Ed Kemmer

Ed Kemmer (October 29, 1921 – November 9, 2004) was an American motion picture and television actor.

Edward Kemmer
Kemmer in Space Patrol (1952)
Born
Edward William Kemmerer

(1921-10-29)October 29, 1921
Reading, Pennsylvania, US
DiedNovember 9, 2004(2004-11-09) (aged 83)
New York City, New York
Years active1954–1983
Spouse(s)Fran Sharon (1969–2004) (his death) 3 children
Elaine Edwards (? – ?) (divorced)

Life

Kemmer was born in Reading, Pennsylvania as Edward William Kemmerer, and served as a fighter pilot in World War II. He was shot down over France and spent 11 months in a POW camp.[1] He briefly escaped from the camp for two weeks before he was recaptured.

Kemmer made his television debut in 1951 and starred as Buzz Corry in the live television science fiction action-drama Space Patrol (1951-1956).[2] Kemmer made his film debut in 1956 (Behind the High Wall). He had a starring role as a pilot in the film The Hot Angel (1958), but his big-screen work was mostly small roles in low-budget B movies such as Giant from the Unknown (1958). The bulk of Kemmer's work was for the small screen.

In 1958, he guest-starred in two consecutive episodes of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Sugarfoot, starring Will Hutchins in the title role. In "The Wizard" he is Sheriff Mike Collins; in "The Ghost", with fellow guest-star Tommy Rettig, he is deputy sheriff Joe Wilkes.[3][4] Also started as a Texas Ranger on ”Trackdown” with Robert Culp in the starring role.

After Space Patrol, Kemmer was a guest star in various prime-time television series, including the classic Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", in which former space hero Kemmer co-starred with future space hero William Shatner. He also made two guest appearances on Perry Mason. In 1960 he played Roger Porter in "The Case of the Frantic Flyer," and in 1961 he played murder victim Leslie Hall in "The Case of the Pathetic Patient." In 1964 he played a major part in ”The Impostor”, a tense Sutton Roley-directed episode of Combat! (S3, E10).

Kemmer starred for two years as an American astronaut in the soap opera The Clear Horizon,[5] leading to the later phase of his career as a leading player in various daytime drama series, including The Edge of Night (on which he met his wife, actress Fran Sharon) as Malcolm Thomas, The Secret Storm as Paul Britton #2, As the World Turns as attorney Dick Martin, and Somerset as attorney Ben Grant. He also made appearances as a doctor on All My Children.

In 1962, Kemmer was cast as the historical investigative journalist Henry Morton Stanley in the episode, "The Truth Teller," on the syndicated television Anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. The episode is a study of the Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Treaty. Stanley arrives at Fort Larned, Kansas, to assess Hancock's effort to avoid war on the frontier. Charles Carlson filled the role of Wild Bill Hickok, long after Guy Madison played Hickock in a weekly syndicated series.[6]

Kemmer was twice married and had three children, Jonathan, Todd, and Kimberly.

On November 5, 2004, Kemmer had a stroke in New York City; he died four days later.[7]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1956Behind the High WallCharlie Rains
1957Sierra StrangerSonny Grover
1957MaverickClete Overton
1957Calypso JoeLee Darling
1957Panama SalDennis P. Dennis
1958Giant from the UnknownWayne Brooks
1958Too Much, Too SoonRobert Wilcox
1958Earth vs. the SpiderProfessor Art Kingman
1958Hong Kong ConfidentialFrank Paige
1958The Hot AngelChuck Lawson
1958Official DetectiveJoe EspositoEpisode: "Loan Companies"[8]
1959Wanted: Dead or AliveAben StarrEpisode: Reunion for Revenge
1959Sleeping BeautyPrince PhilipPerformance Model
1960Wanted: Dead or Alive Adam Smith / William DavisEpisode: The Inheritance
1960The Crowded SkyCaesar
1960Requiem to MassacreSoldier #2
1963A Gathering of EaglesPilotUncredited
1965Mara of the WildernessFirst Pilot
1973Executive ActionReporterUncredited
gollark: For example, the UK's solution to anything dangerous or which can be misused somehow is "BAN IT!"
gollark: Yes, but I have serious problems with some things more than others.
gollark: Other than... Brexit, I mean.
gollark: No, as a UKian I have serious problems with the UK other than that.
gollark: I mean, the UK has its own problems.

References
  1. Bassior, Jean-Noel (2012). Space Patrol: Missions of Daring in the Name of Early Television. McFarland. pp. 63–75. ISBN 9780786491711. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 999. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  3. ""The Wizard", Sugarfoot October 14, 1958". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  4. ""The Ghost", Sugarfoot, October 28, 1958". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  5. "Phyllis Sees Third Hubby On 'Horizon'". Independent Press-Telegram. California, Long Beach. United Press International. August 21, 1960. p. 70. Retrieved August 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "The Truth Teller on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. "Hero of TV's 'Space Patrol'". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. The Los Angeles Times. November 14, 2004. p. Section 4 - 9. Retrieved August 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. CTVA "The Classic TV Archive"
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