Ross Elliott Explained

Ross Elliott
Birth Name:Elliott Blum
Birth Date:June 18, 1917
Birth Place:The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1938 - 1986
Spouse:Esther Susan ("Sue") Melling (m. 1954–1999 (his death))[1] [2]

Ross Elliott (born Elliott Blum; June 18, 1917 – August 12, 1999)[3] was an American television and film character actor. He began his acting career in the Mercury Theatre, where he performed in The War of the Worlds, Orson Welles' famed radio program.

Early years

Elliott was born in the Bronx, New York. While at City College of New York, he participated in the college's dramatic society, causing him to abandon his original plan to become a lawyer.[4]

Radio and Stage

Directly out of college, Elliott joined Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre, garnering bit parts both on the radio (including the notorious War of the Worlds production) and stage (including Welles' Caesar).[5] Elliott's Broadway credits include The Shoemaker's Holiday (1938), Danton's Tod (1938), Morning Star (1940), This Is the Army (1942), and Apple of His Eye (1946).[6] In 1972, he returned to the stage in Shakespeare's King Lear with the Santa Monica Theater Guild.[7]

Military service

Elliott joined the United States Army on August 4, 1941. Much of his time there was spent in "soldier-casts of various touring shows."[4]

Film career

After serving in World War II, Elliott moved to Hollywood. He enjoyed a long career, working steadily in supporting roles in a diverse array of films, including Woman on the Run, D-Day the Sixth of June, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Tarantula!, Wild Seed, Kelly's Heroes, Skyjacked and The Towering Inferno.[8] In 1971, Elliott was invited to membership in the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, later serving on its Board, and remaining a member until his death in 1999.

Television

Throughout his career, Elliott appeared in more than 200 television programs, including the recurring role of crewman Cort Ryker on the syndicated The Blue Angels (1960–1961). Elliott appeared 59 times in a recurring role as Sheriff Abbott on NBC's western series, The Virginian.[9]

Elliott portrayed the television director in the season one episode of I Love Lucy titled "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (1952) in which Lucy Ricardo advertises Vitameatavegamin.[10] Elliott also appeared on I Love Lucy as Ricky Ricardo's agent in three episodes of the series' fourth season.[11]

In 1956 he appeared as Sam Wilson on the TV western Cheyenne in the episode titled "Mustang Trail". In 1958, Elliott played Reverend Kilgore in the episode "The Lord Will Provide" on The Texan, with Rory Calhoun and Ellen Corby. Later that year he played murder victim and title character George Hartley Beaumont in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Corresponding Corpse".[12]

In 1960 and 1961 Elliott appeared twice on the popular Leave it to Beaver, including as the boys' school principal. From 1962 to 1963, he was cast as Marty Rhodes in four episodes of the NBC legal drama Sam Benedict, starring Edmond O'Brien. From 1963 to 1965, Elliott played Lee Baldwin on the ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital.[13]

Elliott appeared in 11 episodes of The Jack Benny Program as director Freddie.[14] His other television appearances included Burns and Allen, The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Adventures of Superman, The Lone Ranger, Pony Express, The Rifleman, Rawhide, Gunsmoke (title character Lee Groat in S5E17’s “Groat’s Grudge” - 1957), Lassie, Leave It to Beaver, Combat!, Hazel, The Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Dragnet, Adam-12, Emergency!, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Little House on the Prairie. Elliott also appeared in a 1973 episode of Barnaby Jones.[15]

Later life

As his acting career waned, Elliott in 1976 joined a local real estate firm as a sales associate and later as a manager.[16] He died of cancer on August 12, 1999, at the age of 82.[17]

Selected filmography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vallance . Tom . Obituary: Ross Elliott (10/23/2011) . Independent . August 29, 1999 . 1 September 2021.
  2. Web site: Esther Susan Melling . Biographical Summaries of Notable People . MyHeritage . 12 March 2023.
  3. Web site: Brumburgh . Gary . Ross Elliott (1917-1999) . Profiles of the Working Actor . July 20, 2017 . Industry Central . 19 February 2023.
  4. Weaver. Tom. The Sci-Fi Stalwarts. Classic Images. 490. 20–22.
  5. Web site: Vallance . Tom . Obituary: Ross Elliott (10/23/2011) . Independent . August 29, 1999 . 1 September 2021.
  6. Web site: Ross Elliott. Playbill Vault. May 13, 2016.
  7. News: King Lear . Los Angeles Times . March 7, 1972 . E16.
  8. Web site: Vallance . Tom . Obituary: Ross Elliott (10/23/2011) . Independent . August 29, 1999 . 1 September 2021.
  9. News: Ross Elliott, 82, an Actor on TV Series . 18 February 2023 . New York Times . Associated Press . August 24, 1999.
  10. News: Ross Elliott. 14 May 2016. Toledo Blade. Times-Post News Service. August 17, 1999. Ohio, Toledo. 17.
  11. News: Ross Elliott, 82, an Actor on TV Series . 18 February 2023 . New York Times . Associated Press . August 24, 1999.
  12. Web site: Brumburgh . Gary . Ross Elliott (1917-1999) . Profiles of the Working Actor . July 20, 2017 . Industry Central . 19 February 2023.
  13. News: Ross Elliott, 82, an Actor on TV Series . 18 February 2023 . New York Times . Associated Press . August 24, 1999.
  14. News: Oliver . Myrna . Ross Elliott: Actor in TV and Movies . 18 February 2023 . Los Angeles Times . August 18, 1999.
  15. Web site: Brumburgh . Gary . Ross Elliott (1917-1999) . Profiles of the Working Actor . July 20, 2017 . Industry Central . 19 February 2023.
  16. News: People in Real Estate: Elliott named new manager . Los Angeles Times . 23 February 1980.
  17. News: Ross Elliott, 82, an Actor on TV Series . 18 February 2023 . New York Times . Associated Press . August 24, 1999.

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