Harvey Stephens

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For the former child actor, see Harvey Spencer Stephens.
Harvey Stephens
Stephens in Swing High, Swing Low (1937)
Born(1901-08-21)August 21, 1901
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 22, 1986(1986-12-22) (aged 85)
Laguna Hills, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1931–1965
Spouse(s)
Beatrice Nichols
​
​
(m. 1929; div. 1944)​
[1]
Barbara Adams
​
​
(m. 1946)​
[2]
Children2

Harvey Stephens (August 21, 1901 – December 22, 1986)[3] was an American actor, known initially for his performances in Broadway productions, and thereafter for his work in film and on television. He was most active in film beginning in the 1930s and through the mid-1940s. Beginning in the mid-1950s, he transitioned to television and enjoyed success there through the 1960s.

Stephens was also an avid competitive glider pilot. He was inducted into the Soaring Hall of Fame in 1966 for his contributions to the sport.

Early years[edit]

Stephens was born in Los Angeles. As a student at the University of California at Los Angeles, he earned letters in basketball and football.[4] Before he turned to acting, Stephens worked in western copper mines and Mexican oil fields in addition to working around the world on a freighter.[5]

Stage[edit]

Stephens (right) opposite Katharine Cornell in the 1930 Broadway production of Dishonored Lady

Stephens' debut in the theater came in 1920 at the Pilgrimage Play in Hemet, California. Following that, he toured for two years in a troupe headed by Walter Hampden and worked in stock theater companies in several cities.[4]

On Broadway, Stephens appeared as Sam Worthing in Other Men's Wives, written by Walter C. Hackett, late in 1929. He also appeared as Richard Wadsworth in Dishonored Lady (1930); as Gail Redman in Tomorrow and Tomorrow (1931);[6] as Joe Fisk in The Animal Kingdom (1932);[6] Fred Barton in Best Years (1932); Bruce Blakely in The Party's Over (1933); and John Palmer in Conquest (1933). He also appeared in South Pacific as Commander Harbison, alongside Mary Martin; he was one of only two cast members who did not sing.[6]

For the summer of 1931, Stephens was a member of the Summer stock cast at Elitch Theatre.[7]

Film[edit]

Stephens made his leading debut opposite Tallulah Bankhead in The Cheat (1931). After appearing in The Texans (1938) and The Oklahoma Kid (1939), he began appearing in many Western films, although he also appeared with Gary Cooper, Joan Leslie, and Walter Brennan in Sergeant York (1941).

Television[edit]

Stephens appeared on a number of television shows beginning in the early 1950s and continuing through the late 1960s, including The Aquanauts, Ripcord, 77 Sunset Strip, Ben Casey and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, as well as multiple episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wagon Train, Bat Masterson, Perry Mason, and Bonanza.

Activities outside of acting[edit]

Beginning in the late 1930s, Stephens was one of the earliest major proponents of gliders,[8] and pursued an interest in the sport throughout his life.[9] In 1937, Harland Ross custom built a glider for Stephens, which became the Ross RS-1 Zanonia (The "RS" designation stands for "Ross-Stephens"). He organized a number of competitions and was still participating after his retirement from acting into the 1960s.

Personal life[edit]

On January 20, 1946, Stephens married Barbara Adams, a stage director.[5] He had previously been married to stage actress Beatrice Nichols.[4]

Partial filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mrs. B. N. Stephens". October 29, 1970 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ Ap (December 26, 1986). "Harvey Stephens, 85, Dies; Acted on Stage and in Films" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ "Harvey Stephens, 85, Actor in Theater, Films". Newsday. December 26, 1986.
  4. ^ a b c "Quits Mining for Movies". Times Union. New York, Brooklyn. May 27, 1935. p. 17. Retrieved November 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Adams, Marjory. "Harvey Stephens Says Minots Light Ideal for Honeymoon". The Boston Globe. Massachusetts, Boston. p. 30 A. Retrieved November 12, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c "Character Actor Harvey Stephens". Daytona Beach News-Journal. December 26, 1986. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Levy, Edwin Lewis, "Elitch's Gardens, Denver, Colorado: A History of the Oldest Summer Theatre in the United States (1890-1941)" [Doctoral dissertation, Columbia University, 1960]
  8. ^ Barnes, Fred C. (April 1937). "Seven Hours in a Two-Seater". Soaring. 1 (4): 9.
  9. ^ "Harvey Stephens, 85; Character Actor on Stage and in Films". Los Angeles Times. December 25, 1986. Retrieved April 8, 2012.

External links[edit]

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