Frederick Leonard Clark (March 19, 1914 – December 5, 1968) was an American movie and television

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

, often playing in authoritative roles.

Early years

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.

Career

Gene Kelly Going My Way television series 1962

Among his movies were ''

Ride the Pink Horse ''Ride the Pink Horse'' is a 1947 film noir crime film produced by Universal Studios. It was directed by Robert Montgomery, who also stars in it, from a screenplay by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer, which was based on the 1946 novel of the same ...

'' (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 ''How to Marry a Millionaire'' is a 1953 American screwball comedy film directed by Jean Negulesco and written and produced by Nunnally Johnson. The screenplay was based on the plays ''The Greeks Had a Word for It'' (1930) by Zoe Akins and ''Loc ...

'' (1953), ''

The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell ''The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell'' is a 1955 American CinemaScope war film directed by Otto Preminger, and starring Gary Cooper and co-starring Charles Bickford, Ralph Bellamy, Rod Steiger, and Elizabeth Montgomery in her film debut. The fi ...

'' (1955), '' How to Be Very, Very Popular'' (1955), ''

Daddy Long Legs A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. An adoptive fathe ...

'' (1955), ''

Auntie Mame ''Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade'' is a 1955 novel by American author Patrick Dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, Patrick, growing up as the ward of his Aunt Mame Dennis, the sister of his dead father. The book is often desc ...

'' (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 ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually marrie ...

''. In 1962, he and

Bea Benaderet Beatrice Benaderet ( ; April 4, 1906 – October 13, 1968) was an American actress and comedienne. Born in New York City and raised in San Francisco, she began performing in Bay Area theatre and radio before embarking on a Hollywood career that ...

, 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 ''Pete and Gladys'' is an American sitcom television series starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams that aired on CBS on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time for two seasons, beginning on September 19, 1960. The last episode was b ...

'', featuring Harry Morgan and

Cara Williams Cara Williams (born Bernice Kamiat; June 29, 1925 – December 9, 2021) was an American film and television actress. She was best known for her role as Billy's Mother in ''The Defiant Ones'' (1958), for which she was nominated for the Academy A ...

. Clark had a regular but short-lived role in the 1966 ABC sitcom ''

The Double Life of Henry Phyfe ''The Double Life of Henry Phyfe'' is a 17-episode American sitcom broadcast on ABC from January 13 to September 1, 1966, and starring Red Buttons. Plot Henry Phyfe (Buttons) was a mild-mannered accountant, until circumstances forced the Americ ...

'' 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).

Personal life

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. Clark has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

for his work for television, at 1711 Vine Street.

Complete filmography

*'' The Unsuspected'' (1947) - Richard Donovan *''

'' (1947) - Frank Hugo *''

Fury at Furnace Creek '' Fury at Furnace Creek '' is a 1948 American Western film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Victor Mature, Coleen Gray, Glenn Langan, and Reginald Gardiner. Plot Troops are massacred at a Furnace Creek fort in 1880 after an army ...

'' (1948) - Bird *''

Hazard A hazard is a potential source of harm Harm is a moral and legal concept. Bernard Gert construes harm as any of the following: * pain * death * disability * mortality * loss of abil ity or freedom * loss of pleasure. Joel Feinberg giv ...

'' (1948) - Lonnie Burns *'' Two Guys from Texas'' (1948) - Dr. Straeger *''

Cry of the City ''Cry of the City'' is a 1948 American film noir starring Victor Mature, Richard Conte, and Shelley Winters. Directed by Robert Siodmak, it is based on the novel by Henry Edward Helseth, ''The Chair for Martin Rome''. The screenwriter Ben Hecht ...

'' (1948) - Lt Collins *''

Alias Nick Beal ''Alias Nick Beal'' is a 1949 American film noir mystery film retelling of the Faust myth directed by John Farrow and starring Ray Milland, Audrey Totter and Thomas Mitchell (although third-billed, Mitchell plays the leading role). The picture ...

'' (1949) - Frankie Faulkner *''

The Younger Brothers ''The Younger Brothers'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Wayne Morris, Bruce Bennett, Janis Paige. Plot Determined to reform from their outlaw ways, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger ride to Cedar Creek, Minnesot ...

'' (1949) - Daniel Ryckman *'' Flamingo Road'' (1949) - Doc Waterson *'' White Heat'' (1949) - The Trader, aka Winston *''So You Want to Get Rich Quick'' (1949, Short) - Fastidious Ferguson (uncredited) *''So You Want to Be an Actor'' (1949, Short) - Mr. Frisbee (uncredited) *'' The Lady Takes a Sailor'' (1949) - Victor Santell (uncredited) *''The Amazing Mr. Malone'' (1950, TV Movie) *'' Return of the Frontiersman'' (1950) - Ryan *'' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1950) - Basil Danzeeger *'' Sunset Boulevard'' (1950) - Sheldrake *'' The Jackpot'' (1950) - Mr. Andrew J. Woodruff *''

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone ''Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone'' is a 1950 comedy/murder mystery film set on board a train. It stars Marjorie Main and James Whitmore. It is based on the short story "Once Upon a Train (The Loco Motive)" by Stuart Palmer and Craig Rice. Plot M ...

'' (1950) - Tim Marino *''

The Lemon Drop Kid ''The Lemon Drop Kid'' is a 1951 American comedy film based on the short story of the same name by Damon Runyon, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. Although Sidney Lanfield is credited as the director, Frank Tashlin reportedly was hired, u ...

'' (1951) - Moose Moran *'' A Place in the Sun'' (1951) - Bellows *''

Hollywood Story ''Hollywood Story'' is a 1951 American mystery film directed by William Castle and starring Richard Conte and Julie Adams. The supporting cast features Richard Egan, Henry Hull, Fred Clark and Jim Backus. The film was an attempt by Universal Pi ...

'' (1951) - Sam Collyer *''

Meet Me After the Show ''Meet Me After the Show'' is a 1951 Technicolor musical film starring Betty Grable and released through 20th Century Fox. The film was one of Grable's last musical films for Fox during her box office reign of the past decade. Plot Delilah Lee ...

'' (1951) - Timothy 'Tim' Wayne *''

Three for Bedroom "C" ''Three for Bedroom "C"'' (sometimes written as ''3 for Bedroom "C"'') is a 1952 American comedy film released by Warner Brothers. It was directed by Milton H. Bren, who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars Gloria Swanson as an aging movie s ...

'' (1952) - Johnny Pizer *''

Dreamboat "Dreamboat" is a popular music song, the words and music to which were written by Jack Hoffman, (sometimes incorrectly attributed to Al Hoffman). A version produced by Walter Ridley, and performed by Alma Cogan, reached number 1 in the UK Sing ...

'' (1952) - Sam Levitt *'' The Stars Are Singing'' (1953) - McDougall *'' The Caddy'' (1953) - Mr. Baxter / Old Skinhead *'' Here Come the Girls'' (1953) - Harry Fraser *''

'' (1953) - Waldo Brewster *'' Living It Up'' (1954) - Oliver Stone *'' Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops'' (1955) - Joseph Gorman, aka Sergei Toumanoff *''

'' (1955) - Griggs *'' How to Be Very, Very Popular'' (1955) - B.J. Marshall *''

'' (1955) - Col. Moreland *'' Miracle in the Rain'' (1956) - Steven Jalonik *'' The Birds and the Bees'' (1956) - Horace Hamilton *'' The Solid Gold Cadillac'' (1956) - Clifford Snell *''

Back from Eternity ''Back from Eternity'' is a 1956 American drama film about a planeload of people stranded in the South American jungle and subsequently menaced by headhunters. The film stars Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, Anita Ekberg and Gene Barry. The film is a ...

'' (1956) - Crimp *'' Joe Butterfly'' (1957) - Col. E.E. Fuller *''

The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown ''The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown'' is a 1957 American romantic comedy film made by Russ-Field Productions and released by United Artists. It was directed by Norman Taurog from a screenplay by Richard Alan Simmons, based on a novel of the same name by S ...

'' (1957) - Police Sergeant McBride *'' Don't Go Near the Water'' (1957) - Lt. Cmdr. Clinton T. Nash *''

Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...

'' (1958) - Al Curtis *''

'' (1958) - Dwight Babcock *'' The Mating Game'' (1959) - Oliver Kelsey *'' It Started with a Kiss'' (1959) - Maj. Gen. Tim O'Connell *'' Visit to a Small Planet'' (1960) - Maj. Roger Putnam Spelding *'' Bells Are Ringing'' (1960) - Larry Hastings *''

The Passionate Thief ''The Passionate Thief'' ( it, Risate di gioia) is a 1960 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, starring Anna Magnani and Totò. Plot Two friends (Toto and Magnani) live by their wits working as comedians and cabaret at Cinecittà, b ...

'' (1960) - L'americano *''La moglie di mio marito'' (1961) - Mr. Bietti *''

A porte chiuse ''A porte chiuse'' (internationally released as ''Behind Closed Doors'') is a 1961 Italian comedy film directed by Dino Risi.''Films in Review, Volume 14'', National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, 1963 Cast * Anita Ekberg: Olga Duvovich * ...

'' (1961) - Xatis, il procuratore generale *''My Darling Judge'' (1961, TV Movie) *'' Boys' Night Out'' (1962) - Mr. Bohannon *'' Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man'' (1962) - Mr. Turner *'' Zotz!'' (1962) - Gen. Bullivar *''Young Girls of Good Families'' (1963) - Mr. Whitehall *''

Move Over, Darling ''Move Over, Darling'' is a 1963 American comedy film starring Doris Day, James Garner, and Polly Bergen and directed by Michael Gordon filmed in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope released by 20th Century Fox. The film is a remake of a 1940 screw ...

'' (1963) - Mr. Codd (Hotel Manager) *'' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb'' (1964) - Alexander King *''

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! ''John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!'' is a 1965 American comedy film based on the novel by William Peter Blatty published in 1963. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The film was shot in the Mojave Desert. In the film, an American militar ...

'' (1965) - Heinous Overreach *''

Sergeant Deadhead ''Sergeant Deadhead'' is a 1965 musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Frankie Avalon. It features many cast members who appeared in the ''Beach Party'' movies. Plot Sergeant Deadhead is a bumbling soldier who is sent to the g ...

'' (1965) - General Rufus Fogg *'' When the Boys Meet the Girls'' (1965) - Bill Dennis *'' Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine'' (1965) - D.J. Pevney *''

Due Marines e un Generale ''Due marines e un generale'' (translated: ''Two Marines and a General'', internationally released as ''War Italian Style'') is a 1965 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Scattini. The film puts together the famous Italian comic duo Franco and Ci ...

'' (1965) - Gen. Zacharias *'' Eve'' (1968) - Lucky Burke *'' Skidoo'' (1968) - A Tower Guard (released posthumously) *'' The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit'' (1968) - Tom Dugan *'' I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew'' (1969) - "Generous" Josh (released posthumously) *''Eddie'' (1971, TV Movie) - Chief Pike (final film role; released posthumously)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Fred American male film actors American male television actors 1914 births 1968 deaths Deaths from hepatitis People from Lincoln, California Male actors from Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors