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During World War II, he served three years in the United States Army. Discharged in 1946, he enrolled at Columbia University to study drama.<ref name="ht" />
During World War II, he served three years in the United States Army. Discharged in 1946, he enrolled at Columbia University to study drama.<ref name="ht" />


As a character actor, Townes was a familiar face to television viewers in the 1950s and 1960s. His expanded range led him to fill a variety of roles, and he avoided being [[Typecasting (acting)|typecast]]. He made five guest appearances on ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', including the role of title character Newton Bain in the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Woeful Widower." He also made three appearances on ''[[Bonanza]]'' and seven on ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' and in ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]''. He made single and double appearances on numerous other television series, including in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. Besides appearing in 29 films, he is credited with more than 200 television roles. He gained a [[cult following]] with a younger audience for a guest shot on "The First", a two-part episode of ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', in which he portrays Dell Frye, a man with the ability to transform as well into a Hulk-like creature. "The First" is one of the more popular episodes from the television series largely because of Townes' performance<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/193456%7C67285/Harry-Townes/ “Harry Townes: Biography”], Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Turner Broadcasting System, a subsidiary of Time Warner, New York, N.Y. Retrieved December 21, 2017.</ref>
As a character actor, Townes was a familiar face to television viewers in the 1950s and 1960s. His expanded range led him to fill a variety of roles, and he avoided being [[Typecasting (acting)|typecast]]. He made five guest appearances on ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', including the role of title character Newton Bain in the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Woeful Widower." He also made three appearances on ''[[Bonanza]]'' and seven on ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' and in ''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]''. He made single and double appearances on numerous other television series, including in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. Besides appearing in 29 films, he is credited with more than 200 television roles. He gained a [[cult following]] with a younger audience for a guest shot on "The First", a two-part episode of ''[[The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', in which he portrays Dell Frye, a man with the ability to transform as well into a Hulk-like creature. "The First" is one of the more popular episodes from the television series largely because of Townes' performance<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/193456%7C67285/Harry-Townes/ "Harry Townes: Biography"], Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Turner Broadcasting System, a subsidiary of Time Warner, New York, N.Y. Retrieved December 21, 2017.</ref>


==Later years and death==
==Later years and death==
While he was acting, Townes took philosophy classes at UCLA and studied for the ministry at Bishop Bloy School of Theology in Los Angeles. His ordination as a deacon cam in 1973 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Los Angeles.<ref name="t">{{cite news |title=Veteran Actor Proud Of His Role as Priest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108268005/harry-townes/ |access-date=August 25, 2022 |work=The Tribune |date=August 31, 1974 |location=Pennsylvania, Scranton |page=23|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was ordained as an Episcopal minister in St. Paul's Cathedral on March 16, 1974. He served at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Hollywood. He retired from acting in 1989 and returned to his hometown of Huntsville, where he lived the remainder of his life.{{Citation needed |date=August 2022}}
While he was acting, Townes took philosophy classes at UCLA and studied for the ministry at Bishop Bloy School of Theology in Los Angeles. His ordination as a deacon came in 1973 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Los Angeles.<ref name="t">{{cite news |title=Veteran Actor Proud Of His Role as Priest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108268005/harry-townes/ |access-date=August 25, 2022 |work=The Tribune |date=August 31, 1974 |location=Pennsylvania, Scranton |page=23|via = [[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was ordained as an Episcopal minister in St. Paul's Cathedral on March 16, 1974. He served at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Hollywood. He retired from acting in 1989 and returned to his hometown of Huntsville, where he lived the remainder of his life.{{Citation needed |date=August 2022}}


On May 23, 2001, Townes died at his home in Huntsville at the age of 86,<ref>{{cite news|title=Deaths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HnDkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Harry+Rhett+Townes%22&pg=PP132|access-date=28 January 2017|work=The Living Church|publisher=Morehouse-Gorham Company|date=5 August 2001|language=en}}</ref> and his body was interred at [[Maple Hill Cemetery (Huntsville, Alabama)|Maple Hill Cemetery]], also in Huntsville.
On May 23, 2001, Townes died at his home in Huntsville at the age of 86,<ref>{{cite news|title=Deaths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HnDkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Harry+Rhett+Townes%22&pg=PP132|access-date=28 January 2017|work=The Living Church|publisher=Morehouse-Gorham Company|date=5 August 2001|language=en}}</ref> and his body was interred at [[Maple Hill Cemetery (Huntsville, Alabama)|Maple Hill Cemetery]], also in Huntsville.


== Selected filmography ==
==Selected filmography==
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
*''[[Westinghouse Studio One]]'' (1952, TV Series)
*''[[Westinghouse Studio One]]'' (1952, TV Series)
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*''[[Justice (1954 TV series)|Justice]]'' (1954, TV Series)
*''[[Justice (1954 TV series)|Justice]]'' (1954, TV Series)
*''[[The Mountain (1956 film)|The Mountain]]'' (1956) - Joseph
*''[[The Mountain (1956 film)|The Mountain]]'' (1956) - Joseph
*''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1956-1957, TV Series) - Richard Ross / Ed
*''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (TV Series)
**Season 1 Episode 38: "The Creeper" - Ed (1956)
**Season 2 Episode 17: "My Brother, Richard" - Richard Ross (1957)
*''[[Father Knows Best]]'' - episode "Class Prophecy" (1957, TV Series) - Henry Pruett
*''[[Father Knows Best]]'' - episode "Class Prophecy" (1957, TV Series) - Henry Pruett
*''[[Have Gun Will Travel]]'' (1958, TV Series) - Henry Prince
*''[[Have Gun Will Travel]]'' (1958, TV Series) - Henry Prince
Line 49: Line 51:
*''[[Screaming Mimi (film)|Screaming Mimi]]'' (1958) - Dr. Greenwood / Bill Green
*''[[Screaming Mimi (film)|Screaming Mimi]]'' (1958) - Dr. Greenwood / Bill Green
*''[[Cry Tough (film)|Cry Tough]]'' (1959) - Carlos Mendoza Lewis
*''[[Cry Tough (film)|Cry Tough]]'' (1959) - Carlos Mendoza Lewis
*''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' (1959, TV Series) - Arch Hammer
*''The Troubleshooters'' (1959, TV Series) - Verne Lewis
*''The Troubleshooters'' (1959, TV Series) - Verne Lewis
*''[[Men Into Space]]'' (1959, TV Series) - Dr. William Thyssen
*''[[Men Into Space]]'' (1959, TV Series) - Dr. William Thyssen
Line 75: Line 76:
*''[[The Littlest Hobo]]'' (1963, TV Series) - Herman Eckels - Bank Teller
*''[[The Littlest Hobo]]'' (1963, TV Series) - Herman Eckels - Bank Teller
*''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' (1963, TV Series, episode: "[[O.B.I.T.]]") - Dr. Clifford Scott
*''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' (1963, TV Series, episode: "[[O.B.I.T.]]") - Dr. Clifford Scott
*''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1959–1964, TV Series) - Brock Dillman / Capt. Jesse Coulter / Lewis Lewis / Amos Stauffer
*''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1959–1964, TV Series)
**''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1959) – Amos Stauffer in S1:E9, "Incident of the Town in Terror"
**''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1961) – Lewis Lewis in S3:E29, "Incident of the Night on the Town"
**''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1964) – Captain Jesse Coulter in S6:E29, "Incident at Seven Fingers"
**''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1964) – Brock Dillman in S7:E4, "The Lost Herd"
*''[[The Alfred Hitchcock Hour]]'' (1963, 1965) (TV Series)
**(Season 2 Episode 2: "A Nice Touch") (1963) - Ed Brandt
**(Season 3 Episode 21: "The Photographer and the Undertaker") (1965) - Hiram Price
*''[[Kentucky Jones]]'' (1965, TV Series, episode: "The Big Shot") - Charles Caldwell
*''[[Kentucky Jones]]'' (1965, TV Series, episode: "The Big Shot") - Charles Caldwell
*''[[Mr. Novak]]'' (1964-1965, TV Series) - Walter MacTell / Frank Dever
*''[[Mr. Novak]]'' (1964-1965, TV Series) - Walter MacTell / Frank Dever
*''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' (1958–1966, TV Series) - Erwin Brandt / Col. Owens / Newton Bain / A.D.A. Grosvenor Cutter / Robert Fleetwood
*''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' (1958–1966, TV Series) - Erwin Brandt / Colonel Owens / Newton Bain / Assistant District Attorney Grosvenor Cutter / Robert Fleetwood
*''[[Dr. Kildare]]'' (1965–1966, TV Series) - Gerald Prince / Jake McCoy
*''[[Dr. Kildare (TV series)|Dr. Kildare]]'' (1965–1966, TV Series) - Gerald Prince / Jake McCoy
*''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'' (1963-1966, TV Series) - Joshua Simmons / Deputy Russ Atkins / Ballinger / Art Mallet / Sgt. Burden
*''[[The Fugitive (1963 TV series)|The Fugitive]]'' (1963-1966, TV Series) - Joshua Simmons / Deputy Russ Atkins / Ballinger / Art Mallet / Sergeant Burden
*''[[The Monroes (1966 TV series)|The Monroes]]'' (1966, TV Series) - Joe Smith
*''[[The Monroes (1966 TV series)|The Monroes]]'' (1966, TV Series) - Joe Smith
*''[[The Wild Wild West]]'' (1965–1967, TV Series) - Dr. Raven / Penrose
*''[[The Wild Wild West]]'' (1965–1967, TV Series) - Dr. Raven / Penrose
*''[[Disneyland (TV series)|Disneyland]]'' (1967, TV Series) - Mr. Barlow
*''[[Disneyland (TV series)|Disneyland]]'' (1967, TV Series) - Mr. Barlow
*''[[Star Trek (TOS)|Star Trek]]'' (1967, TV Series, episode: "[[The Return of the Archons]]") - Reger
*''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' (1967, TV Series, episode: "[[The Return of the Archons]]") - Reger
*''[[Fitzwilly]]'' (1967) - Mr. Nowell
*''[[Fitzwilly]]'' (1967) - Mr. Nowell
*''[[In Enemy Country]]'' (1968) - General Marchois
*''[[In Enemy Country]]'' (1968) - General Marchois
Line 104: Line 112:
*''[[Falcon Crest]]'' (1981–82, TV Series) - Jason Gioberti
*''[[Falcon Crest]]'' (1981–82, TV Series) - Jason Gioberti
*''[[Angel of H.E.A.T.]]'' (1983) - Peter Shockley
*''[[Angel of H.E.A.T.]]'' (1983) - Peter Shockley
*''[[Voyagers!]]'' (1983, TV Series) - Prof. Garth
*''[[Voyagers!]]'' (1983, TV Series) - Professor Garth
*''[[The Warrior and the Sorceress]]'' (1984)<ref>[http://movies.go.com/harry-townes/f1020402 Biography] at Movies.com</ref> - Bludge the Prelate
*''[[The Warrior and the Sorceress]]'' (1984)<ref>[http://movies.go.com/harry-townes/f1020402 Biography] at Movies.com</ref> - Bludge the Prelate
*''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'' (1984, TV Series) - Albert Leonard
*''[[Magnum, P.I.]]'' (1984, TV Series) - Albert Leonard
*''The Check Is in the Mail...'' (1986) - Fred Steinkrause
*''The Check Is in the Mail...'' (1986) - Fred Steinkrause
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
{{Portal|Biography|United States|California|World War II|Film|Television|Christianity}}
{{Portal|Biography|United States|California|Film|Television|Christianity}}


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}


== External links ==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
*{{IMDb name|0870038}}
*{{IMDb name|0870038}}
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[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Burials in Alabama]]
[[Category:Burials in Alabama]]
[[Category:Columbia University alumni]]
[[Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:University of Alabama alumni]]
[[Category:University of Alabama alumni]]

Latest revision as of 07:47, 27 February 2024

Harry Townes
Townes performing on the television
series Bonanza in "The Mill", 1960
Born
Harry Rhett Townes

(1914-09-18)September 18, 1914
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 23, 2001(2001-05-23) (aged 86)
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Resting placeMaple Hill Cemetery
Alma materUniversity of Alabama
Columbia University
Occupation(s)Actor, Episcopal priest
Years active1949–1988

Harry Rhett Townes (September 18, 1914 – May 23, 2001)[1] was an American actor who later became an Episcopalian minister.

Early life[edit]

Harry Townes was born in Huntsville, Alabama. the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Townes. He had a brother and a sister. He graduated from Huntsville High School,[2] and while attending the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Townes began landing acting roles. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City to study acting at Columbia University.[3]

Career[edit]

Townes performed in several New York and Broadway stage productions, including summer stock. His Broadway credits include In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer (1968), Gramercy Ghost (1950), Twelfth Night (1949), Mr. Sycamore (1942), and Tobacco Road (1942).[4]

During World War II, he served three years in the United States Army. Discharged in 1946, he enrolled at Columbia University to study drama.[2]

As a character actor, Townes was a familiar face to television viewers in the 1950s and 1960s. His expanded range led him to fill a variety of roles, and he avoided being typecast. He made five guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of title character Newton Bain in the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Woeful Widower." He also made three appearances on Bonanza and seven on Gunsmoke and in The Fugitive. He made single and double appearances on numerous other television series, including in Star Trek: The Original Series. Besides appearing in 29 films, he is credited with more than 200 television roles. He gained a cult following with a younger audience for a guest shot on "The First", a two-part episode of The Incredible Hulk, in which he portrays Dell Frye, a man with the ability to transform as well into a Hulk-like creature. "The First" is one of the more popular episodes from the television series largely because of Townes' performance[5]

Later years and death[edit]

While he was acting, Townes took philosophy classes at UCLA and studied for the ministry at Bishop Bloy School of Theology in Los Angeles. His ordination as a deacon came in 1973 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Los Angeles.[6] He was ordained as an Episcopal minister in St. Paul's Cathedral on March 16, 1974. He served at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Hollywood. He retired from acting in 1989 and returned to his hometown of Huntsville, where he lived the remainder of his life.[citation needed]

On May 23, 2001, Townes died at his home in Huntsville at the age of 86,[7] and his body was interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, also in Huntsville.

Selected filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ allmovie Bio
  2. ^ a b "Harry Townes Will Star In Spy-Thrill Film Here". The Huntsville Times. February 4, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Harry Townes; Actor in Film and TV". Los Angeles Times. May 28, 2001. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "("Harry Townes" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  5. ^ "Harry Townes: Biography", Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Turner Broadcasting System, a subsidiary of Time Warner, New York, N.Y. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Veteran Actor Proud Of His Role as Priest". The Tribune. Pennsylvania, Scranton. August 31, 1974. p. 23. Retrieved August 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Deaths". The Living Church. Morehouse-Gorham Company. August 5, 2001. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  8. ^ Biography at Movies.com

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harry Townes.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harry_Townes&oldid=1210569608"