Fred Clark

For the American politician, see Fred Clark (Wisconsin legislator).

For people with similar names, see Frederick Clark (disambiguation).

Fred Clark
Clark in 1950
Born	Frederick Leonard Clark (1914-03-19)March 19, 1914 Lincoln, Placer County California, U.S.
Died	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Hepatitis
Occupation	Actor
Spouse(s)	Benay Venuta (1952-1962) (divorced) Gloria Glaser (1966-1968) (his death)

Frederick Leonard Clark (March 19, 1914 – December 5, 1968) was an American film and television character actor.

Career

Born in Lincoln, California, Clark made his film debut in 1947 in The Unsuspected. His 20-year film career included nearly seventy films and numerous television appearances. As a supporting player, with his gruff voice, intimidating build, bald pate, and small moustache beneath an often scowling visage, he was often cast as a testy film producer, crime boss, landlord, employer, doctor, or general. In 1942 during World War II Clark joined the United States Navy and served as a pilot. He later transferred to the United States Army and served with the Third Army in Europe until the end of the war.

With Gene Kelly

Among his films are Ride the Pink Horse (1948), Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), Flamingo Road (1949), White Heat (1949), Sunset Boulevard (1950), A Place in the Sun (1951), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955), How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955), Daddy Long Legs (1955), Auntie Mame (1958), and Visit to a Small Planet (1960).

Although he continued making films during the 1960s (most notably a large role in Hammer Film Productions' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb in 1964 and John Goldfarb, Please Come Home in 1965) he was more often seen on television, as a regular on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show as neighbor Harry Morton (until 1953) and guest roles on The Twilight Zone, The Beverly Hillbillies, Going My Way, The Addams Family, and I Dream of Jeannie. In 1962, he and Bea Benaderet, another Burns and Allen veteran, played Mr. and Mrs. Springer in the episode "Continental Dinner," the series finale of the CBS sitcom Pete and Gladys, starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams.

Personal life

Clark was married to actress Benay Venuta from 1952–1962, then model Gloria Glaser from 1966 until his death from liver disease in Santa Monica, California.

Clark has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television, at 1713 Vine Street.

Partial filmography

• The Unsuspected (1947)
• Ride the Pink Horse (1947)
• Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948)
• Cry of the City (1948)
• Alias Nick Beal (1949)
• Flamingo Road (1949)
• Task Force (1949)
• White Heat (1949)
• Sunset Boulevard (1950)
• The Jackpot (1950)
• Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone (1950)
• Hollywood Story (1951)
• The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)
• A Place in the Sun (1951)
• Three for Bedroom "C" (1952)
• Dreamboat (1952)
• The Caddy (1953)
• How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
• Living It Up (1954)
• Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops (1955)
• Daddy Long Legs (1955)
• The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955)
• How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
• Miracle in the Rain (1956)
• The Birds and the Bees (1956)
• The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956)
• Back from Eternity (1956)
• The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957)
• Don't Go Near the Water (1957)
• Auntie Mame (1958)
• The Mating Game (1959)
• It Started with a Kiss (1959)
• Risate di gioia (1960)
• Visit to a Small Planet (1960)
• Bells Are Ringing (1960)
• Behind Closed Doors (1962)
• Boys' Night Out (1962)
• Zotz! (1962)
• Move Over, Darling (1963)
• The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964)
• John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965)
• Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965)
• When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965)
• Sergeant Deadhead (1965)
• War Italian Style (1967)
• Eve (1968)
• Skidoo (1968)
• The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit (1968)

External links

• Fred Clark at the Internet Movie Database
• Fred Clark at Find a Grave