J. Carroll Naish (January 21st - January 24, 1973)

***Note both 1896 and 1897 have been given from different sources as a year of birth*** J. Carroll Naish was a character actor who could literally play anyone. Even though he was an Irish-American, Naish often found himself cast in a variety of different roles, as people from origins of Italian, Asian, German, and a variety of others. His most popular ethnic role was a Luigi Basco in the domestic radio sitcom “Life with Luigi” which premiered on September 21, 1948. The show followed the adventures of Italian immigrant Luigi Basco who would write a letter every to his “Mama Mia” in Italy. Co-starring with Naish was veteran actor Alan Reed who played Luigi’s friend and countryman Pasquale. Actor Hans Conried could also be heard as a recurring performer. Between 1926 and 1971 he appeared in 187 films, his first being a bit role in the film What Price Glory. In 1943, he played the villainous Dr. Tito Daka in the serial Batman. Because the project took place during the height of WWII there is a lot of derogative dialogue regarding people of Japanese decent. Naish’s role was as a Nipponese spy who planned to take over the world. Eventually Naish became well known on television appearing on such programs as “Cavalcade of Stars”, “The Jack Carter Show”, “Toast of the Town”, “General Electric Theater”, “Lux Video Theatre”, “Climax!”, “The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse”, “The Untouchables”, “Wagon Train”, “Route 66”, “Burke’s Law”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, “Green Acres”, “Bonanza” and “Get Smart.” On “Green Acres” he played a very rambunctious Native American chief who falls in love with Eunice Douglas (Eleanor Audley). “Life with Luigi” was briefly seen on television in 1952. During the 1957-1958 television season he played Chinese detective Charlie Chan in thirty-nine episodes of the series “The New Adventures of Charlie Chan.” His final acting role came in the 1971 film Dracula vs. Frankenstein in which he portrayed Dr. Frankenstein/Dr. Duryea. In a forty-five year career as the man of a thousand faces J. Carroll Naish will always be part of entertainment history.