Lyle Talbot
(1902 - 1996)Lyle Talbot had a long and varied career in films and on TV. He has starred in tent shows, on stage, in radio, films, serials, television, commercials and more. He was a tall, handsome, fair haired, man with a solid square jaw, steely eyes and a mellow baritone voice. He was most often cast as a tough guy, hero or villain, but always in command. He was born Lysle Hollywood Henderson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 8, 1902 the son of Mississippi Riverboat performers, and grew up in Nebraska. After his mother died, his grandmother Mary Hollywood Talbot took charge and he bore her surname as well as her maiden name which worked in his favor later in life. He began in show business just out of high school as a magician/hypnotist's assistant in a tent show, working his way up to magician. He later joined stock companies to learn the craft of acting. He formed his own company "The Talbot Players" in Memphis and later made his way to Hollywood just as talkie films were arriving. He was married to Marjorie Kramer in 1937 and divorced; he later married Kevin McClure in 1946 and divorced her a year later in 1947. His third wife Margaret bore him four children: two boys, Stephen, an actor, and David and two daughters Cynthia and Margaret Ann. His film debut came in "Three on a Match" (1932) as Mike Loftus. His other films included: "No More Orchids" (1932) as Tony Gage; "Klondike" (1932) as Dr. Cromwell; "20,000 Years in Sing Sing" (1932) as Bud Saunders; "42nd Street" (1933) uncredited, as Geoffrey Waring; "The Life of Jimmy Dolan" (1933) as Doc Wood; "While the Patient Slept" (1935) as Ross Lonergan; "Our Little Girl" (1935) with Shirley Temple, as Mr. Brent; "Chinatown Squad" (1935) as Ted Lacey; "Go West Young Man" (1936) as Francis X. Harrigan; "Call of the Yukon" (1938) as Hugo; "Torture Ship" (1939) as Lt. Bob Bennett; "He Married His Wife" (1940) as Paul Hunter; "They Raid by Night" (1942) as Capt. Robert Owen; "The Falcon Out West" (1944) as Tex Irwin; "Up in Arms" (1944) as Sgt. Gelsey; "Chick Carter, Detective" (1945) a serial, as Chick Carter; "Devil's Cargo" (1948) as Johnny Morello; "Joe Palooka in Winner Takes All" (1948) as Henderson; "Batman and Robin" (1949) a serial, as Commissioner Gordon; "Revenue Agent" (1950) as Augustus King; "Atom Man vs. Superman" (1950) a serial, with Kirk Alyn, as Atom Man/Lex Luthor; "Blue Blood" (1951) as Teasdale; "The Stooges Go West" (1951) with the Three Stooges, as Taggert; "Untamed Women" (1952) as Col. Loring; "With a Song in My Heart" (1952) with Susan Hayward, as Radio Director; "Feudin' Fools" (1952) with the Bowery Boys, as Big Jim; "White Lightning" (1953) as Rocky; Ed Wood's ludicrous "Glen or Glenda" (1953) as Inspector Warren; "The Pathfinder" (1953) with George Montgomery, as French Ship Captain; "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954) as Stage Manager; "Sudden Danger" (1955) as Woodruff; "The Great Man" (1956) as Harry Connors; "God is My Partner" (1957) as Dr. Warburton; Ed Wood's Messterpiece "Plan 9 from Outer Space" (1958) with Bela Lugosi, as Gen. Roberts, he liked to joke about his appearance in this film; "High School Confidential!" (1958) as William Remington Kane, another dubious film in his credits and "Sunrise at Campobello" (1960) with Ralph Bellamy, as Mr. Brimmer, his last film. On TV he was equally prolific as a regular on such series as: "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1952-66) as Joe Randolph, probably his best known role; "The Bob Cummings Show" aka "Love That Bob" (1955) as Paul Fonda; "Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe" (1955) as Baylor and "Ben Jerrod" (1963) as Police Lt. Choates. His son Stephen Talbot played Gilbert Bates on "Leave it to Beaver" (1959-63). Lyle Talbot also guest starred on such TV series as: "The Lone Ranger"; "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok"; "Topper"; "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin"; "Perry Mason"; "Rawhide"; "Wagon Train"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Green Acres"; "Charlie's Angels"; "Newhart"; "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "Who's the Boss?". He died of natural causes on March 3, 1996 in San Francisco, California at the age of 94.
From Great Character Actors, Page 7.
|
