Stanley Ralph Ross
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Stanley Ralph Ross | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | July 22, 1935
Died | March 16, 2000 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 64)
Resting place | Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery |
Years active | 1965–2000 |
Spouse |
Neila Hyman (m. 1958) |
Children | 3 |
Stanley Ralph Ross (July 22, 1935 – March 16, 2000) was an American writer and actor. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York, starting his career in advertising with Chudacoff and Margulis Advertising in West Los Angeles, then soon going to work as a writer on various television shows such as the 1960s Batman series starring Adam West and also The Monkees, and developed Wonder Woman for television with Douglas S. Cramer. Ross was sometimes credited as Sue Donem, a pun on "pseudonym".
Career
In 1958, Ross teamed with
In 1977, Ross was awarded the Inkpot Award.[1]
Actor
- John Goldfarb, Please Come Home(1964) as Muezzin (uncredited)
- The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) as Arab Singer (uncredited)
- Sleeper (1973) as Sears Wiggles
- Candy Stripe Nurses (1974) as Dr. Kramer
- Helter Skelter (1976, TV Mini-Series) as Sgt. Ross
- Romantic Comedy (1983)
- The Boss' Wife (1986) as Ticket Taker
- Side Out (1990) as Judge McKibbon
- HeartPower! Sing-Along (1999) Tobacco Man (final role)
- An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997) as Stanley Ralph Ross
- Babe: Pig in the City (1998) as The Pitbull / The Doberman (voice) (final film role)
Screenwriter
Television
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1966-1967)
- Batman (1966-1968)
- The Monkees (1967)
- That Girl (1967)
- Barefoot in the Park (1970)
- All in the Family (1971, 1973)
- Love, American Style (1972)
- The Mod Squad (1972)
- Banacek (1972-1973)
- Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1973)
- Columbo (1973-1974)
- That’s My Mama (1975)
- Wonder Woman (1975-1979)
- The Kallikaks (1977)
- Murder at the Mardi Gras (1978)
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985)
- Kids Incorporated (1985)
- Tales from the Crypt (1992)
- Burke’s Law (1995)
Films
- The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot (1965)
- Coffee, Tea or Me? (1973)
- Gold of the Amazon Women (1979)
Television writing
Ross made his mark on television with writing. As an
Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition… this is ABC's Wide World of Sports!
He wrote a third of the 1960s Batman episodes, and also had an uncredited cameo in one episode in which he played "Ballpoint Baxter." The character had no lines. Ballpoint was his nickname in real life.
Although most recognized for his work on
Ross was involved in multiple efforts to bring the comic book character Wonder Woman to television. Having been asked to write an alternative treatment for the Stan Hart and Larry Siegel 1967 proposal, Ross was later approached by producer Douglas S. Cramer in 1973 to write a series pilot. Ross declined, objecting to the series' updated Wonder Woman character (based on the 1960s and 70s comic book) and the casting of Cathy Lee Crosby. When the 1974 Crosby pilot failed, Ross was brought in to develop his own vision which put a high priority on visual fidelity to the look of the classic comics. The resulting Wonder Woman aired from 1975 to 1979. Ross was instrumental in the choosing of Lynda Carter and Lyle Waggoner as the show's stars.[2]
Voice over work
Ross also was known for his distinctive voice and did much voiceover work.
He also did the voice of
He provided the voice for the Arab singer in the original version of The Flight of the Phoenix and was also the voice of the Doberman and Bull Terrier characters in the movie, Babe: Pig in the City.
His radio vignettes were heard on KFI, Los Angeles during 1973.
Audio books
In addition to his other work Ross also recorded audio books. Some of his recordings are A Book of the Five Rings based on
Other work
Ross was also a songwriter, composing over 200 pieces, collaborating with such talent as Henry Mancini. He wrote "Beat the System," the theme song for The Kallikaks, which Roy Clark performed for the opening credits of the show in 1977. He also made a foray into musical theater, co-writing and co-composing the musical Love Is Spoken Here with Jacquelyn Reinach.
Wrote and produced “A Play With Fire” in Dundee, Scotland
Wrote the play Chaplin with Anthony Newley. He also taught at the University of Southern California film school.
In collaboration with
Ross became an ordained minister, marrying
Death
Ross died of lung cancer on March 16, 2000, leaving behind a wife and three children. He was buried in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery. His grave reads: Larger Than Life Beloved Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather STANLEY RALPH ROSS July 22, 1935 * March 16, 2000 "Thanks, I Had A Wonderful Time!"
References
- ^ Inkpot Award
- ^ Stanley Ross interview, Archive of American Television, accessed 6/11/15: http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/stanley-ralph-ross#
- ^ "Stanley Ralph Ross | Authors".
- ^ "Audiobooks Narrated by Stanley Ralph Ross".