It seemed back from the 50's to the 70's there was a group of supporting players who appeared in a lot of television episodes and even movies. Sometimes on the TV shows these might be modestly recurring roles but many times they were one ofs. I have tracked down some names such as Charles Lane, Reta Shaw, Mary Wickes, Olan Soule and Maudie Prickett. Anybody have any other names? I am particularly interested in finding an actress who did a lot of Dragnet shots playing both criminals and victims. I find very little to watch on episodic TV in the last few years so I have seen almost none. Is there a new rotating crop of supporting players like these?
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Supporting players
- Thread starter ricksegers
- Start date
ricksegers said:
Virginia Gregg?
Middle-aged to upper middle-aged, blonde, glasses.
Dragnet 67-70 characters included:
Bonnie Bates (pyramid scheme perp)
candy store clerk who is robbed
socialite who faked a jewelry robbery at home
writer who bugs Friday and female cadets at police academy
I believe she also had recurring roles in the '50s Dragnet series, and one or both of
the feature films.
oldiesfan6479 said:
That's her...Thanks
Let's not forget Madge Blake, best known for her role as "Aunt Harriet " on TV's Batman.
Then there is Roy Roberts who played the president of a bank where Lucy and Mr. Mooney worked. He was also an Admiral on McHale's navy.
Dabbs Greer, best known as the minister on "Little House on the Prairie." He was one of the first guest stars to appear on the first Adventures of Superman TV series as the worker hanging onto a rope from a blimp when Superman saves him.
Ross Martin, who co-starred on the "Wild Wild West"
Then there is Roy Roberts who played the president of a bank where Lucy and Mr. Mooney worked. He was also an Admiral on McHale's navy.
Dabbs Greer, best known as the minister on "Little House on the Prairie." He was one of the first guest stars to appear on the first Adventures of Superman TV series as the worker hanging onto a rope from a blimp when Superman saves him.
Ross Martin, who co-starred on the "Wild Wild West"
How about Denver Pyle, who played Briscoe Darling on "The
Andy Griffith Show" and Uncle Jesse on "The Dukes Of Hazzard"?
Or one who showed up just about everywhere--Dub Taylor?
Interesting that both Reta Shaw and Madge Blake have been mentioned
in this thread; I saw an early episode of "Bewitched" the other day where
they were two witches (Bertha and Mary) helping Samantha convince one
of Darrin's clients to change the image of witches.
Andy Griffith Show" and Uncle Jesse on "The Dukes Of Hazzard"?
Or one who showed up just about everywhere--Dub Taylor?
Interesting that both Reta Shaw and Madge Blake have been mentioned
in this thread; I saw an early episode of "Bewitched" the other day where
they were two witches (Bertha and Mary) helping Samantha convince one
of Darrin's clients to change the image of witches.
Along with George Petrie. BTW, Petrie was the dark-haired
guy; Marth, the blond-haired one. Gleason liked to use them
because they could keep up with him if he suddenly started
ad-libbing; besides, they were quick studies. Petrie once said
that it was not uncommon for Gleason to call him at noon on
Saturday for a show that was going on the air live at 8 PM. But,
AFAIK, neither Petrie nor Marth ever flubbed a line.
guy; Marth, the blond-haired one. Gleason liked to use them
because they could keep up with him if he suddenly started
ad-libbing; besides, they were quick studies. Petrie once said
that it was not uncommon for Gleason to call him at noon on
Saturday for a show that was going on the air live at 8 PM. But,
AFAIK, neither Petrie nor Marth ever flubbed a line.
F
FreddyE1977
Guest
Vito Scotti was sort of the John Gielgud of supporting TV bit players.
He turns up in just about every series from the 60's if you watch long enough.
He turns up in just about every series from the 60's if you watch long enough.
How about the little guy Jay Novello? He appeared a
couple of times on "I Love Lucy," once as Mr. Meriwether,
for whom Lucy and Ethel conducted a seance so he could
contact Tillie, who turned out to be his dog; the other as
the guy who was going to sublease the Ricardos' apartment
to calm his shattered nerves after witnessing a crime. He
popped up on "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Millionaire," and
other shows of that era.
I'm not exactly sure how to classify Howard Morris. He was
one of the cast of "Your Show Of Shows"/"Caesar's Hour," but
you probably remember him best as Ernest T. Bass.
And how about Allan Melvin, Cpl. Henshaw on the Bilko show,
Sgt. Hacker on "Gomer Pyle, USMC," and any number of roles
(as either good guy or bad) on "The Andy Griffith Show," as
well as the voice of Magilla Gorilla? (He was also Alice's boyfriend
on "The Brady Bunch".)
couple of times on "I Love Lucy," once as Mr. Meriwether,
for whom Lucy and Ethel conducted a seance so he could
contact Tillie, who turned out to be his dog; the other as
the guy who was going to sublease the Ricardos' apartment
to calm his shattered nerves after witnessing a crime. He
popped up on "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Millionaire," and
other shows of that era.
I'm not exactly sure how to classify Howard Morris. He was
one of the cast of "Your Show Of Shows"/"Caesar's Hour," but
you probably remember him best as Ernest T. Bass.
And how about Allan Melvin, Cpl. Henshaw on the Bilko show,
Sgt. Hacker on "Gomer Pyle, USMC," and any number of roles
(as either good guy or bad) on "The Andy Griffith Show," as
well as the voice of Magilla Gorilla? (He was also Alice's boyfriend
on "The Brady Bunch".)
Charlie Martin Smith. It seemed like he was everywhere!
Pamelyn Ferdin. Child actress. Also in a lot of shows!
Pamelyn Ferdin. Child actress. Also in a lot of shows!
Let's not forget Burt Mustin who was on quite a few series in the '60s and '70s including The Andy Griffith Show, All in the Family and Dragnet.
Howard Morris also played a number of characters on Andy Griffith besides Ernest T. Bass. He was also George the TV Repairman and usually provided the voice for most of the announcers on the radio stations from Mt. Pilot, as well as directing a number of episodes.bpatrick said:
Allan Melvin also played Barney Hefner on "All In The Family" and "Archie Bunker's Place".
How about Hayden Rorke, Dr. Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie? I have also seen him guest on other shows like Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, The Beverly Hillbillies and The Andy Griffith Show.
A personal favorite of mine is Kathleen Freeman, the burly woman who played working women - maids, nurses, teachers, and secretaries. Her characters were often mean or bossy. Perhaps her most famous role was Sister Mary Stigmata (aka: The Penguin) in The Blues Brothers movie.
One of her earliest TV appearances was as a maid on Topper,, and one of her last appearances was a guest shot on Becker.
She also did a lot of voice-work, including the voice of Peg Bundy's evil (but never seen) mother or Married with Children. She was reportedly considered for the Brady Bunch housekeeper role that went to Ann B. Davis.
One of her earliest TV appearances was as a maid on Topper,, and one of her last appearances was a guest shot on Becker.
She also did a lot of voice-work, including the voice of Peg Bundy's evil (but never seen) mother or Married with Children. She was reportedly considered for the Brady Bunch housekeeper role that went to Ann B. Davis.
KeithE4 said:
Ms. Dumont, however, did appear in an Abbott & Costello film, Little Giant (1946).
But the presumption that she had been in Three Stooges comedies may've had to do with an SCTV parody from 1977 (where they were called "The Three Dummies"), and a Dumont-type character was played by Catherine O'Hara.
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