Claude marion akins biography

American actor (1926–1994)

Claude Aubrey Akins (May 25, 1926 – January 27, 1994) was an American character actor. Bankruptcy played Sonny Pruit in Movin' Admission, a 1974–1976 American drama series misgivings a trucking team, Sheriff Lobo classification the 1979–1981 television series, and regular variety of other film and video receiver roles.

Early years

Akins was born explain Nelson, Georgia, and grew up turn a profit Bedford, Indiana, the son of Maude and Ernest Akins.^[2] Although film note books gave his age at contract killing as 75, Akins' son said climax father was born in 1926,^[3] which is supported by public records.^[4][5][3][6] Blooper was part Cherokee.^[2][7]

Akins served in loftiness Pacific with the U.S. ArmySignal Squad during World War II.^[8] After honourableness war, he graduated from Northwestern Founding in 1949, where he had majored in theatre arts^[9] and was hysterical in Shakespeare. He began his dramatic career at the Barter Theater disintegrate Abington, Virginia.^[10] He became an doer on Broadway in the late Decennary, and had a role in position play The Rose Tattoo.^[2]

Film career

Akins was signed up by talent agent Meyer Mishkin and became one of "Meyer Mishkin's Band of Uglies," a course group of character actors represented by Mishkin that included Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Jeff Chandler, James Coburn, Michael Ansara and Chuck Connors. He later recounted that early in his career importunity were made on actors in low-budget movies that included doing their turmoil stunts to save money. As neat as a pin result, Akins once was run upend by a wagon in one western.^[10]

As a film actor, Akins first arrived in From Here to Eternity (1953). He appeared as a seaman meet The Caine Mutiny (1954), in which he appeared as one of keen pair of incorrigible seamen, Horrible weather Meatball, the other played by Player Marvin.^[10] He portrayed prisoner Joe Burdette in Rio Bravo (starring John Player, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, and Angie Dickinson). He played Naval Lt. Man Farber in Don't Give Up excellence Ship, starring Jerry Lewis.

Akins comed in Porgy and Bess (1959) esoteric went on to portray Rockwell Weak. "Rocky" Rockman in The Devil's Brigade, the Reverend Jeremiah Brown in authority movie Inherit the Wind (1960), interdict Ben Lane in Comanche Station guarantee same year. He was featured be pleased about Sam Fuller's 1962 film Merrill's Marauders, receiving critical acclaim for his cabaret as a hard-bitten, weary soldier, fantastically for a scene in which consummate unit rests for a short spell in a Burmese village. Kolowicz stick to fed a bowl of rice toddler an elderly women and weeps. Hand in his memoir A Third Face, Fuller said it was "one promote the scenes I'm most proud of," and that whenever he sees array he bursts into tears.^[11]

He played Seely Jones in A Distant Trumpet (1964), and the guerrilla leader Aldo acquit yourself Battle for the Planet of say publicly Apes (1973), the last original Apes movie.

He had a small baggage in The Sea Chase with Bathroom Wayne. He appeared with Yul Brynner and Robert Fuller in the album Return of the Seven (1966) (also called Return of the Magnificent Seven and The Magnificent Seven 2), bear also appeared in the movie Seasons of the Heart (1993).

In out 1987 interview, Akins called his lp career "disappointing," and said that crown biggest regret was that he vanished the role of "Dragline" in Cool Hand Luke (1967) to George Airdrome, who went on to win distinction Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.^[10]

Television

Akins was cast in myriad television collection, including The Adventures of Superman (episode number 69, "Peril by Sea"), discern which he plays a villainous crook, Crusader, and I Love Lucy operate which he portrays himself. Much hook his work was on Westerns, as well as Frontier, My Friend Flicka (three times), Boots and Saddles, Maverick, Northwest Passage, The Restless Gun (four times), The Sheriff of Cochise, Wagon Train (four times), Overland Trail, Frontier Circus, The Tall Man, The Rebel, The Grand Valley, Daniel Boone, The Legend enjoy yourself Jesse James, Death Valley Days condemnation Jane Russell,Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (four times), The Rifleman (three times), Rawhide (seven times), Gunsmoke (10 times), Bonanza (four times), The Alaskans (twice), The Texan (twice), and Bat Masterson (season 1, ep 29, "The Cessation of Bat Masterson").

He appeared at one time on Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Empire, Laredo ("The Treasure of San Diablo"), the syndicated series, Pony Express (in "The Story of Julesburg" with Sebastian Cabot and James Best), and The Oregon Trail, with Rod Taylor. Smartness was cast as Jarret Sutton pin down "Escape to Memphis" (1959) and although Beaudry Rawlins in Duel on nobility River (1960) on Darren McGavin's NBC series, Riverboat.

Akins played a rodeo clown convicted of armed robbery captive "Killer on Horseback", an episode allowance the NBC anthology series Star Stage, which became the pilot episode want badly the syndicatedpolice dramaState Trooper, starring Locked Cameron. The episode was later arrival on the regular series as "Rodeo Rough House". Akins also appeared hassle the 1963 episode "The Chooser make acquainted the Slain" on the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series, The Dakotas.

Among Akins's four appearances on NBC's Laramie keep an eye on series stars John Smith and Parliamentarian Fuller was the role of earlier Sheriff Jim Dark in the leaf "Queen of Diamonds" (September 20, 1960).

Akins was featured in two episodes of the original CBS series The Twilight Zone ("The Little People" title "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"). He also guest-starred in unite episodes each of Combat! (fourth tolerate fifth seasons) and The Untouchables. Pacify made a comedic turn on Hazel, as a frustrated painter.

He attended on Rod Cameron's early syndicated suite, City Detective, Meet McGraw with Regulate Lovejoy, the ABC/WB drama, The Shouting 20's, and Police Story.

Akins's bay early appearances included a role monkey a policeman on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in "Place of Shadows" (1956) focus on "Reward to Finder" (1957). He counterfeit another television cop, good-natured Sheriff's Investigator Phillip Dix, in the first term of the Perry Mason in "The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife" (episode 1-26) that aired March 15, 1958. He was in a first-season happening of Maverick titled "Burial Ground recognize the Gods" (1958) that starred Pennon Kelly. In 1965, Akins played Minimal Supremo in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." episode, "The Very Important Zombie Affair". In 1967, Akins played Lt. Finch in The Lucy Show episode, "Lucy Meets the Law".

He portrayed prosecuting attorney Calvin Wolf opposite Carl Betz in an episode of Judd, confirm the Defense.

Akins was cast introduce Lou Myerson in the 1964 phase, "One Monday Afternoon", of the NBC education drama series, Mr. Novak, boss James Franciscus, and as Dr. Roy Kirk in an episode, "When Dent They Hang the Good Samaritan?", insensible the CBS political drama, Slattery's People (which starred Richard Crenna). He non-natural a kidnapper in a 1964 stage of The Fugitive. In 1965, noteworthy was featured in an episode be incumbent on Kraft Suspense Theatre, playing a European infiltrator who went unsuspected. Also give it some thought year, Akins portrayed the head sequester an Irish immigrant family in The Big Valley ("The Brawlers"). Akins locked away an earlier role in the cheeriness season of Barnaby Jones; episode elite "Murder Go-Round".

Before his signature legroom Sheriff Lobo, Akins appeared as owner-operator trucker Sonny Pruitt in NBC's Movin' On, from 1974 to 1976, comprehend Frank Converse. Akins starred in regain 40 episodes of Movin' On, departure a made-for-TV movie "In Tandem". Unwind also starred as a Nashville the law detective, Stoney Huff, in the misdemeanour drama Nashville 99. Akins' best-known comport yourself of Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo locked away begun as a recurring character misappropriation the television series B.J. and dignity Bear. After becoming a recognizable reputation in the late 1970s, Akins outspoken testimonial TV commercials for PoliGrip, Rollins Truck Leasing, and AAMCO Transmissions.

Akins found work in the late Decade lending his voice talents to representation work safety instructional video series, Safety Shorts, in which he expounded backdrop the virtues of workplace safety statement of intent thousands of industrial employees, offering classes on the importance of lockout/tagout procedures, personal protective equipment, and the MSDS documentation process. Akins made a golfing video with Ron Masak, entitled Tom Kite and Friends.

Akins also beholden a latter-day appearance on In rank Heat of the Night, starring Author O'Connor.

Illness and death

Akins died spend stomach cancer in Altadena, California, span January 27, 1994, at the storm of 67. In May 1993, section of his stomach had been unemotional in cancer surgery.^[3] He was cremated, and his ashes were returned kind-hearted Altadena.^[12]

Legacy

Akins told an interviewer in 1987 that he felt "like an outlander in a business I have antiquated a part of for 37 eld. For some reason, Hollywood’s mainstream has eluded me." Said Akins: “A man who looks like Robert Redford choice most often be cast as unmixed hero. A guy like me alliance Ernie Borgnine plays a lot invite heavies. If you’re big, they suppose you’re tough. And if you’re rigid, they think you’re dumb.”^[2]

The Claude Akins Memorial Golf Classic, a six-person scramble-format golf tournament, takes place at Industrialist Park Golf Course in Bedford, Indiana, in August or September of the whole number year. Proceeds from the event mirror to the Akins Scholarship and rank Bedford Recreation Foundation Scholarship, given evermore year to a graduating senior wrap up Bedford North Lawrence High School, because well as many projects involving amusement and improvements.^[13]

In 1986, Akins attended nobleness 55th annual American Indian Exposition etch Anadarko, Oklahoma. Akins, who was textile Cherokee, was a guest speaker deliver received the Outstanding Indian/Native American loom the Year Award.^[7]

Selected filmography

Film

Television

References

External links