Howard Culver (June 4, 1918 – August 4, 1984) was an American radio and television actor, best known as hotel clerk Howie Uzzell during the entire run of TV's ''

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 chara ...

''. On radio he starred in the title role of the Western adventure series '' Straight Arrow'', which aired on Mutual from May 6, 1948 to June 21, 1951.

Biography

Culver grew up in Los Angeles, and he was first heard as an actor on CBS while he was a teenager. He served in the Navy for three years 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, returning to continue on many San Francisco and Hollywood-based radio shows. In 1948, he was the last actor to portray Ellery Queen on radio's '' The Adventures of Ellery Queen''.Dunning, John. (1998). ''On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio''. Oxford University Press. . pp. 8–9. After ''Straight Arrow'', he co-starred with Mercedes McCambridge as reporter Jud Barnes on ABC's ''

Defense Attorney A criminal defense lawyer is a lawyer (mostly barristers) specializing in the defense of individuals and companies charged with criminal activity. Some criminal defense lawyers are privately retained, while others are employed by the various ju ...

'' (1951–52). Jack French recalled Culver in his 1996 essay on ''Straight Arrow'': :

McCann Erickson McCann, formerly McCann Erickson, is an American global advertising agency network, with offices in 120 countries. McCann is part of McCann Worldgroup, along with several other agencies, including direct digital marketing agency MRM//McCann, expe ...

decided the new series would be broadcast from Los Angeles, and they quickly chose their cast from West Coast talent. Howard Culver, who had been the narrator of ''We Deliver the Goods'' and the announcer on '' Chandu the Magician'', was selected for the title lead. At the time, he had a small goatee, which would be later be shaved off before his first personal appearance as Straight Arrow... Frank Bingman was hired as the announcer. He had started in radio at age 19 on ''Life of Mary Southern'' but was best known then as the voice of Cresta Blanca Wine. Bingman was surprised to find out that Culver occupied his spare time at the studio by knitting. While on ''

The Joan Davis Show . ''The Joan Davis Show'' is a title applied — in some cases specifically and in other cases generically — to several old-time radio comedy programs in the United States, some of which had other distinct titles as indicated below. Comedian Joan ...

'',

Verna Felton Verna Arline Felton (July 20, 1890December 14, 1966) was an American actress, best known for providing many voices in numerous Disney animated films. She also provided the voice for Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law, Pearl Slaghoople in Hanna-Bar ...

had taught Bingman to knit, but he was a "closet knitter," since he was embarrassed to knit in front of other men. "Well, I don't give a damn what they say!", Culver told Bingman, sounding very unlike Straight Arrow. Thereafter, they both knitted in the studio, and later these two buddies donated their time at local military hospitals, teaching wounded vets to knit... Culver, much like Clayton "Bud" Collyer had been doing for years as Clark Kent/Superman, used his regular voice for Steve Adams and then lowered it for Straight Arrow. Much information about Culver and ''Straight Arrow'' was published in the newsletter, ''Pow Wow,'' edited by William and Teresa Harper of North Augusta, South Carolina.

Films and television

In addition to his regular role on ''Gunsmoke'', he made numerous TV guest appearances on such shows as '' Dragnet,'' ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the st ...

,'' and ''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The seri ...

''. His film roles included a newscaster in

Hal Ashby William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an American film director and editor associated with the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking. Before his career as a director Ashby edited films for Norman Jewison, notably ''The R ...

's ''

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'' (1975).

Death

On August 5, 1984, while vacationing in Hong Kong, Culver died at age 66 after contracting meningitis.

Partial filmography

* '' Time Table'' (1956) – Pete the detective (uncredited) * ''

Tension at Table Rock ''Tension at Table Rock'' is a 1956 American Western drama film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and starring Richard Egan and Dorothy Malone. Wes Tancred ( Richard Egan) is publicly vilified after killing a famous gunslinger who was a publ ...

'' (1956) – Clerk (uncredited) * '' The Black Whip'' (1956) – Dr. Gillette * ''

Cattle Empire ''Cattle Empire'' is a 1958 American Western DeLuxe Color movie in CinemaScope directed by Charles Marquis Warren, starring Joel McCrea and released by 20th Century Fox. The film also features Gloria Talbott, Don Haggerty, Phyllis Coates, and B ...

'' (1958) – Preacher (uncredited) * '' Hot Car Girl'' (1958) – Dan – police headquarters sergeant * ''-30-'' (1959) – Walt Ashton * '' The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes'' (1969) – Moderator (uncredited) * ''Something's Happened to Dexter'' (1969) * ''Brady Bunch'' (1969) – Mr Crawford * '' The Barefoot Executive'' (1971) – (uncredited) * ''

The Million Dollar Duck ''The Million Dollar Duck'' (also titled as ''$1,000,000 Duck'') is a 1971 American comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions based on the goose that lays golden eggs scenario. It was directed by Vincent McEveety, and stars Dean Jones, S ...

'' (1971) – Morgan's Assistant (uncredited) * ''

'' (1975) – Newscaster (uncredited) * '' The Bad News Bears'' (1976) – Newscaster (uncredited) * ''Brigham'' (1977) * '' The Swarm'' (1978) – Airman #2 * '' Halloween II'' (1981) – Man in Pajamas * ''Home Safe'' (1981) – Grandpa Ollie

Notes

*Harper, William H. ''Straight Arrow: The Definitive Resource for the Straight Arrow Promotion 1949–1956''. BearManor Media, 2007.Cagle, Maury. ''Straight Arrow'', ''Radio Recall'', 2007.
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References

Listen to

Howard Culver in ''Defense Attorney'' (August 31, 1951)

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culver, Howard 1918 births 1984 deaths American male radio actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Colorado Male actors from Los Angeles United States Navy personnel of World War II