Rudolph Bond (October 10, 1912 – March 29, 1982) was an American actor who was active from 1947 until his death. His work spanned Broadway, films and television.

Early life

Bond was born in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

, the second youngest of five children. He was raised in urban Philadelphia by his mother. He was educated in Philadelphia schools, and eventually received a BA degree from Central High, the only school in the nation certificated to grant such degrees. Bond was introduced to the world of acting at the age of 16. He was playing basketball with a group of friends when Julie Sutton, the director of a city amateur acting group (''Neighborhood Players'', which performed in the same building as the basketball area) approached the group and asked if anybody wanted to be in an upcoming play. He volunteered, and acted in several plays before leaving Philadelphia to join 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, ...

. He spent four years in the army, was wounded while serving in

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 ...

, and returned to Philadelphia upon his discharge.

Acting career

He continued acting in the Neighborhood Players until 1945, when he won second prize in the John Golden Award for Actors, which allowed him to enroll in

Elia Kazan Elia Kazan (; born Elias Kazantzoglou ( el, Ηλίας Καζαντζόγλου); September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was an American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one o ...

's Actors Studio in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. Kazan got him a substantial role in two stage productions. After his success in the second ''(

A Streetcar Named Desire ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of per ...

''), he was invited to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

to recreate his stage role in the movie version. In 1951 he appeared in "Romeo and Juliet" at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York and in 1960 he toured in "Fiorello" (which starred Tom Bosley). He spent the next thirty years bouncing between California and New York, and between movie and television work.

Personal life

Bond met Alma Halbert when she auditioned for a Neighborhood Players role. He was 25, she was 15. They were married in 1948. They had three children: fraternal twins Jonathan and Janet rs. Brill and Zane. Alma went on to have a successful career on her own, as an analytical psychologist and author. She published sixteen books, and numerous articles both about psychiatry and about her Hollywood experiences. Rudy Bond died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, outside the box office of a theater where the next day he was scheduled to begin appearing in a production of ''What the Babe Said'' (he was to portray

Babe Ruth George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...

). Bond wrote an autobiography but it was not completed before he died. Alma completed it, added an introduction, and had it published in 2000.

Acting credits

Film

*1950: '' With These Hands'' - Business Agent (uncredited) *1951: ''

'' - Steve Hubbell *1953: ''

Miss Sadie Thompson ''Miss Sadie Thompson'' is a 1953 3-D American musical romantic drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Rita Hayworth, José Ferrer, and Aldo Ray. The film was released by Columbia Pictures. The film is based on W. Somerset Maugha ...

'' - Pvt. Hodges *1954: ''

On The Waterfront ''On the Waterfront'' is a 1954 American crime drama film, directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. It stars Marlon Brando and features Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Pat Henning, and Eva Marie Saint in her film debut. ...

'' - Moose *1957: '' Nightfall'' - Red *1957: ''

12 Angry Men ''Twelve Angry Men'' is an American courtroom drama written by Reginald Rose concerning the jury of a homicide trial. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. The following year it was adapted for the stage. It was adapted for a ...

'' - Judge (uncredited) *1957: '' The Brothers Rico'' - Charlie Gonzales *1957: ''

The Hard Man ''The Hard Man'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Guy Madison.Pitts p.144 Plot A Texas Ranger (Guy Madison) turns deputy sheriff; a woman (Valerie French) wants him to kill her cattle-baron husband (Lorne ...

'' - John Rodman *1958: ''

Run Silent, Run Deep ''Run Silent, Run Deep'' is a novel by Commander (later Captain) Edward L. Beach Jr. published in 1955 by Henry Holt & Co. The story describes World War II submarine warfare in the Pacific Ocean, and deals with themes of vengeance, endurance, ...

'' - Sonarman 1st Class Cullen *1959: ''

Middle of the Night ''Middle of the Night'' is a 1959 American drama film directed by Delbert Mann, and released by Columbia Pictures.''Variety'' film review; May 20, 1959, page 6.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; May 23, 1959, page 82. It was entered into the ...

'' - Gould *1960: ''

Because They're Young ''Because They're Young'' is a 1960 American drama film directed by Paul Wendkos and starring Dick Clark as Neil Hendry, an American high-school teacher who tries to make a difference in the lives of his students. The film co-stars Tuesday Weld, ...

'' - Chris *1960: '' The Mountain Road'' - Sgt. Miller *1960: ''

BUtterfield 8 ''BUtterfield 8'' is a 1960 American drama film directed by Daniel Mann, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Harvey. Taylor won her first Academy Award for her performance in a leading role. The film was based on a 1935 novel of the same na ...

'' - Big Man (uncredited) *1970: '' Hercules in New York'' - Ship's Captain *1970: ''

Move Move may refer to: People * Daniil Move (born 1985), a Russian auto racing driver Brands and enterprises * Move (company), an online real estate company * Move (electronics store), a defunct Australian electronics retailer * Daihatsu Move Go ...

'' - Detective Sawyer *1971: ''

Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? ''Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?'' is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by Ulu Grosbard and starring Dustin Hoffman.Canby, Vincent (June 16, 1971)"Film: 'Who Is Harry Kellerman ... ?' at the S ...

'' - News Dealer *1971: '' Mr. Forbush and the Penguins'' - 3rd Pilot *1972: ''

The Godfather ''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caa ...

'' - Don Carmine Cuneo *1974: '' The Super Cops'' - Policeman (uncredited) *1974: '' The Taking of Pelham One Two Three'' - Phil, Police Commissioner *1979: '' The Rose'' - Monty

Television credits

Bond appeared in over 100 TV shows. Episodes in which he is credited include: *1952: 2 series *1954: 2 series *1955: 2 series *1956: 6 series *1957: 2 series *1958: 5 series *1959: 3 series *1961: 1 series *1962: 1 series *1963: 5 series *1964: 3 series *1966: 1 series *1967: 1 series *1969: 2 series *1973: 1 series *1974: 2 series *1976: 1 series *1977: 2 series *1978: 3 series *1979: 3 series

New York stage credits

*1947: O'Daniel *

*1950: The Bird Cage *1951:

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

* Glad Tidings *1952: Golden Boy *

Fiorello! ''Fiorello!'' is a musical about New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, a reform Republican, which debuted on Broadway in 1959, and tells the story of how La Guardia took on the Tammany Hall political machine. The book is by Jerome Weidman an ...

''Alma H. Bond'', p. 10 * After the Fall *1967: Illya Darling *1968: A Mother's Kisses *1972: Night Watch

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bond, Rudy 1912 births 1982 deaths Male actors from Philadelphia American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Writers from Pennsylvania United States Army personnel of World War II 20th-century American male actors