; "Don't Go Near the Water" (1957) as Lt. Commdr. Clinton T. Nash; "Mardis Gras" (1958) as Curtis; "Auntie Mame" (1958) as Mr. Babcock; "The Mating Game" (1959) as Oliver Kelsey; "The Bells Are Ringing" (1960) as Larry Hastings; "Boys' Night Out" (1962) as Mr. Bohannon; "Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man" (1962) as Mr. Turner; "Move Over Darling" (1963) as Mr. Codd; "Curse of the Mummy's Tomb" (1964) as Alexander King; "John Goldfarb, Please Come Home" (1965) as Heinous Overreach; "Sergeant Deadhead" (1965) as Gen. Rufus Fogg; "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine" (1965) as D.J. Pevney; "The Face of Eve" (1968) as John Burke; "Skidoo" (1968) as Tower Guard; "The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit" (1968) as Tom Dugan and "The Animals" aka "Apache Vengeance" (1970) as Stage Driver, his last film role. On TV he was equally well known as a regular in the series: "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" aka "The Burns and Allen Show" (1951-53) as Harry Morton; "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1963-67) as Dr. Clyburn and "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe" (1966) as Chief Gerald B. Hannahan. He also guest starred on series such as: "The Alcoa Hour"; "The Untouchables"; "Twilight Zone"; "Naked City"; "G.E. Theater"; "Wagon Train"; "Petticoat Junction"; "The Dick Van Dyke Show"; "F Troop" and "I Dream of Jeannie."
He was married twice; his first wife was the actress Benay Venuta whom he divorced. He married Gloria Glaser in 1966 and was married to her until his death. He died of a liver ailment on December 5, 1968 in Santa Monica, California at the age of 54.