Simon Oakland
From Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
- born: 28/Aug/1915 (New York, New York, USA)
- died: 29/Aug/1983 (Cathedral City, California, USA) - cancer
Biography
Simon Oakland was an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City.
Oakland began his performing arts career as a musician (he was a violinist, a vocation he would enjoy his entire career as an actor). He began his acting career in the late 1940s. He enjoyed a series of Broadway hits, including "Light Up the Sky", "The Shrike" and "Inherit the Wind", and theater was one of his lasting passions. He was a concert violinist until the 1940's
Oakland made his film debut as the "tough, but compassionate" journalist who speaks up for Susan Hayward's Barbara Grahame in "I Want to Live!" in 1958. Oakland would wind up playing this type often over the course of career.
He went on to play a long series of tough guy types, usually on the right side of the law (or in positions of authority), most notably in "Psycho", "West Side Story", and as the cantankerous Antonio Vincenzo (Kolchak's boss) in the science fiction television series "Kolchak: The Night Stalker". A gifted actor, he often accepted roles that were inferior to his acting ability and often played on type rather than talent. He was highly respected by his co-workers as an actor.
He died of cancer, one day after his 68th birthday, in Cathedral City, California.
Filmography
With Hitchcock...
- Psycho (1960) - cast: Dr. Fred Richmond
Links
Film Frames
Selection of film frames of Simon Oakland (click image to view larger version or refresh thumbnails)...