676

Born:  April 2, 1920

This man is on my top ten list of the finest television actors of all time.  Early in his career he did appear in a few films include the famous Sunset Blvd and Dark City. 

In June 1949 he began playing the role of Sergeant Joe Friday on the radio police drama, "Dragnet."  Two years later, "Dragnet" made the transition to television courtesy of an episode of the "Chesterfield Sound-Off Time."  The show broadcast on December 16, 1951 and featured Joe Friday with his partner Sergeant Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough).  The episode was actually adapted from a radio script that was used in 1949 and introduced television audiences to Friday's trademark deadpan behavior.  

The radio series ran from 1949-1957 while the television series was on the air from 1951 to 1959.  Both produced over 200 episodes.  It was not uncommon in those days for a program to be on both radio and television with the same principal players, as many people did not own a television set at that point.   

From 1962 to 1963 he acted as host to almost twenty episodes of "G.E. True" as well as appearing in some of the performances as well.  Other television appearances include "The Jerry Lewis Show", "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury", "The Partners", "Adam-12", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Jack Benny Program", "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour."  

In 1966, he returned to play Sergeant Friday in a "Dragnet" television movie this time Harry Morgan played his partner, Officer Bill Gannon.  The following year the show was back on the air with Friday and Gannon as the leads.  It ended in 1970.  His final acting role was as an announcer in a 1978 episode of "Project U.F.O."  

He passed away 30 years ago, December 23, 1982 leaving behind an incredible body of work.  

In Memoriam Remembers:
Jack Webb

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering the Cast of "Make Room for Daddy" / "The Danny Thomas Show" (583)

It was one of the longest running family sitcoms in television history.  Right there along side "I Love Lucy", "The Honeymooners", "Father Knows Best" and "My Little Margie" it was one of the most beloved programs of the day.  It began on ABC as "Make Room for Daddy" on September 29, 1953.  After 120 episodes the title changed to "The Danny Thomas Show" and in 1957 the program moved to CBS.  After a healthy eleven year run the show ended on April 27, 1964 after producing 351 episodes total.  In 1970 a majority of the cast returned for the show "Make Room for Granddaddy" which lasted from 1970 to 1971 producing 24 episodes.  The cast was headed up by Danny Thomas who played nightclub entertainer Danny Williams.  Jean Hagen played his wife Margaret, Rusty Hamer played his son Rusty and Sherry Jackson played his daughter Terry.  Jackson played Terry from 1953 to 1958 followed by Penny Parker who played the role from
Read more

Doris Packer (May 30, 1904 - March 31, 1979)

She began in New York on Broadway and then started appearing on radio. Some of her radio credits include "Henry Aldrich" and "Mr. & Mrs. North." When she became a widow in 1953 she relocated to California where she began appearing on film and on television. Her first film was Meet Me at the Fair. She also appeared in The Perils of Pauline in 1967. She is best remembered as Mrs. Cornelia Rayburn, Beaver's Principal on "Leave it to Beaver." She also had a recurring role on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." Her final film appearance was in Shampoo in 1975... Other Television Credits: "The Great Gildersleeve" "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre" "The Bob Cummings Show" "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" "I Love Lucy" "Lux Video Theatre" "The Jack Benny Program" "The Thin Man" "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse" "Maverick" &quo
Read more