Norman Alden | |
|---|---|
 Alden inRango, 1967 | |
| Born | Norman Adelberg[1] (1924-09-13)September 13, 1924 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 2012(2012-07-27) (aged 87) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Other names | Norm Alden |
| Alma mater | Texas Christian University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1957–2006 (retired) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Brent Alden & Ashley Alden |
Norman Alden (néAdelberg; September 13, 1924 – July 27, 2012) was an Americancharacter actor who performed intelevision programs andmotion pictures.[2] He first appeared on television onThe 20th Century Fox Hour in1957. He provided the voice of Sir Kay inThe Sword in the Stone (1963), and had a notable role inI Never Promised You a Rose Garden.[2] His acting career began in 1957 and lasted nearly 50 years. He is also known for playing Kranix inThe Transformers: The Movie (1986). He retired from acting in 2006.[3] He died on July 27, 2012, at the age of 87.
Alden was born inFort Worth, Texas, the son of Jewish parents Benjamin Adelberg and Esther (née Covinsky). He served in theUnited States Army duringWorld War II[2] and returned to Fort Worth to attendTexas Christian University under theGI Bill of Rights. Some of his acting ability was developed while at TCU with participation in the on-campus theater. He had two children.[4]
Alden appeared in dozens oftelevision series in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1958, he guest-starred in an episode of theCBSsituation comedyMr. Adams and Eve.[5] He was cast in three episodes in 1958 and 1959 ofABC'sThe Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. He was cast in six guest-starring roles between 1959 and 1962, mostly as Seaman Pulaski, onJackie Cooper's CBS sitcom/drama,Hennesey. In 1959 and 1960, he was cast as Corporal Lucius Grundy in fifteen episodes of the seriesNot for Hire. From 1959 to 1961, he appeared as different characters in nine episodes of theNBCcrime drama,The Lawless Years. In 1961, he portrayed Shad Welty in the episode "Ordeal at Dead Tree" of the ABC/Warner BrothersWestern series,Bronco, starringTy Hardin. Also in 1961, he appeared in the episode "The Four" withJack Elam in theWestern series,Lawman, starringJohn Russell. He guest starred as well on the 1960–1962 CBS sitcom,Pete and Gladys and in a 1964 episode of the CBS sitcomThe Cara Williams Show. In 1966, he also playedThe Joker's Henchman #1 in episodes 25 and 26, titled "The Joker Trumps an Ace" and "Batman Sets the Pace", ofBatman. In 1970–71, he played Tom Williams onMy Three Sons. He played Sergeant Krebs in 1966 in theHogan's Heroes episode "Happiness Is a Warm Sergeant". In 1967, he portrayed Captain Horton in the ABC sitcomRango. In 1970, he appeared in an episode ofThe Silent Force. He had a small part in anAdam-12 episode on October 3, 1973. Alden played the police captain in the 1988NBC TV movieMan Against the Mob starringGeorge Peppard.
Alden portrayed Johnny Ringo in the1955 Western series,The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, withHugh O'Brian in the title role. Alden also played inBarnaby Jones in the December 31, 1974, episode "The Last Contract". Alden played Coach Leroy Fedder in the 1970s television series,Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.[2] He also voiced the ringmaster, Hank, on the animated television seriesDevlin. He played the lead in the filmAndy. The actor also played a former cop bent on getting his revenge against Steve McGarrett in the Season 4Hawaii Five-O episode "Rest in Peace, Somebody".[6]
Other roles that Alden portrayed included theAC Delco repairman, Lou the Mechanic for seven years in a series of advertisements, Professor Frank Heflin inElectra Woman and Dyna Girl,Aquaman,Green Arrow andPlastic Man in the animated TV franchiseSuper Friends, two episodes ofThe Andy Griffith Show, and MajorTruman Landon inTora! Tora! Tora! (1970). He provided the voice of Sir Kay in the 1963 Disney filmThe Sword in the Stone, and Kranix in the 1986 filmThe Transformers: The Movie. In 1976, Alden appeared as Big Daddy Dawson, Flo's first ex-husband on the CBS TV series,Alice. He was in one episode ofDallas as Senator William Orloff in Season 1 Episode 3 "Spy in the House" aka Mini Series. In Season 1 ofThe Dukes of Hazzard, he played Chief Lacey of the Springville Police in the episode "Deputy Dukes"; he returned to the role in the second-season episode "The Ghost of General Lee". He appeared as Lou Caruthers, the owner of the coffee shop inBack to the Future (1985) and the color-blind cameraman Bill inTim Burton'sEd Wood (1994). He appeared inKansas City Bomber (1972), which starredRaquel Welch.
In 1986, Alden arrived to the taping of the television programSmall Wonder, not realizing that the episode had been co-written by his cousinJack Gross.[7]
Alden died ofnatural causes at age 87 on July 27, 2012, in Los Angeles.[4][8]
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