Lyle Bettger
Lyle Bettger | |
---|---|
Born | Philadelphia, U.S.A. | February 13, 1915
Died | September 24, 2003 Atascadero, California, U.S. | (aged 88)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1950–1980 |
Spouse |
Mary Gertrude Rolfe
(m. 1941; died 1996) |
Children | 3 |
Lyle Stathem Bettger (February 13, 1915 – September 24, 2003)
Early life and education
Bettger was born in Philadelphia, the son of Frank Bettger, an infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, and Mertie Stathem Bettger. He graduated from the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania and from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.[2]
Stage
Bettger's theatrical debut was in Brother Rat at the Biltmore Theatre in New York City in 1936. His Broadway credits include Dance Night (1938), Summer Night (1939), The Flying Gerardos (1940–1941), The Moon Is Down (1942), All for All (1943), Oh, Brother! (1945), John Loves Mary (1947–1948), and Love Life (1948–1949).[3]
When Paramount sent a talent scout to see him, Bettger was signed to a three-year contract. [citation needed]
Film
Bettger's movie career began when he was cast in The Lie in 1949.[4] Movie columnist Frank Neill reported, "On the basis of his performance in the movie, he has been signed to a juicy contract."[5]
Later, Bettger was cast as the villain in the
]Bettger developed a reputation for playing the bad guy and excelled in villainous roles such as the menacing Joe Beacom in
Radio
Programs on which Bettger appeared in
Television
Bettger made many appearances in dramatic roles on television, starring in the 1957 series The Court of Last Resort[7] as well as guest starring on Hawaii Five-O, Rawhide, The Tall Man, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke (as Polk, a murdering robber in 1962’s S9E22 - “The Kite”), Bonanza, Combat!, Blue Light, The Time Tunnel, Death Valley Days, Laramie, and Tales of Wells Fargo (as John Wesley Hardin).
Personal life
Bettger was married to Mary Gertrude Rolfe from 1941 until her death in 1996. They had three children: Lyle Jr., Frank, and Paula. She was an actress who played Henry Aldrich's sister in The Aldrich Family on radio.[8] Bettger and his family moved to Hawaii in the late 1960s.[9]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1950 | No Man of Her Own | Stephen 'Steve' Morley | |
1950 | Union Station | Joe Beacom | |
1951 | The First Legion | Dr. Peter Morrell | |
1951 | Dear Brat | Mr.Baxter | |
1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Klaus | |
1952 | Denver and Rio Grande | Johnny Buff | |
1952 | Hurricane Smith | Clobb | |
1953 | The Vanquished | Roger Hale | |
1953 | The Great Sioux Uprising | Stephen Cook | |
1953 | All I Desire | Dutch Heinemann | |
1953 | Forbidden | Justin Keit | |
1954 | Carnival Story | Frank Colloni | |
1954 | Drums Across the River | Frank Walker | |
1954 | Destry | Decker | |
1955 | The Sea Chase | Chief Officer Kirchner | |
1956 | The Lone Ranger | Reece Kilgore | |
1956 | Showdown at Abilene | Dave Mosely | |
1957 | Gunfight at the O.K. Corral | Ike Clanton | |
1957-1961 | Tales of Wells Fargo | John Wesley Hardin | 2 episodes |
1960 | Guns of the Timberland | Clay Bell | |
1962 | Bonanza | Lem Partridge | Episode: "The Guilty" |
1964 | Combat! | Captain Brauer | Episode: A Rare Vintage |
1965 | Town Tamer | Lee Ring / Marshal Les Parker | |
1966 | Johnny Reno | Mayor Jess Yates | |
1966 | Nevada Smith | Jack Rudabough | |
1966 | Bonanza | Jed Ferguson | Episode: "Something Hurt, Something Wild" S8 E1 |
1967 | Return of the Gunfighter | Clay Sutton | |
1967 | The Fastest Guitar Alive | Charlie | |
1969 | Impasse | Hansen | |
1969 | Hawaii Five-O | Joe Fletcher | Episode: "All the King's Horses" |
1970 | The Hawaiians | Janders | |
1971 | The Seven Minutes | Frank Griffith | |
1973 | Hawaii Five-O | Klepper | Episode: "The Sunday Torch" |
1975 | Hawaii Five-O | Admiral Dean | Episode: "Murder: Eyes Only" |
1976 | Hawaii Five-O | Karl Norton | Episode: "Let Death Do Us Part" |
1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Dr. Dimitri Sartain | Episode: "Tsunami" |
1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Jonathan Kaye | Episode: "The Silk Trap" |
1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Jonathan Kaye | Episode: "Head to Head" |
1978 | Hawaii Five-O |
Malcolm Rhodes | Episode: "Invitation to Murder" |
1978 | Hawaii Five-O | Jonathan Kaye | Episode: "A Stranger in His Grave" |
References
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-6409-8.
- ^ "Lyle Bettger". Playbill Vault. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Neill, Frank (September 26, 1949). "Around Hollywood". New Castle News. p. 19. Retrieved January 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Saturday Highlights". Globe Gazette. Mason City, Iowa. September 5, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ISBN 978-0345282484.
- ^ Gerhard, Inez (July 22, 1948). "Star Dust". Shiner Gazette. p. 6. Retrieved January 3, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bergan, Ronald (October 8, 2003). "Lyle Bettger". The Guardian. London. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
External links
- Lyle Bettger at IMDb
- Lyle Bettger at the Internet Broadway Database
- Lyle Bettger at AllMovie