Mike Kellin (born Myron Kellin, April 26, 1922 – August 26, 1983) was an American actor.

Early life

Kellin was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Sophia and Samuel Kellin,

Russian-Jewish The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest pop ...

immigrants. His younger sister, Shirley Ann Kellin (born August 14, 1927), died in the 1944

Hartford circus fire The Hartford circus fire, which occurred on July 6, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, was one of the worst fire disasters in United States history. The fire occurred during an afternoon performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Cir ...

. He was educated at Boston University and Trinity College in Hartford. He served with the Navy as a lieutenant commander during World War II, and after the war, studied acting and playwriting at the

Yale School of Drama The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University is a graduate professional school of Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1924 as the Department of Drama in the School of Fine Arts, the school provides training in e ...

Career

Kellin made his Broadway debut in 1949 in ''

At War with the Army ''At War with the Army'' is a 1950 American musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker, released by Paramount, starring the comedy team of Martin and Lewis and introducing Polly Bergen. Filmed from July through August 1949, the film premiered in ...

'' and repeated his role in the 1950 film version with

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

and

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

. He worked in some 50 plays and won an

Obie Award The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...

for his work in ''

American Buffalo American Buffalo may refer to: *American Buffalo (play), ''American Buffalo'' (play), a play by David Mamet *American Buffalo (film), ''American Buffalo'' (film), a 1996 film of Mamet's play directed by Michael Corrente *American Buffalo (coin), a ...

'' and earned a

Tony Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leagu ...

nomination in 1956 for his acting in the musical ''

Pipe Dream Pipe dream may refer to: Music * ''Pipe Dream'' (John Williamson album), 1997, or the titular song * ''Pipedream'' (Alan Hull album), 1973 * ''Pipe Dreams'' (Murray Head album), 1995 * "Pipe Dreams" (Nelly Furtado song), 2016 * ''Pipe Dream ...

''. In 1956, he contributed the song ''preserven el parque elysian'' to a rally in support of

Elysian Park Elysian Park is one of the largest parks in Los Angeles at 600 acres (240 ha). Most of Elysian Park falls in the neighborhood of the same name, but a small portion of the park falls in Echo Park. The park was created by city ordinance on April 5, ...

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

recorded this song in 1965 for this album

God Bless the Grass ''God Bless The Grass'' is the sixth studio album by Pete Seeger, released on January 17, 1966 by Columbia Records as CL 2432 (mono) and CS 9232 (stereo). The album cover was designed by R. O. Blechman. ''God Bless The Grass'' focuses on environm ...

. Kellin appeared in both the film version of '' The Wackiest Ship in the Army'' (1960) and the 1965–1966 television series based on the film in the same role. In 1966, Kellin appeared in an episode on ''

Lost in Space ''Lost in Space'' is an American science fiction television series, created and produced by Irwin Allen, which originally aired between 1965 and 1968 on CBS. The series was inspired by the 1812 novel ''The Swiss Family Robinson.'' The series fo ...

'', titled "The Deadly Games of Gamma 6," as Myko. Later in 1966, he played the lead as “Chad Timpson”, a reformed outlaw protecting his challenged brother, in “Moonstone” (S12E13) on 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 ...

''. He also appeared in an episode 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, su ...

'', titled "The Thirty Fathom Grave", and as a Southerner in ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was re ...

'' episode "Night Of The Owl".

Personal life and death

Kellin married Nina Caiserman in 1952. The couple adopted a daughter before Nina's death in 1963. In 1966, Kellin married actress Sally Moffat, daughter of actress

Sylvia Field Sylvia Field (born Harriet Louisa Johnson; February 14, 1901 – July 31, 1998) was an American actress whose career encompassed performances on stage, screen, and TV. She was best known for playing the understanding Mrs. Martha Wilson (Mr. Wilso ...

. Kellin was active in the

Fortune Society The Fortune Society is a New York City-based non-profit organization that provides support to the formerly incarcerated. Some of the services offered include help with finding housing and jobs, adjusting to civilian life, and educational opportuniti ...

, a prisoners' rights group. He died on August 26, 1983 from lung cancer in Nyack, New York at the age of 61. His interment was at Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Stage credits (partial)

*''Are You Now or Have You Ever Been'' (1979) as Lionel Stander *'' The Ritz'' (1975) as Carmine Vespucci *''

The Odd Couple Odd Couple may refer to: Neil Simon play and its adaptations * ''The Odd Couple'' (play), a 1965 stage play by Neil Simon ** ''The Odd Couple'' (film), a 1968 film based on the play *** ''The Odd Couple'' (1970 TV series), a 1970–1975 televisi ...

'' (1966) as Oscar Madison *''

Mother Courage and Her Children ''Mother Courage and Her Children'' (german: Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder, links=no) is a play written in 1939 by the German dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956), with significant contributions from Margarete Steffin. Four theatrical ...

'' (1963) as Cook *''

Rhinoceros A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

'' (1961) as Dribble *''God and Kate Murphy'' (1959) as Sean Murphy *''

'' (1955) as Hazel *''Ankles Aweigh'' (1955) as Joe Mancinni *''The Emperor's Clothes'' (1953) as Second Rottenbiller Brother *''Stalag 17'' (1951) as Stosh *''The Bird Cage'' (1950) as Frank *''At War with the Army'' (1950) as Staff Sergeant McVay

Film credits

*''

So Young So Bad ''So Young, So Bad'' is a 1950 American drama film.ot to be confused with Rosita Moreno, a Spanish actress who was 43 years old at the time. Production Vorhaus received his idea after he read a newspaper article about abuses at a women's reformat ...

'' (1950) as Carousel Operator (uncredited) *''

'' (1950) as Sgt. McVey *'' Hurricane Smith'' (1952) as Dicer *''

Lonelyhearts ''Lonelyhearts'', also known as ''Miss Lonelyhearts'', is a 1958 American drama film directed by Vincent J. Donehue. It is based on the 1957 Broadway play by Howard Teichmann, which in turn is based on the 1933 novel ''Miss Lonelyhearts'' by N ...

'' (1958) as Frank Goldsmith *''

The Wonderful Country ''The Wonderful Country'' (aka ''The Wonderful Country, A Novel'') is a 1952 Western novel written by Tom Lea. The book is set in Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico, and Texas and New Mexico in the United States. It was filmed in 1959. After the f ...

'' (1959) as Pancho Gil *''

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) as Prince *'' The Wackiest Ship in the Army'' (1960) as Chief Mate MacCarthy *'' The Great Imposter'' (1961) as Clifford Thompson *'' Hell Is for Heroes'' (1962) as Pvt. Kolinsky *''

Invitation to a Gunfighter ''Invitation to a Gunfighter'' is a 1964 DeLuxe Color Western film directed by Richard Wilson, starring Yul Brynner and George Segal. It was based on a 1957 teleplay by Larry Klein that appeared on ''Playhouse 90''. A lone Creole gunfighter, J ...

'' (1964) as Blind Union Vet *'' Banning'' (1967) as Harry Kalielle *'' The Incident'' (1967) as Harry Purvis *''

The Boston Strangler The Boston Strangler is the name given to the murderer of 13 women in the Boston, Massachusetts, area during the early 1960s. The crimes were attributed to Albert DeSalvo based on his confession, details revealed in court during a separate case, ...

'' (1968) as Julian Soshnick *''

Riot A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targete ...

'' (1969) as Bugsy *''

The Maltese Bippy ''The Maltese Bippy'' is a 1969 film directed by Norman Panama and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film is a vehicle for comedy team Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, who had recently found fame in their television show ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In' ...

'' (1969) (uncredited) *''

The Phynx ''The Phynx'' is a 1970 American comedy film directed by Lee H. Katzin about a rock and roll band named The Phynx and their mission in foreign affairs. The group is sent to Albania to locate celebrity hostages taken prisoner by Communists. This ...

'' (1970) as Bogey *'' The People Next Door'' (1970) as Dr. Margolin *''

Cover Me Babe ''Cover Me Babe'' is a 1970 drama film about a young filmmaker who is hypercritical about everything including his own work. Almost really doesn't care to get a studio contract. The film was directed by Noel Black, and stars Robert Forster and Son ...

'' (1970) as The Derelict *''

Fools' Parade ''Fools' Parade'' is a 1971 American crime-drama period film directed by Andrew McLaglen, with top-billed stars James Stewart and George Kennedy, and second-tier stars Strother Martin, Kurt Russell, William Windom (actor), William Windom, Mike Kel ...

'' (1971) as Steve Mystic *''

The Last Porno Flick ''The Last Porno Flick'' (also known as ''Those Mad, Mad Moviemakers'') is an American 1974 film starring Marianna Hill and directed by Ray Marsh. Plot Two young men wishing to make a porno movie raise money from their family and friends by clai ...

'' (1974) as Boris *''

Freebie and the Bean ''Freebie and the Bean'' is a 1974 American buddy cop black comedy action film directed by Richard Rush and starring James Caan, Alan Arkin, Loretta Swit and Valerie Harper. The film follows two off-beat police detectives who wreak havoc in San F ...

'' (1974) as Lt. Rosen *''

Next Stop, Greenwich Village ''Next Stop, Greenwich Village'' is a 1976 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Mazursky, featuring Lenny Baker, Shelley Winters, Ellen Greene, Lois Smith, and Christopher Walken. Plot The film takes place in 1953. Larry Lipin ...

'' (1976) as Ben Lapinsky *''

God Told Me To ''God Told Me To'' (released in some theatrical markets as ''Demon'') is a 1976 science fiction horror film written, directed, and produced by Larry Cohen. Like many of Cohen's films, it is shot on location in New York City and incorporates aspe ...

'' (1976) as Deputy Commissioner *'' Midnight Express'' (1978) as Mr. Hayes *'' Girlfriends'' (1978) as Abe *''

On the Yard On, on, or ON may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * On (band), a solo project of Ken Andrews * ''On'' (EP), a 1993 EP by Aphex Twin * ''On'' (Echobelly album), 1995 * ''On'' (Gary Glitter album), 2001 * ''On'' (Imperial Teen album), 200 ...

'' (1978) as Red *''

The Jazz Singer ''The Jazz Singer'' is a 1927 American musical drama film directed by Alan Crosland. It is the first feature-length motion picture with both synchronized recorded music score as well as lip-synchronous singing and speech (in several isolated ...

'' (1980) as Leo *'' So Fine'' (1981) as Sam Schlotzman *'' Just Before Dawn'' (1981) as Ty *''

Paternity Paternity may refer to: *Father, the male parent of a (human) child *Paternity (law), fatherhood as a matter of law * ''Paternity'' (film), a 1981 comedy film starring Burt Reynolds * "Paternity" (''House''), a 2004 episode of the television seri ...

'' (1981) as Tour Guide *''Echoes'' (1982) as Sid Berman *''

Sleepaway Camp ''Sleepaway Camp'' (released as ''Nightmare Vacation'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1983 American slasher film written and directed by Robert Hiltzik, who also served as executive producer. It is the first film in the ''Sleepaway Camp'' film ser ...

'' (1983) as Mel (final film role)

Television credits

He was very active in television and was a regular on: *''

Mister Peepers ''Mister Peepers'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from July 3, 1952, to June 12, 1955. Overview Wally Cox starred as Robinson J. Peepers, Jefferson City's junior high school science teacher. Others in the cast included Tony Randall as ...

'' (TV series) (1952) as Edward Barnes *'' Bonino'' (1953) as Rusty *''

Honestly, Celeste! ''Honestly, Celeste!'' is an American television situation comedy that was broadcast on CBS from October 10, 1954, to December 5, 1954. It starred Celeste Holm in her first regular TV series. Premise, cast and characters Celeste Anders left her ...

'' (1954) as Marty Gordon *'' The Wackiest Ship in the Army'' (1965–66) as C.P.O. Willie Miller *'' Seventh Avenue'' a mini-series (1977) as Morris Blackman *''Fitz and Bones'' (1981) as Robert Whitmore •

Combat! ''Combat!'' is an American television drama series that originally aired on ABC from 1962 until 1967. The exclamation point in ''Combat!'' was depicted on-screen as a stylized bayonet. The show covered the grim lives of a squad of American sol ...

(1965) Episode "Losers Cry Deal" He also appeared in made-for-TV movies, including: *'' Assignment: Munich'' (1972) *''The Connection'' (1973) *''F.D.R.: the Last Year'' (1980) as Andre Gromyko He guest starred on the following: *'' Naked City'' *''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show wa ...

'' (1959) in "Surveyors"'' *''

The Untouchables Untouchables or The Untouchables may refer to: American history * Untouchables (law enforcement), a 1930s American law enforcement unit led by Eliot Ness * ''The Untouchables'' (book), an autobiography by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley * ''The Un ...

'' *''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'' *''

'' (1963) in "

The Thirty-Fathom Grave "The Thirty Fathom Grave" is episode 104 of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. It originally aired on January 10, 1963 on CBS. In this naval-themed episode, the crew of a Navy destroyer hear a mysterious rhythmic nois ...

" *'' Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond'' (1960) "The Trap"'' *'' Have Gun, Will Travel'' (1961) in "Drop of Blood"'' *'' Have Gun, Will Travel'' (1958) in "The Solid Gold Patrol" *''

Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...

'' (1961) in "Birdcage on My Foot" *''

'' (1962) in "Hey Moth, Come Eat the Flame" *''

'' in "The Deadly Games of Gamma 6" *''

'' (1965) in "Losers Cry Deal"'' *''

Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' is a 1961 American science fiction disaster film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, and starring Walter Pidgeon and Robert Sterling. The supporting cast includes Peter Lorre, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, M ...

'' in "Mist of Silence" *''

Starsky and Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a ''Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired by th ...

'' *''

'' (1966) in "The Moonstone" *''

Barney Miller ''Barney Miller'' is an American sitcom television series set in a New York City Police Department police station on East 6th St in Greenwich Village. The series was broadcast on ABC Network from January 23, 1975, to May 20, 1982. It was created ...

'' (1976) in "Non-Involvement" *''

Galactica 1980 ''Galactica 1980'' is an American science fiction television series and a spin-off from the original '' Battlestar Galactica'' television series. It was first broadcast on ABC in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980, lasting for 10 ...

'' (1980) in "The Super Scouts"

Discography

*''Tevya and His Daughters'',

Columbia Masterworks Columbia Masterworks was a record label started in 1924 by Columbia Records. In 1980, it was separated from the Columbia label and renamed CBS Masterworks. In 1990, it was revived as Sony Classical after its sale to the Sony Corporation. History ...

OL 5225 (1957) *''And the Testimony's Still Coming'', Verve-Forecast FTS 3028 (1967)

References

External links

* * *
Mike Kellin papers, 1946-1983
held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division,

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, is located in Manhattan, New York City, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on the Upper West Side, between the Metro ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kellin, Mike 1922 births 1983 deaths American male film actors Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state) American male television actors Jewish American male actors Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut Boston University alumni Trinity College (Connecticut) alumni Yale School of Drama alumni 20th-century American male actors People from Nyack, New York American people of Russian-Jewish descent United States Navy officers American military personnel of World War II 20th-century American Jews