Harve Presnell (September 14, 1933 – June 30, 2009) was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid-1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States. His career reoriented away from classical music to musical theatre in 1960 after Meredith Willson cast him in the lead role of his new Broadway musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown. His portrayal of "Leadville Johnny" was a resounding success and he reprised the role in the 1964 film version of the musical, winning a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal.Presnell went on to star in a few more films during the 1960s, but by the early 1970s that aspect of his career came to a standstill. From 1970 to 1995 he mostly worked as a musical theatre performer on Broadway, the West End, and in touring productions out of New York. In his early 60s, Presnell saw a resurgence in his movie career which lasted until his death. He played character roles in films like Fargo (1996), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Flags of Our Fathers (2006). He also appeared on television as Mr. Parker in The Pretender and Lew Staziak in Andy Barker, P.I.. He had recurring roles on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Dawson's Creek.
Took a 20-year hiatus from movie appearances between 1976 and 1996, focusing more on theater roles and rare TV appearances, returning with great effect in Fargo (1996) which made him a more regular presence in motion pictures.
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One of Mr. Presnell's first recordings was with his church choir at Hollywood Presbyterian (RCA Victor LPM 1258). On their album he soloed on The Lord's Prayer and was part of the quartet featured on Come Thou Almighty King.
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Played Brigham Young in the musical "Brigham!", written for the 100th anniversary of the founding of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
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An avid pilot since childhood, he had already learned how to fly a plane by age 10.
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In later years he maintained a ranch in Livingston, Montana, and flew to Hollywood when he had TV or film work.
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He was nominated for a 1992 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Musical for "Annie Warbucks" at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
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He is the outstanding baritone soloist in the spirited 1960 Columbia recording of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, with Eugene Ormandy conducting the Rutgers University Choirs and the Philadephia Orchestra. The recording, still available, was reissued on CD in 1990 by Sony.
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Presnell has had very two distinct portions to his career: that of a smooth, silky-voiced and handsome actor cast as the romantic lead in musicals; and that of a balding, gravelly-voiced older man who frequently plays cruel men of power due to his towering, imposing presence.
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Presnell was once a soloist with the Roger Wagner Chorale. He soloed on the Christmas classic "O Holy Night" in their 1956 "Joy To The World" LP. This was one of Capitol Records earliest stereo efforts. In addition, he sang with Marilyn Horne in "He's Gone Away" and also soloed on "O, Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie," both of which can be found on the RWC album "Folk Songs Of The New World."
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Singer-actor, originally from the legitimate stage, best known for playing the male lead in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" on both Broadway and film and playing the role of "Daddy Warbucks" in "Annie" almost a thousand times on Broadway and on tour.
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Born at 2:10am-PDT
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
George & Leo
1998
TV Series
The Guardian
1997
TV Movie
Clovis McConnell
Players
1997
TV Series
Roy Erickson
Julian Po
1997
Mayor Henry Leech
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man
1997
TV Series
Sir Declan McManus
Face/Off
1997
Victor Lazarro
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1995-1997
TV Series
Dr. Sam Lane
Tidal Wave: No Escape
1997
TV Movie
Stanley Schiff
Grace Under Fire
1997
TV Series
Jack
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
1996
TV Series
Doug / NRC Man #2
Star Trek: Voyager
1996
TV Series
Colonel Q
EZ Streets
1996
TV Series
Jack deLanae
Nash Bridges
1996
TV Series
Corick McMillan
The Chamber
1996
Atty. Gen. Roxburgh
Larger Than Life
1996
Trowbridge Bowers
Fargo
1996
Wade Gustafson
The Whole Wide World
1996
Dr. Howard
The Client
1995
TV Series
Buddy Hutchinson
Ryan's Hope
1984
TV Series
Matthew Crane
Blood Bath
1976
Peter Brown
The Great Man's Whiskers
1972
TV Movie
Ballad Singer
Paint Your Wagon
1969
Rotten Luck Willie
The Red Skelton Hour
1965
TV Series
Lawyer Harkness
When the Boys Meet the Girls
1965
Danny Churchill
The Glory Guys
1965
Sol Rogers
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
1964
'Leadville' Johnny J. Brown
General Electric Theater
1956
TV Series
Dismas
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1956
TV Series
Mitch
Love Ranch
2010
Dr. Smathers
Glenn Martin DDS
2010
TV Series
American Dad!
2007-2009
TV Series
Judge / Frank, the Judge
Cold Case
2009
TV Series
Harry Kemp Jr. '09
Bait Shop
2008
Video
Jack
Evan Almighty
2007
Congressman Burrows
Andy Barker, P.I.
2007
TV Series
Lew Staziak
Flags of Our Fathers
2006
Dave Severance
ER
2006
TV Series
Mr. Venema
Monk
2005
TV Series
Zach Ellinghouse
Charmed
2004
TV Series
Captain Black Jack Cutting
Legally Blonde
2003
TV Movie
Henry Whitehouse
The Lyon's Den
2003
TV Series
Elliott Beacon
The Practice
2003
TV Series
Judge Dickem
Hope & Faith
2003
TV Series
Jack
Old School
2003
Mr. Springbrook
Frasier
2003
TV Series
Mike Shaw
Strong Medicine
2003
TV Series
Andrew 'Andy' March
Mr. Deeds
2002
Preston Blake
Super Sucker
2002
Winslow Schnaebelt
The Pretender: Island of the Haunted
2001
TV Movie
Mr. Parker
Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot
2001
TV Movie
Joe Kennedy
Dawson's Creek
2000-2001
TV Series
Arthur Brooks
Escanaba in da Moonlight
2001
Albert Soady
The Pretender 2001
2001
TV Movie
Mr. Parker
The Family Man
2000
Big Ed
The Legend of Bagger Vance
2000
John Invergordon
The Pretender
1997-2000
TV Series
Mr. Parker
Walking Across Egypt
1999
Finner
Payne
1999
TV Series
Colonel Forest Brinkman
The Lionhearts
1998
TV Series
Patch Adams
1998
Dean Anderson
The Outer Limits
1998
TV Series
Greg Matheson
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place
1998
TV Series
Edgar J. Hagerty
Saving Private Ryan
1998
General Marshall
Everything That Rises
1998
TV Movie
Garth
A Bright Shining Lie
1998
TV Movie
MACV General
From the Earth to the Moon
1998
TV Mini-Series
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
50 First Dates
2004
performer: "They Call the Wind Mariah"
The Julie Andrews Hour
1973
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Paint Your Wagon
1969
performer: "They Call The Wind Maria", "There's A Coach Comin' In"
When the Boys Meet the Girls
1965
performer: "But Not For Me", "Embraceable You", "I Got Rhythm"
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
1964
performer: "I'LL NEVER SAY NO", "COLORADO MY HOME", "HE'S MY FRIEND" - uncredited