Jon Lormer
(1906 - 1986)A veteran character actor, he was most often cast as judges, doctors, clergymen and military officers. Pictured out of character in the photo above, imagine a stern, almost sour look on his face and that's the type he most often portrayed. He was tall, lean and white haired and of a serious nature in films and on TV. He was born in Canton, Ohio on May 7, 1906. Nothing is known of his early years but he started his acting career in New York where he both taught and directed plays at the American Theatre Wing. He first appeared on TV in its early days of live theatre productions such as "Playhouse 90", "Studio One" and the soap "Search for Tomorrow" and worked well into the 1980s. His film debut came in 1958 in "I Want to Live!" in an uncredited role as a San Quentin Doctor. His other film roles included: "Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!" (1958) as George Melvin; "The Comancheros" (1961) as Elderly Man on riverboat; "Zebra in the Kitchen" (1965) as Judge; "A Fine Madness" (1966) as Dr. Huddleson; "Getting Straight" (1970) as Vandenburg; "Rooster Cogburn" (1975) as Rev. Goodnight; "The Boogens" (1981) as Greenwalt, the old man; "Creepshow" (1982) in the episode 'Father's Day' as Grantham, his last theatrical film. On TV he starred in the mini-series: "Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers" (1976) as Depositor and "Loose Change" (1978). He appeared in TV movies including: "The Gun and the Pulpit" (1974); "The Legend of Lizzie Borden" (1975) and "With This Ring" (1978). He also appeared in the Star Trek TV series pilot "The Cage" (1965) as Dr. Theodore Haskins/First Survivor. He guest starred on numerous series as he was primarily a TV actor and they included: "Maverick"; "Gunsmoke"; "Perry Mason"; "The Untouchables"; "Twilight Zone"; "Branded"; "The Andy Griffith Show"; "The Big Valley"; "Mission: Impossible"; "Family Affair"; "The Wild, Wild West"; "The Virginian"; "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"; "Barney Miller"; "Little House on the Prairie" and "Highway to Heaven." He died on March 19, 1986 in Burbank, California of natural causes at the age of 79.
From Great Character Actors, Page 6.
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