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Fred Clark

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American politician, see Fred Clark (politician). For other people, see Frederick Clark (disambiguation).
Fred Clark
Clark in 1950
Born
Frederick Leonard Clark

(1914-03-19)March 19, 1914
Lincoln, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 5, 1968(1968-12-05) (aged 54)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1952; div. 1962)​
  • Gloria Glaser
    ​
    (m. 1966)​

Frederick Leonard Clark (March 19, 1914 – December 5, 1968) was an American movie and television character actor, often playing in authoritative roles.

Early years

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Born in Lincoln, California, Clark was the son of Fred Clark Sr. He attended Stanford University with plans to become a doctor, but participation with a college production of Yellow Jack diverted his attention to acting. He changed his major to drama and later received a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. While there, he was elected his class's most promising actor.[1]

Career

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Clark with Gene Kelly in the Going My Way television episode, "A Matter of Principle" (1962).

Among his movies were Ride the Pink Horse (1947), Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), Flamingo Road (1949), White Heat (1949), Sunset Boulevard (1950), A Place in the Sun (1951), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955), How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955), Daddy Long Legs (1955), Auntie Mame (1958), and Visit to a Small Planet (1960).

Although he continued performing in movies during the 1960s (including a role in Hammer Film Productions' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb in 1964 and John Goldfarb, Please Come Home in 1965) he performed more often for television, as a regular on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show as neighbor Harry Morton (until 1953), and guest roles for The Twilight Zone, The Beverly Hillbillies, Going My Way, The Addams Family, and I Dream of Jeannie. In 1962, he and Bea Benaderet, another Burns and Allen veteran, played Mr. and Mrs. Springer in the episode "Continental Dinner," the series finale of the CBS situation comedy Pete and Gladys, featuring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams. Clark had a regular but short-lived role in the 1966 ABC sitcom The Double Life of Henry Phyfe as the "Central Intelligence Service" boss of a hapless conscripted spy played by comedian Red Buttons.

Clark's Broadway stage credits included Absence of a Cello (1964), Viva Madison Avenue! (1960), Romanoff And Juliet (1957), Ringside Seat (1938), What A Life (1938), and Schoolhouse on the Lot (1938).[2]

Personal life

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Clark was married to actress Benay Venuta from 1952–1962, then model Gloria Glaser from 1966 until his death from complications of liver disease in Santa Monica, California.[3]

Clark has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work for television, at 1711 Vine Street.[4]

Complete filmography

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References

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  1. ^ McManus, Margaret (July 17, 1966). "Fred Clark Desperately Desired Being Fired But Somehow It Never Happened". The Kansas City Star. p. 97. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Fred Clark". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Fred Clark, 54, Versatile Actor On Television and in Films, Dies; Became Typed as Indignant, Exasperated Character --- on Burns and Allen". The New York Times. December 7, 1968. p. 47.
  4. ^ "Fred Clark Profile". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
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