Frederick Leonard Clark (March 19, 1914 – December 5, 1968) was an American film and television character actor.

Early years

Born in

Lincoln, California Lincoln is a city in Placer County, California, United States, part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. Located in an area of rapid suburban development, it grew 282.1 percent between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing city over 10,00 ...

, Clark was the son of Fred Clark Sr. He attended Stanford University with plans to become a doctor, but participation in 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

Clark made his film debut in 1947 in ''

The Unsuspected ''The Unsuspected'' is a 1947 American mystery film, mystery film noir directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Claude Rains, Audrey Totter, Ted North, Constance Bennett, Joan Caulfield, and Hurd Hatfield. The film was based on a novel by Charlott ...

''. His 20-year film career included nearly seventy films and numerous television appearances. As a supporting player, with his gruff voice, intimidating build, bald head and small moustache beneath an often scowling visage, he was often cast as a testy film producer, crime boss, landlord, employer, doctor, or general. In 1942 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 ...

Clark joined the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

and served as an aviator. He later transferred to the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

and served with the Third Army in Europe until the end of the war. Gene Kelly Going My Way television series 1962

Among his films 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 s ...

'' (1948), ''

Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid ''Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid'' is a 1948 American romantic fantasy film directed by Irving Pichel starring William Powell and Ann Blyth in the title roles. The film was based on the 1945 novel ''Peabody's Mermaid'' by Guy and Constance Jones. ...

'' (1948), '' Flamingo Road'' (1949), ''

White Heat ''White Heat'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly and Steve Cochran. Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts (writer), Ben Roberts, ''White Heat'' is base ...

'' (1949), ''

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in ...

'' (1950), '' A Place in the Sun'' (1951), '' How to Marry a Millionaire'' (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 fil ...

'' (1955), ''

How to Be Very, Very Popular ''How to Be Very, Very Popular'' is a 1955 comedy film written, produced and directed by Nunnally Johnson. The film starred Betty Grable in her final film role and Sheree North in her first leading role. Johnson later said "I don't much like to ...

'' (1955), '' Daddy Long Legs'' (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 ''Visit to a Small Planet'' is a 1960 American black-and-white science fiction comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Jerry Lewis, Joan Blackman, Earl Holliman, and Fred Clark. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was produced by ...

'' (1960). Although he continued making films during the 1960s (most notably a large role in

Hammer Film Productions Hammer Film Productions Ltd. is a British film production company based in London. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic horror and fantasy films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Many of these involve class ...

' ''

The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb ''The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb'' is a 1964 British horror film produced, written and directed by Michael Carreras, starring Terence Morgan, Ronald Howard, Fred Clark and introducing Jeanne Roland. Plot "Egypt in the year 1900". The mummy ...

'' in 1964 and ''

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 milit ...

'' in 1965) he was more often seen on television, as a regular on ''

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', sometimes called ''The Burns and Allen Show'', was a half-hour television situation comedy broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS. It starred George Burns and Gracie Allen, one of the most enduring acts in ...

'' as neighbor Harry Morton (until 1953) and guest roles on ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'', ''

The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor, backwoods family f ...

'', ''

Going My Way ''Going My Way'' is a 1944 American musical comedy drama film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a new young priest tak ...

'', ''

The Addams Family ''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over ...

,'' 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, another ''Burns and Allen'' veteran, played Mr. and Mrs. Springer in the episode "Continental Dinner," the series finale of the CBS sitcom '' Pete and Gladys'', starring

Harry Morgan Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg; April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor and director whose television and film career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter in both ''December Bride'' (1954–1959 ...

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 Red Buttons (born Aaron Chwatt; February 5, 1919 – July 13, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his supporting role in the 1957 film '' Sayonara''. He was nominated for awards for his acting work ...

. Clark's Broadway 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 Benay Venuta (born Benvenuta Rose Crooke, January 27, 1910 – September 1, 1995) was an American actress, singer and dancer. Early life Born in San Francisco, Venuta was a graduate of Hollywood High School. She attended finishing school in G ...

from 1952–1962, then model Gloria Glaser from 1966 until his death from

liver disease Liver disease, or hepatic disease, is any of many diseases of the liver. If long-lasting it is termed chronic liver disease. Although the diseases differ in detail, liver diseases often have features in common. Signs and symptoms Some of the si ...

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...

, 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 in television, at 1711 Vine Street.

Complete filmography

*''

'' (1947) - Richard Donovan *''

'' (1947) - Frank Hugo *'' Fury at Furnace Creek'' (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 ''Two Guys from Texas'' is a 1948 American comedy musical western film directed by David Butler and starring Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, and Dorothy Malone. The film was written by Allen Boretz and I.A.L. Diamond, produced by Alex Gottlieb, ...

'' (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'' (1949) - Frankie Faulkner *'' The Younger Brothers'' (1949) - Daniel Ryckman *'' Flamingo Road'' (1949) - Doc Waterson *''

'' (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 ''The Lady Takes a Sailor'' is a 1949 comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, and starring Jane Wyman, Eve Arden and Dennis Morgan. Plot Jennifer Smith, the head of the Buyer's Research Institute, is in need of additional funding to keep the ins ...

'' (1949) - Victor Santell (uncredited) *''The Amazing Mr. Malone'' (1950, TV Movie) *''

Return of the Frontiersman ''Return of the Frontiersman'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Richard L. Bare and written by Edna Anhalt. The film stars Gordon MacRae, Julie London, Rory Calhoun, Jack Holt, Fred Clark and Edwin Rand. The film was released by Wa ...

'' (1950) - Ryan *'' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1950) - Basil Danzeeger *''

'' (1950) - Sheldrake *''

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. 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 (actor), Richard Egan, Henry Hull, Fred Clark and Jim Backus. The film was an at ...

'' (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"'' (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 ''The Stars Are Singing'' is a 1953 Paramount Pictures musical directed by Norman Taurog and starring Rosemary Clooney, Anna Maria Alberghetti, and Lauritz Melchior. Plot The screenplay concerns a 15-year-old Polish girl (played by Alberghetti) ...

'' (1953) - McDougall *''

The Caddy ''The Caddy'' is a 1953 American semi- musical-comedy- sports film starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis. It is noteworthy for Dean Martin introducing the hit song "That's Amore". Plot Harvey Miller, whose father was a famous golf pro, is ...

'' (1953) - Mr. Baxter / Old Skinhead *'' Here Come the Girls'' (1953) - Harry Fraser *'' How to Marry a Millionaire'' (1953) - Waldo Brewster *''

Living It Up ''Living It Up'' is a 1954 American comedy film starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis which was released by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Paul Jones. The screenplay by Jack Rose and Melville Shavels ...

'' (1954) - Oliver Stone *''

Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops ''Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops'' is a 1955 comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. After the film was completed, Universal-International wanted to rename it ''Abbott and Costello ...

'' (1955) - Joseph Gorman, aka Sergei Toumanoff *'' Daddy Long Legs'' (1955) - Griggs *''

'' (1955) - B.J. Marshall *''

'' (1955) - Col. Moreland *''

Miracle in the Rain ''Miracle in the Rain'' is a United States home front during World War II-themed novella by veteran screenwriter Ben Hecht, published in the April 3, 1943 issue of ''The Saturday Evening Post'' weekly magazine then, within six months, issued in b ...

'' (1956) - Steven Jalonik *''

The Birds and the Bees The talk about sex, often colloquially referred to as "the birds and the bees" or "the facts of life", is generally the occasion in most children's lives when their parents explain what sex is and how to do it. According to tradition, "the bird ...

'' (1956) - Horace Hamilton *''

The Solid Gold Cadillac ''The Solid Gold Cadillac'' is a 1956 comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (blac ...

'' (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 ''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) - 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 ...

'' (1957) - Police Sergeant McBride *'' Don't Go Near the Water'' (1957) - Lt. Cmdr. Clinton T. Nash *'' Mardi Gras'' (1958) - Al Curtis *''

'' (1958) - Dwight Babcock *'' The Mating Game'' (1959) - Oliver Kelsey *'' It Started with a Kiss'' (1959) - Maj. Gen. Tim O'Connell *''

'' (1960) - Maj. Roger Putnam Spelding *'' Bells Are Ringing'' (1960) - Larry Hastings *'' The Passionate Thief'' (1960) - L'americano *''La moglie di mio marito'' (1961) - Mr. Bietti *'' A porte chiuse'' (1961) - Xatis, il procuratore generale *''My Darling Judge'' (1961, TV Movie) *'' Boys' Night Out'' (1962) - Mr. Bohannon *''

Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man ''Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man'' is a 1962 American adventure film directed by Martin Ritt based on Ernest Hemingway's semi-autobiographical character Nick Adams, and featuring Richard Beymer as Adams. A.E. Hotchner wrote the screenpl ...

'' (1962) - Mr. Turner *''

Zotz! ''Zotz!'' is a 1962 American fantasy comedy film produced and directed by William Castle, and starring Tom Poston, Julia Meade, Jim Backus, Fred Clark, and Cecil Kellaway. It is about a man obtaining magical powers from a god of an ancient ...

'' (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) *''

'' (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 ''When the Boys Meet the Girls'' is a 1965 American musical film directed by Alvin Ganzer and starring Connie Francis and Harve Presnell based on the musical ''Girl Crazy'' and a remake of MGM's 1943 film ''Girl Crazy''. Plot A playboy (Harve P ...

'' (1965) - Bill Dennis *''

Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine ''Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine'' is a 1965 American International Pictures comedy film, made in Pathécolor, directed by Norman Taurog. It stars Vincent Price, Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Susan Hart and Jack Mullaney, and features F ...

'' (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 Eve (; ; ar, حَوَّاء, Ḥawwāʾ; el, Εὕα, Heúa; la, Eva, Heva; Syriac: romanized: ) is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the ...

'' (1968) - Lucky Burke *'' Skidoo'' (1968) - A Tower Guard (released posthumously) *''

The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit ''The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Norman Tokar, with a screenplay by Louis Pelletier and starring Dean Jones, Diane Baker, Ellen Janov, Kurt Russell and Lurene Tuttle, as well as Fred Clark in ...

'' (1968) - Tom Dugan *''

I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew ''I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew'' is a 1969 American adventure comedy film directed and co-written by Richard L. Bare, starring Gardner McKay, Fred Clark, Pat Buttram, and Diane McBain. It was the last film for both McKay and Clark. Pl ...

'' (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 Warner Bros. contract players