Eddie Firestone (December 11, 1920 – March 1, 2007) was an American radio, television, and film actor who accumulated over 200 total credits during his performing career.
Early life
When he was 12, Firestone was in the cast of ''Wheatenaville'', broadcast on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
's Pacific network.
Career
An early success was in the title role of radio's ''
That Brewster Boy
''That Brewster Boy'' is an American old-time radio Sitcom, situation comedy. It was broadcast on NBC from September 8, 1941, to March 2, 1942, and on CBS from March 4, 1942, to March 2, 1945. It was also carried on 13 stations in Canada.
Overview ...
''. While doing that program, he also was an undergraduate student at
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
. He left the program during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
to join the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
in 1943, where he was commissioned, reaching the rank of captain, remaining in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1957.
At that time, he was billed as Eddie Firestone Jr.
Some of the first television appearances with Eddie Firestone was in the first season of Jack Webb's ''Dragnet'' (1951–52). He guest-starred in "The Big Lamp" in Season 1, Episode 14 on ''
Dragnet'', in Season 1, Episode 3 of ''
The Dick Van Dyke Show
''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Product ...
'', and in 1961 in the episode "The Charity Drive" of ''
Window on Main Street
''Window on Main Street'' is an American comedy-drama television series starring Robert Young about an author who returns to his home town after an absence of many years to write about the people and events there. Original episodes aired from Oct ...
''. Firestone appeared in several roles on the popular
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
television series ''
Bonanza
''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...
'', ''
Hogan's Heroes
''Hogan's Heroes'' is an American television sitcom set in a Nazi German prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during World War II. It ran for 168 episodes (six seasons) from September 17, 1965, to April 4, 1971, on the CBS network, the longest broadcast ...
'', as well as in
Walt Disney
Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...
's feature film ''
The Great Locomotive Chase
''The Great Locomotive Chase'' is a 1956 American adventure western film produced by Walt Disney Productions, based on the Great Locomotive Chase that occurred in 1862 during the American Civil War. Filmed in CinemaScope and in color, the fil ...
''. He also appeared on ''
Perry Mason
Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...
'' in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the "Dodging Domino," the 1963 episode, "The Case of the Decadent Dean," and the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Place Called Midnight." Firestone appeared in Barnaby Jones in the episode titled “Trap Play”(01/07/1975).
In 1967, he appeared as “Red Bailey”, one of three men burglarizing bank safes by using a new & volatile liquid explosive (nitroglycerin), in the only two part episode of the TV Western series ''
Gunsmoke
''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...
'', entitled “Nitro” (S12E28-29). He returned in 1974 playing the “Hotel Clerk” in “The Tarnished Badge” (S20E9).
He guest-starred in "Prosecutor", the premiere episode of ''
The Silent Force
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'', in 1970. He guest starred in 3 episodes of ''
The Rockford Files
''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator ...
''. He also appeared in an episode of ''
Knight Rider
''Knight Rider'' is an American entertainment franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The core of ''Knight Rider'' is its three television series: the original ''Knight Rider'' (1982–1986) and sequel series ''Team Knight Rider'' (1997–1998) ...
'' titled "Slammin' Sammy's Stunt Show Spectacular" in 1982, playing the character of Sammy Phillips. He also played the part of the character "Stumbles" in the 1969 episode "The Joker is Wild, Man, Wild" on ''
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to:
* ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series
* ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...
''. Also appeared in an episode of ''
Cannon
A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...
'' as the character Buck Hamlin in season 2 episode 6, "The Predators."
Death
Firestone is buried in
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood and Burbank, California.
The cemetery has an entrance called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for aviation ...
in
North Hollywood
North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...
in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
.
[Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson]
Filmography
*''
The Jackpot
''The Jackpot'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Walter Lang, with James Stewart and Barbara Hale in the lead roles. It features a young Natalie Wood.
The screenplay was based on a John McNulty article, "The Jackpot", in ''The New York ...
'' (1950) – Mr. McDougall (uncredited)
*''
With a Song in My Heart'' (1952) – USO Performer (uncredited)
*''
We're Not Married!
''We're Not Married!'' is a 1952 American anthology romantic comedy film directed by Edmund Goulding. It was released by 20th Century Fox.
The screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson
Nunnally Hunter Johnson (December 5, 1897 – March 25 ...
'' (1952) – Man in Radio Station (uncredited)
*''
One Minute to Zero
''One Minute to Zero'' is a 1952 American romantic war film starring Robert Mitchum and Ann Blyth, set during the opening phases of the Korean War, and produced by Howard Hughes as his last film as producer. Victor Young's score for the film inc ...
'' (1952) – Lt. Stevens (uncredited)
*''
Call Me Madam
''Call Me Madam'' is a musical written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.
The musical is a satire on politics and foreign policy that spoofs postwar America's penchant for lending billions of dollars to ...
'' (1953) – Reporter (uncredited)
*''
Good Morning, Miss Dove
''Good Morning, Miss Dove'' is a 1955 DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope film that tells the sentimental story of a beloved schoolteacher who reflects back on her life and former students when she is hospitalized. It stars Jennifer Jones, Robert Stack, ...
'' (1955) – Fred Makepeace (uncredited)
*''
The Revolt of Mamie Stover
''The Revolt of Mamie Stover'' is a 1951 novel by William Bradford Huie about a young woman from Mississippi who goes to Hollywood to work as an actress. Driven into prostitution, she moves to Honolulu, works at a brothel and takes it over, chal ...
'' (1956) – Tarzan
*''
The Great Locomotive Chase
''The Great Locomotive Chase'' is a 1956 American adventure western film produced by Walt Disney Productions, based on the Great Locomotive Chase that occurred in 1862 during the American Civil War. Filmed in CinemaScope and in color, the fil ...
'' (1956) – Robert Buffum
*''
The Brass Legend'' (1956) – Shorty
*''
Bailout at 43,000'' (1957) – Captain Mike Cavallero
*''
Joe Butterfly
''Joe Butterfly'' is a 1957 American comedy film directed by Jesse Hibbs starring Audie Murphy, George Nader and Keenan Wynn, with Burgess Meredith in the title role as a Japanese man. The movie was action star Murphy's only outright comedy, and ...
'' (1957) – Sgt. Oscar Hulick
*''
The Law and Jake Wade
''The Law and Jake Wade'' is a 1958 American Western film released in Metrocolor by MGM in CinemaScope. It is based on the 1956 novel by Marvin H. Albert and directed by John Sturges. The film was shot on location in California's High Sierra ...
'' (1958) – Burke
*''
The Mountain Road
''The Mountain Road'' is a 1960 war film starring James Stewart and directed by Daniel Mann. Set in China and based on the 1958 novel of the same name by journalist-historian Theodore H. White, the film follows the attempts of a U.S. Army major ...
'' (1960) – Major Lewis
*''
Angel Baby'' (1961) – Blind Man
*''
Two for the Seesaw
''Two for the Seesaw'' is a 1962 American romantic-drama film directed by Robert Wise and starring Robert Mitchum and Shirley MacLaine. It was adapted from the 1958 Broadway play written by William Gibson with Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft (who ...
'' (1962) – Oscar
*''
The Destructors'' (1968) – Dr. Barnes
*''
A Man Called Gannon
''A Man Called Gannon'' is a 1968 American Technicolor Western film directed by James Goldstone starring Tony Franciosa, Michael Sarrazin and Judi West. The film is a remake of '' Man Without a Star'' (1955).
Plot
Cowboy Gannon (Tony Franci ...
'' (1968) – Maz
*''
Panic in the City'' (1968) – Owens
*''
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came'' (1970) – Deputy Goulash
*''
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon Code duello, rules.
During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the r ...
'' (1971) – Café owner
*''
The Todd Killings
''The Todd Killings'' is a 1971 psychological thriller directed by Barry Shear and starring Robert F. Lyons, Richard Thomas, Belinda Montgomery, and Barbara Bel Geddes. It is based on the true crimes of serial killer Charles Schmid in the 19 ...
'' (1971) – Mr. Hassin
*''
Pickup on 101'' (1972) – Auto Mechanic
*''
Play It as It Lays
''Play It as It Lays'' is a 1970 novel by the American writer Joan Didion. ''Time'' magazine included the novel in its " 100 Best English-Language Novels from 1923 to 2005". About the book, Joan Didion said, "I didn’t think it was going to mak ...
'' (1972) – Benny Austin
*''
The Stone Killer
''The Stone Killer'' is a 1973 American action neo noir thriller film produced and directed by Michael Winner and starring Charles Bronson. It came out in between '' The Mechanic'' (1972) and '' Death Wish'' (1974), all three of which teamed up ...
'' (1973) – Armitage
*''
Invisible Strangler
''Invisible Strangler'' is a 1984 American horror film directed by John Florea, an alternate cut of the 1978 film ''The Astral Factor'', also known as ''The Astral Fiend'', starring Robert Foxworth, Stefanie Powers, Cesare Danova, Sue Lyon and ...
'' (1978) – Jacobs
References
Demetria Fulton; previewed Firestone on Barnaby Jones in the episode titled “Trap Play”(01/07/1975).
External links
*
*
*
Battlestar Wiki
{{DEFAULTSORT:Firestone, Eddie
1920 births
2007 deaths
Male actors from San Francisco
American male radio actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
United States Marine Corps officers
20th-century American male actors
Northwestern University alumni
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II