Harry Rhett Townes (September 18, 1914 – May 23, 2001) was an American actor who later became an

Episcopalian Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...

minister.

Early life

Harry Townes was born in

Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is a city in Madison County, Limestone County, and Morgan County, Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Madison County. Located in the Appalachian region of northern Alabama, Huntsville is the most populous city in t ...

. the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Townes. He had a brother and a sister. He graduated from Huntsville High School, and while attending the University of Alabama in

Tuscaloosa Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population of 1 ...

, Townes began landing acting roles. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City to study acting at Columbia University.

Career

Townes performed in several New York and Broadway stage productions, including

summer stock In American theater, summer-stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock the ...

. His Broadway credits include ''In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer'' (1968), ''Gramercy Ghost'' (1950), ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vio ...

'' (1949), '' Mr. Sycamore'' (1942), and '' Tobacco Road'' (1942). During World War II, he served three years in the United States Army. Discharged in 1946, he enrolled at Columbia University to study drama. As a character actor, Townes was a familiar face to television viewers in the 1950s and 1960s. His expanded range led him to fill a variety of roles, and he avoided being

typecast In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...

. He made five guest appearances 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 ...

'', including the role of title character Newton Bain in the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Woeful Widower." He also made three appearances on ''

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 ...

'' and seven on ''

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 ...

'' and in '' The Fugitive''. He made single and double appearances on numerous other television series, including in ''

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''. Besides appearing in 29 films, he is credited with more than 200 television roles. He gained a

cult following A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

with a younger audience for a guest shot on "The First", a two-part episode of ''

The Incredible Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book a ...

'', in which he portrays Dell Frye, a man with the ability to transform as well into a Hulk-like creature. "The First" is one of the more popular episodes from the television series largely because of Townes' performance

Later years and death

While he was acting, Townes took philosophy classes at UCLA and studied for the ministry at Bishop Bloy School of Theology in Los Angeles. His ordination as a deacon came in 1973 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Los Angeles. He was ordained as an Episcopal minister in St. Paul's Cathedral on March 16, 1974. He served at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Hollywood. He retired from acting in 1989 and returned to his hometown of Huntsville, where he lived the remainder of his life. On May 23, 2001, Townes died at his home in Huntsville at the age of 86, and his body was interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, also in Huntsville.

Selected filmography

*''

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'' (1952, TV Series) *''

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'' (1953-1954, TV Series) *''

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'' (1954) - Igor Gouzenko *''

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'' (1954, TV Series) *''

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'' (1956) - Joseph *''

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'' (1956-1957, TV Series) - Richard Ross / Ed *''

Father Knows Best ''Father Knows Best'' is an American sitcom starring Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. The series, which began on radio in 1949, aired as a television show for six seasons and 203 episodes. Created by E ...

'' - episode "Class Prophecy" (1957, TV Series) - Henry Pruett *'' Have Gun Will Travel'' (1958, TV Series) - Henry Prince *''

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'' (1958) - Ippoli Kirillov *'' Screaming Mimi'' (1958) - Dr. Greenwood / Bill Green *'' Cry Tough'' (1959) - Carlos Mendoza Lewis *''

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'' (1959, TV Series) - Arch Hammer *''The Troubleshooters'' (1959, TV Series) - Verne Lewis *'' Men Into Space'' (1959, TV Series) - Dr. William Thyssen *'' Destination Space'' (1959, TV Movie) - Jim Benedict *'' The Rebel'' (1960, TV Series) -

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

Colonel Charles Morris *'' Wanted Dead or Alive'' - Season 2, Episode 17 "Mental Lapse" *'' Laramie'' (1960, TV Series) - Mace Stringer *''

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'' (1960, TV Series) - Judge Mark Bentley *''

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- Volume #4'' (1959-1960, TV Series) - Gerald Simms / Dr. Alexander Slawson *''

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'' (1959-1960, TV Series) - Rudolph Miller / Falk *''

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'' (1960, TV Series) - Toby Reese *'' The Islanders'' (1961, TV Series) - Hans Lubeck *''

Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a saf ...

'' (1961) - Ira Bobbitt *'' The Great Impostor'' (1961) - Ben Stone (uncredited) *''

The Law and Mr. Jones ''The Law and Mr. Jones'' is an American legal drama series starring James Whitmore. The series aired on ABC in two nonconsecutive seasons from October 7, 1960 to June 2, 1961, and again from April 19 to July 12, 1962. The program was created and ...

'' (1961, TV Series) - Fowler / Jim Chambers *''

'' (1960-1961, TV Series) - Henry Ritchie / Arch Hammer *'' Thriller'' (1960-1961, TV Series) - Mario Asparos / Radan Asparos / Sebastian Grimm *'' The Investigators'' (1961, TV Series) - Charles Victor, episode "In a Mirror, Darkly" *'' Target: The Corruptors!'' (1961, TV Series) - Joe Knight *'' Ripcord'' (1961, TV Series) - Dr. Gustave Merrill *''The Outlaws'' (1960–1962, TV Series) - George Wagner / Jerry Rome / Thomas Bigelow *'' The Tall Man'' (1962, TV Series) - Henry Stewart *'' The Eleventh Hour'' (1963, TV Series) - Harvey Lauderback *''

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'' (1963, TV Series) - George Deus *''

The Littlest Hobo ''The Littlest Hobo'' is a Canadian television series (French title: ''Le Vagabond'') based upon a 1958 well-known film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived fo ...

'' (1963, TV Series) - Herman Eckels - Bank Teller *'' The Outer Limits'' (1963, TV Series, episode: "

O.B.I.T. "O.B.I.T." is an episode of the original ''The Outer Limits (1963 TV series), The Outer Limits'' television show. It first aired on 4 November 1963, during the first season. Introduction A new device, the O.B.I.T. machine, allows the observati ...

") - Dr. Clifford Scott *'' Rawhide'' (1959–1964, TV Series) - Brock Dillman / Capt. Jesse Coulter / Lewis Lewis / Amos Stauffer *''

Kentucky Jones ''Kentucky Jones'' is an American comedy-drama television series starring Dennis Weaver which centers around a widowed Southern California veterinarian and rancher raising an adopted Chinese boy. Original episodes aired from September 19, 1964, un ...

'' (1965, TV Series, episode: "The Big Shot") - Charles Caldwell *''

Mr. Novak ''Mr. Novak'' is an American television dramatic series starring James Franciscus in the title role as a high school teacher. The series aired on NBC for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965. It won a Peabody Award in 1963. Synopsis The series follows ...

'' (1964-1965, TV Series) - Walter MacTell / Frank Dever *''

'' (1958–1966, TV Series) - Erwin Brandt / Col. Owens / Newton Bain / A.D.A. Grosvenor Cutter / Robert Fleetwood *''

Dr. Kildare Dr. James Kildare is a fictional American medical doctor, originally created in the 1930s by the author Frederick Schiller Faust under the pen name Max Brand. Shortly after the character's first appearance in a magazine story, Paramount Pictur ...

'' (1965–1966, TV Series) - Gerald Prince / Jake McCoy *'' The Fugitive'' (1963-1966, TV Series) - Joshua Simmons / Deputy Russ Atkins / Ballinger / Art Mallet / Sgt. Burden *'' The Monroes'' (1966, TV Series) - Joe Smith *''

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'' (1965–1967, TV Series) - Dr. Raven / Penrose *''

Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...

'' (1967, TV Series) - Mr. Barlow *''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vari ...

'' (1967, TV Series, episode: "

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") - Reger *'' Fitzwilly'' (1967) - Mr. Nowell *'' In Enemy Country'' (1968) - General Marchois *''

The Mod Squad ''The Mod Squad'' is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes, Clarence Williams III as ...

'' (1968, TV Series) - Jason *''

Strategy of Terror ''Strategy of Terror'' is a 1969 American mystery film directed by Jack Smight, re-edited from a two-part 1965 ''Kraft Suspense Theatre'' episode, "In Darkness, Waiting". Premise A reporter (Barbara Rush) uncovers a plan to assassinate four United ...

'' (1969) - Richard *''

Heaven with a Gun ''Heaven with a Gun'' is a 1969 American Western film starring Glenn Ford and directed by Lee H. Katzin. Plot Jim Killian arrives at the town of Vinegaroon, which is divided between cattlemen and sheepherders, and purchases a vacant barn. Cattl ...

'' (1969) - Gus Sampson *''

'' (1960-1969, TV Series) - Seth Nagel / Judge David Terry / Tom Edwards *''

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'' (1970) - Houghton *''

'' (1956–1971, TV Series) - Hale Parker / Malachi Harper / Abihu Howell / Tobe Hostater / Pezzy / Ivy / Bill Lee *''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS. It was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller. The title character, Joe Mannix, is a private inves ...

'' (1970-1972, TV Series) - Wilkerson / Martin Kimbrough *''

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'' (1973, TV Series, playing the same type role he played in the 1969 ''Bonanza'' episode, that of an American Civil War Rebel soldier, who, after the war, is still filled with hurt and resentment about the loss to the North) - Amos Buchanan *''

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'' (1973, TV Series) - Barney Olsen *''

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'' (1973) - Sheriff Carter *''

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'' (1974, TV Series) - Dr. Malthus *''

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'' (1976, TV Series) - Doc Vaughn *''

Ark II ''Ark II'' is an American live-action science fiction television series, aimed at children, that aired on CBS from September 11 to December 18, 1976, (with reruns continuing through November 13, 1977 and reruns returning from September 16, 1978, ...

'' (1976, TV Series, a story and role very similar to those of his ''Star Trek'' appearance) - Marcus *'' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' (1981, TV Series) - The Guardian *''

'' (1981, TV Series) - Dell Frye *''

Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...

'' (1981–82, TV Series) - Jason Gioberti *'' Angel of H.E.A.T.'' (1983) - Peter Shockley *''

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'' (1983, TV Series) - Prof. Garth *''

The Warrior and the Sorceress ''The Warrior and the Sorceress'' is a 1984 Argentine-American fantasy action film directed by John C. Broderick and starring David Carradine, María Socas and Luke Askew. It was written by Broderick (story and screenplay) and William Stout (sto ...

'' (1984)Biography
at Movies.com - Bludge the Prelate *''

Magnum, P.I. ''Magnum, P.I.'' is an American crime drama television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from December 11, 1980 to May 8, 1988 during its first-run broadcast on ...

'' (1984, TV Series) - Albert Leonard *''The Check Is in the Mail...'' (1986) - Fred Steinkrause

References

External links

* * *
Obituary
in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Townes, Harry 1914 births 2001 deaths 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American Episcopal priests Actors from Huntsville, Alabama American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Burials in Alabama Columbia University alumni Male actors from Los Angeles University of Alabama alumni