Karl Weber (actor)
| Karl Weber | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 17, 1916 Columbus Junction, Iowa |
| Died |
July 30, 1990 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater |
Cornell College University of Iowa |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Home town | Columbus Junction, Iowa |
| Spouse(s) | Marjorie |
| Children |
1 daughter 2 sons |
Karl Weber (March 17, 1916 – July 30, 1990) was an actor in the era of old-time radio.
Early years
A native of Columbus Junction, Iowa,[1] Weber attended Cornell College[2] and was a graduate of the University of Iowa.[3] He had three brothers and two sisters.[4]
Stage
Before going into radio, Weber acted with Shakespearean troupes in the Midwest. In the late 1940s, he helped to found the New Stages off-Broadway group in New York City.[3] His Broadway credits include The Land of Fame and Lady Behave.[5]
Radio
Weber's roles in radio programs included those shown in the table below.
| Program | Role |
|---|---|
| Alias John Freedom | John Freedom[6] |
| The Doctor's Wife | Dr. Dan Palmer[4] |
| Dr. Sixgun | Dr. Ray Matson [7] |
| Girl Alone | John Knight[7]:131 |
| Inspector Thorne | Inspector Thorne[7]:164 |
| Lorenzo Jones | Verne Massey[8] |
| Nona from Nowhere | Vernon Dutell[7]:257 |
| The Romance of Helen Trent | Brett Chapman[9] |
| The Second Mrs. Burton | Brad Burton[7]:299 |
| The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters | Gary Bennett[7]:319 |
| When a Girl Marries | Phil Stanley[7]:351-352 |
| Woman in White | Dr. Kirk Harding[7]:258 |
Television
Weber played Arthur Tate in Search for Tomorrow.[4]
Film
Weber portrayed FBI agent Charlie Reynolds in Walk East on Beacon (1952).[10]
Commercials
In the mid-1960s, Weber was featured in commercials for Avis Rent a Car. The company spent $6 million on the campaign in its first year.[1] He also made commercials for Lyndon B. Johnson's and Nelson A. Rockefeller's campaigns for president.[3]
Other activities
In 1968-1969, Weber was president of New York's chapter of the Screen Actors Guild. He also used his talent to record more than 200 books for the American Foundation for the Blind.[3]
Personal life
Weber met his wife, Marjorie, when they were students at Cornell College. They had a daughter, Lynn, and two sons, Christopher and Mark.[2]
Death
Weber died of congestive heart failure in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 30, 1990. He was 74. His survivors included a daughter, two sons, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two brothers and a sister.[3]
References
- 1 2 Lowry, Cynthi (March 12, 1967). "Ex-Actor Revolutionizes TV Commercials". The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah, Salt Lake City. Associated Press. p. 97. Retrieved September 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Kish, Frances (September 1953). "Man About the House". Radio-TV Mirror. 40 (4): 54–55, 78. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Karl Weber; Longtime Radio Actor". Los Angeles Times. August 6, 1990. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- 1 2 3 Hall, Gladys (July 1956). "Karl Weber -- Family Man". TV Radio Mirror. 45 (2): 50–51, 71–73. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ↑ "Late Train Launched Acting Career For Karl Weber Leading In CBS "Nona From Nowhere" Drama". The Sherbrooke Telegram. February 2, 1950. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ↑ Green, Nat (February 20, 1943). "Takes on Talent: Chicago". Billboard. p. 7. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Terrace, Vincent (1999).Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 101.
- ↑ Jones, Belle (August 1953). "Somewhere I'll Find Him". Radio-TV Mirror. 40 (3): 84. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ↑ "The Romance of Helen Trent". Radio-TV Mirror. 41 (6): 43. May 1954. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ↑ Herzberg, Bob (2006). The FBI and the Movies: A History of the Bureau on Screen and Behind the Scenes in Hollywood. McFarland. p. 165. ISBN 9780786427550. Retrieved 12 September 2016.