Herbert Anderson
Herbert Anderson (March 30, 1917 – June 11, 1994) was an American character actor from Oakland, California, probably best remembered for his role as Henry Mitchell, the father, on the CBS television sitcom Dennis the Menace,[1] which was based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name.[2] [3]
Herbert Anderson | |
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Born | Herbert Anderson March 30, 1917 |
Died | June 11, 1994 77) | (aged
Other names | Guy Anderson Herb Anderson |
Spouse(s) | Mary Virginia Palmer |
Children | 2 |
Background
Anderson attended Oakland High School and later the University of California, Berkeley.
He was the son of Herbert Julius Anderson (1889-1940) and Gertrude M. (Nelson) Anderson (1894-1929). His father, the son of Norwegian immigrants, served as Oakland City Treasurer during the 1920s.
Career
After a few minor roles in films for Warner Bros., Anderson got his big break in the 1941 picture Navy Blues, starring Martha Raye and Ann Sheridan, followed by The Body Disappears and The Male Animal in which he co-starred with Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland. His other films include the 1949 World War II film Battleground, Give My Regards to Broadway, Excuse My Dust, Island in the Sky, The Benny Goodman Story, Kelly and Me, Joe Butterfly, My Man Godfrey (1957), I Bury the Living, Sunrise at Campobello, Hold On! and Rascal. Anderson also acted extensively in Broadway shows, including the role of Dr. Bird in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. He was also in the film version of The Caine Mutiny, with Humphrey Bogart; he was the only actor to appear in both the Broadway play and film. [4] [5]
In addition to his role on Dennis the Menace, Anderson is also known for many lead and guest-starring roles on television, including: Crossroads, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Real McCoys, Perry Mason, The David Niven Show, Mr. Adams and Eve, Sea Hunt, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, My Three Sons, The Bing Crosby Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Smothers Brothers Show, The Cara Williams Show, Petticoat Junction, Bewitched, Daniel Boone, Family Affair, Adam-12, Green Acres, Batman , Dragnet, The Brady Bunch, The Name of the Game, The Governor and J.J., Ironside, Gunsmoke, Nanny and the Professor, The Jimmy Stewart Show, The Smith Family, The Rookies, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Waltons. [6]
Anderson retired from acting in 1982 after undergoing heart surgery. He died of complications from a stroke on June 11, 1994, in Palm Springs, California. [7]
Partial filmography
- The Fighting 69th (1940) - Pvt. Casey (uncredited)
- Calling Philo Vance (1940) - First Reporter (uncredited)
- Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) - Medical Assistant (uncredited)
- 'Til We Meet Again (1940) - (uncredited)
- Tear Gas Squad (1940) - Pliny Jones
- The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940) - Hotel Clerk #2 (uncredited)
- The Sea Hawk (1940) - Eph Winters (uncredited)
- Service with the Colors (1940, Short) - Hiram Briggs
- No Time for Comedy (1940) - Actor in Show (uncredited)
- Four Mothers (1941) - Reporter (uncredited)
- Honeymoon for Three (1941) - Floyd T. Ingram (Credits) / Floyd Y. Ingram
- The Strawberry Blonde (1941) - Girl-Chaser in Park (uncredited)
- Knockout (1941) - Reporter (uncredited)
- The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941) - 3rd Reporter
- Three Sons o' Guns (1941) - Michael (scenes deleted)
- Highway West (1941) - Worker (uncredited)
- Dive Bomber (1941) - Chubby
- Navy Blues (1941) - Homer Matthews
- The Body Disappears (1941) - George Appleby
- The Male Animal (1942) - Michael Barnes
- This Is the Army (1943) - Danny Davidson
- That Way with Women (1947) - Melvyn Pfeiffer
- Love and Learn (1947) - Pete
- My Wild Irish Rose (1947) - Reporter (uncredited)
- You Were Meant for Me (1948) - Eddie
- Give My Regards to Broadway (1948) - Frank Doty
- The Set-Up (1949) - Husband (uncredited)
- Battleground (1949) - Hansan
- The Yellow Cab Man (1950) - Willis Tomlin
- The Lawless (1950) - Jonas Creel
- The Skipper Surprised His Wife (1950) - Lt. Comdr. Kingslee (uncredited)
- The Magnificent Yankee (1950) - Baxter, Secretary
- The Prowler (1951) - Reporter (uncredited)
- Excuse My Dust (1951) - Ben Parrott
- Finders Keepers (1952) - Hotel Clerk
- The Girl in White (1952) - Dr. Barclay
- Island in the Sky (1953) - Breezy
- The Caine Mutiny (1954) - Ens. Rabbit (uncredited)
- The Benny Goodman Story (1956) - John Hammond Jr.
- Four Girls in Town (1957) - Ted Larabee
- Spring Reunion (1957) - Edward
- Kelly and Me (1957) - Ben Collins
- Joe Butterfly (1957) - Major Ferguson
- Night Passage (1957) - Will Renner
- My Man Godfrey (1957) - Hubert
- Official Detective (1958, Episode: "Muggers") - Mr. Melton
- I Bury the Living (1958) - Jess Jessup
- Sunrise at Campobello (1960) - Daly
- Gunsmoke (1964, Episode: "Trip West") - Elwood
- Hold On! (1966) - Ed Lindquist
- Rascal (1969) - Mr. Pringle
References
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 297. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
- "Herbert Anderson, A TV Actor, 77". New York Times. June 14, 1994. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- "Herbert Anderson". Dennis the Menace (1960) Television's New Frontier: The 1960s. December 9, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- "Herbert Anderson; Biography". Fandango. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- "Herbert Anderson". Soylent Communications. 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- "Herbert Anderson". Bit Part Blogger. November 8, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- "H. Anderson; Father in 'Dennis the Menace'". Los Angeles Times. June 12, 1994. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
Bibliography
- Halliwell, Leslie (1965). The Filmgoer's Companion / with a Foreword by Alfred Hitchcock. Hill and Wang.