Albert Salmi | |
|---|---|
 in the trailer forThe Brothers Karamazov (1958) | |
| Born | (1927-03-11)March 11, 1927 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 22, 1990(1990-04-22) (aged 63) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Resting place | Greenwood Memorial Terrace, Spokane, Washington |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–1990 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Albert Salmi (March 11, 1927 – April 22, 1990) was an American actor of stage, film, and television. Best known for his work as acharacter actor, he appeared in over 150 film and television productions.[1]
Salmi was born and raised inBrooklyn, New York City, the son of Finnish immigrant parents.[1] He attendedHaaren High School inManhattan. Following a stint in theUnited States Army, Salmi took up acting as a career, studyingmethod acting at theActors Studio in Manhattan withLee Strasberg.[2][3]
In 1955, Salmi starred as Bo Decker in the playBus Stop onBroadway, and also performed in the touring production of the play. His performance was praised by critics, and Salmi was offered the chance to reprise the role in the filmBus Stop (1956) starringMarilyn Monroe. Salmi turned down the offer because he did not enjoy film work. (Don Murray was later cast as Bo and earned anAcademy Award nomination for his performance.)[4]
Despite his numerous appearances in the medium, Salmi shared the opinion of many Actors Studio alumni that roles in film and television were "inferior" to stage work.[5] One of his first television appearances was in the live, televised adaptation of the novelBang the Drum Slowly (1956), featured on the anthology seriesThe United States Steel Hour oppositePaul Newman andGeorge Peppard.[6] He also had several memorable roles onCBS'sThe Twilight Zone, including "Of Late I Think of Cliffordville", "A Quality of Mercy", and "Execution".In 1962 he played the role of Sergeant Jenkins in Season One/episode 9, titled "Cat and Mouse," of the series "Combat!" Throughout the episode he was paired in a contentious relationship with lead actor Vic Morrow, who played Sergeant Saunders for the 5 seasons of the series, and who, at the end of the episode -- after Jenkins had bravely given his life to save Saunders and the information Saunders had to get back to the local U.S. Army Command Post (CP) -- said of Jenkins "You know it's a funny thing Major, I never had an easier time hating a man, and I'll never have a harder time forgetting one."In 1963, he portrayed John Day and Rivers in the episode "Incident of the Pale Rider" on the CBS seriesRawhide. In 1964–65, he appeared withFess Parker as Yadkin in the first season of theDaniel Boone TV series. He later appeared twice as the incorrigible pirate Alonzo P. Tucker onLost in Space. He appeared in a 1967 episode ofGunsmoke as a killer who comes to an ironic end. For that performance, Salmi was awarded aWestern Heritage Award.[4]
From 1974 to 1976, Salmi co-starred in the NBClegal dramaPetrocelli as local investigator Pete Ritter.[7]
Salmi's film career included roles inThe Unforgiven (1960),The Outrage (1964),Lawman (1971),Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971),Viva Knievel! (1977),Empire of the Ants (1977),Love and Bullets (1979),Caddyshack (1980), and theRobert Redford prison filmBrubaker (1980). He played Greil inDragonslayer (1981),Geraldine Page's husband inI'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (1982), and the hard-drinking but loving father of character Diana Lawson inHard to Hold (1984).
Salmi met actressPeggy Ann Garner while the two were performing in the National Company touring production ofBus Stop in 1955.[8] They were married on May 18, 1956, in New York City.[9] Their only child, Catherine Ann "Cas" Salmi, was born on March 30, 1957; Catherine died in 1995 of heart disease at the age of 38.[10]
Salmi married Roberta Pollock Taper in 1964. The couple had two daughters, Elizabeth and Jennifer.[7] In 1983, the family moved from Los Angeles toSpokane, Washington, where Salmi went into semi-retirement, taking occasional acting roles.[11] Salmi later taught acting and appeared in community and regional theater.[5]
In February 1990, Albert and Roberta Salmi separated. He moved into their Idaho condominium, while Roberta remained in the family home in Spokane. She filed for divorce on February 6.[12] According to court documents, Roberta Salmi claimed that her husband was an alcoholic who physically abused her when he drank. She also claimed that Salmi threatened her on several occasions, and she was in fear for her life. Roberta later took out arestraining order against her husband. In response to her claims in the court documents, Salmi denied physically abusing Roberta and blamed their estrangement on her emotional issues.[11][12]
On April 23, 1990, Albert Salmi and his estranged wife Roberta were found dead in their Spokane home by a friend who stopped by to check on her. According to newspaper accounts, Salmi fatally shot Roberta in the kitchen of her home, before shooting himself in an upstairs room.[1][12]
On April 26, Salmi's funeral was held at the Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, after which he was cremated and placed in a niche at Greenwood Memorial Terrace cemetery in Spokane; the marker is listed as "Our Beloved Dad".[4][13][14]
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{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)Grabman, Sandra (2004). "Spotlights & Shadows: The Albert Salmi Story". Published by Bear Manor Media 2004, second edition 2010.ISBN 978-1-59393-425-5.
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