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Howard Wendell

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Howard Wendell
Howard Wendell 1953
Wendell in The Big Heat (1953)
Born
Howard David Wendell

(1908-01-02)January 2, 1908
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 1975(1975-08-11) (aged 67)
Oregon City, Oregon, U.S.
EducationOhio University, Cleveland Play House
OccupationActor
Years active1951–1971

Howard David Wendell[1] (January 2, 1908[2] – August 11, 1975[1]) was an American actor.

Early life and career

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A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Wendell was one of two sons born to Irwin Wendell and Clara Heal.[1][3] By 1913, the family had relocated to Elyria, Ohio,[4] where his father found regular employment at Parsch Lumber and Coal Company,[5] first as a truck driver and later as the foreman at the lumber yard.[6][7] Wendell attended Ohio University and later apprenticed at the Cleveland Playhouse.[8][9]

Wendell's Broadway credits include Make a Wish (1951), The Curious Savage (1950), Arms and the Man (1950), The Show Off (1950), and The Great Campaign (1947).[10] He acted in the Santa Barbara Summer Theatre and in theaters in Hollywood, Phoenix, La Jolla, and San Francisco.[11] He received a gold cup in recognition of being named as the actor with the best performance in 1946 at the Newport Casino Theatre in Rhode Island.[12]

Between 1949 and 1970, Wendell made a number of film appearances but worked mostly on TV, in such programs as Dragnet, Perry Mason, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Batman (season 1, episodes 3 and 4), The Munsters, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Leave it to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Hazel, and The Big Valley. His final appearance was in Adam-12.

Personal life and death

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From September 13, 1937 until their divorce in January 1968, Wendell was married to Harriet Morley,[3][13] whom he had met while apprenticing at the Cleveland Play House, where she was employed as a costumer. The union produced three sons and one daughter.[14]

On August 11, 1975, at age 67, Wendell died of undisclosed causes at his home in Oregon City, survived by his wife, children and brother.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1952 You for Me Oliver Wherry
1952 Affair in Trinidad Anderson
1953 By the Light of the Silvery Moon John H. Harris
1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Watson
1953 The Big Heat Commissioner Higgins
1953 Captain Scarface Mr. Dilts
1954 Prince Valiant Morgan Todd
1954 The Black Dakotas Judge Horatio Baker
1954 Athena Mr. Grenville
1955 Wiretapper Prison Chaplain
1955 The View from Pompey's Head John Duncan
1955 The Fighting Chance Lucky Jim Morrison
1956 Never Say Goodbye Harry
1956 A Day of Fury Vanryzin
1956 Storm Center Sen. Bascomb
1958 Mardi Gras Howard Hansen Uncredited
1959 The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker Sexton Uncredited
1959 Stranger in My Arms Congressman
1959 It Happened to Jane Purchasing Uncredited
1959 The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake Dr. George Bradford
1961 The Big Bankroll Mr. Simmons Uncredited
1961 Sail a Crooked Ship Mr. Caldingham Uncredited
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour General Practitioner Season 1 Episode 22: "Diagnosis: Danger"
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mr. Flagstone Season 2 Episode 23: "A Matter of Murder"
1964 Where Love Has Gone Mr. Carruthers Uncredited
1965 How to Murder Your Wife The Trial Judge
1965 My Blood Runs Cold Mayor
1965 Mirage Bar Patron Uncredited
1965 The Cincinnati Kid Charlie Uncredited
1966 Frankie and Johnny Man at Table Uncredited
1971 The Million Dollar Duck Roger - State Dept. Representative Uncredited, (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Obituaries: Howard D. Wendell". Variety. September 3, 1975. p. 102. ProQuest 1401281820. Howard David Wendell, 67, prolific stage and film actor, died August 11 at his home in Oregon City. Ore. Born in Johnstown, Pa., and brought up in Elyria, Ohio, he spent most of his life as an actor in legit, films and television, specializing in character roles. Wendell started his theatrical career as an apprentice at the Cleveland (O.) Playhouse an then spent four seasons directing little-theatre groups in Johnstown and Saginaw, Mich. [...] He is survived by his wife, three sons, a daughter, and a brother.
  2. ^ "Michigan, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJQ-8VJ5 : Fri Mar 08 16:53:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Howard David Wendell and Pit and Balcony Inc.. See also:
    • "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9QH-Z6X : 9 January 2021), Howard Wendell, Aug 1975; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  3. ^ a b "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2QW7-3QT : Sun Mar 10 09:50:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Howard D Wendell and Harriet D Morley, 13 Sep 1937.
  4. ^ "Society". The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. December 30, 2024. p. 2. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Irwin Wendell, Parsch Employee for 26 Years". The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. December 18, 1945. p. 6. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD5B-QRJ : Sun Mar 10 19:56:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Irvin Wendell and Claire M Wendell, 1920.
  7. ^ "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X447-YFW : Fri Mar 08 22:26:44 UTC 2024), Entry for Irvin Wendell and Clare Wendell, 1930.
  8. ^ "Ohio Alumni Meet". Long Beach Independent. May 4, 1958. p. A-8. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "Howard Wendel Forms a New Little Theater". The Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 8, 1937. p. 12-C. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "Howard Wendell". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Estelle Eschews 'Method', Uses Intuition, Technique of Experience". Santa Barbara News-Press. June 28, 1964. p. E 12. Retrieved June 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "To Honor Howard Wendell". The New York Times. May 5, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPTR-ZXX : 15 May 2014), Harriet D Morley and Howard D Wendell, Jan 1968; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Santa Barbara, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
  14. ^ "Obituaries: Harriet Morley Wendell". The Cleveland Plain Dealer. July 10, 1981. p. 53. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
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