Bill Zuckert

Bill Zuckert
Bill Zuckert
	Zuckert in an episode of Lock-Up (1961)
Born	William Zuckert; December 18, 1915; The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died	January 23, 1997 (aged 81); Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1941–1994
Spouse	Gladys Holland
Children	3

William Zuckert (December 18, 1915 – January 23, 1997) was an American actor.

Early years

Born and raised in The Bronx, New York,^[1] Zuckert worked in the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington, D. C. for six years. During that time he became involved with some little theater groups in Washington and adjacent areas of Maryland and Virginia. He also began performing without pay on radio programs for the March of Dimes, Red Cross, and U. S. Navy, among other organizations.^[2]

Career

Zuckert began his career in 1941 in radio and lent his voice to hundreds of dramas over the next two decades.^[1]

He served in New Guinea^[2] during World War II as a member of the naval construction force known as the Seabees.^[1]

On old-time radio, Zuckert portrayed Lieutenant Louis Parker in the NBC crime drama Crime and Peter Chambers.^[3] He went on to star in television, having many guest and character roles over the next half century, such as playing the sheriff in the Star Trek episode, "Spectre of the Gun".

In 1962, he appeared on Gunsmoke as Mr. Asper (Quint Asper’s father) in the episode “Quint Asper Comes Home” (S8E3), then he was back in 1963 as “Enoch” in the episode “I Call Him Wonder” (S8E28), then again in 1965 as “Mr. Jacobson” in the episode “Deputy Festus” (S10E17).

Zuckert's Broadway credits include The Gang's All Here (1959) and Sixth Finger in a Five Finger Glove (1956).^[4]

Zuckert served on the boards of directors of two professional organizations: the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.^[5]

Personal life

For 30 years Zuckert was married to actress Gladys Holland, who survived him. They had a daughter, and he had two children from a previous marriage.^[5]

Death

On January 23, 1997, Zuckert died of pneumonia at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.^[5]

Selected filmography

Ada (1961) – Harry Davers
The Rifleman (1961) – Debo
Shock Corridor (1963) – 'Swaneee' Swanson
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1963) (Season 2 Episode 7: "Starring the Defense") - Lieutenant Raphael (uncredited)
The Invaders (1967) – Sergeant
Hang 'em High (1968) – Sheriff
The Trouble with Girls (1969) – Mayor Gilchrist
The Great Bank Robbery (1969) – Ranger Commander
How to Frame a Figg (1971) – Commissioner Henders
Scandalous John (1971) – Abernathy
Family Flight (1972, TV Movie) – Frank Gross
The Girl Most Likely to... (1973) – Priest in funeral
The Sky's the Limit (1975) – Police Chief
The Strongest Man in the World (1975) – Policeman
Lipstick (1976) – Apartment Manager
F.I.S.T. (1978) – Delegate Bob
Loose Shoes (1978) – Hotel Detective
Born Again (1978) – E. Howard Hunt
Hangar 18 (1980) – Ace Landon
Seems Like Old Times (1980) – Gas Station Attendant
Snowballing (1984) – Sheriff Gilliam
Little Treasure (1985) – Charlie Parker
Under the Gun (1988) – Guard
Critters 3 (1991) – Mr. Menges
Bank Robber (1993) – Old Man
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) – Mr. Finkle
Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult (1994) – Old Man

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "IN THE NATION AND THE WORLD – BILL ZUCKERT CHARACTER ACTOR, 76". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 6, 1997. p. B05.
^ ^a ^b "Friday: Police Blotter". TV Radio Mirror. August 1956. p. 63. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
^ "Bill Zuckert". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Bill Zuckert; Veteran Actor in Movies, TV". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. February 5, 1997. p. A 18. Retrieved January 21, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.