One of the movies' most memorable tough guys, Simon Oakland actually began his career as a concert violinist, turning to acting in the late 1940s. After a long string of roles in Broadway hits, including "Light Up the Sky," "The Shrike" and "Inherit the Wind," Oakland made his film debut as the tough but compassionate journalist who speaks up for ...
He was often confused with Claude Akins, whom he resembled.
3
Maintained dual residences in both New York and Hollywood so that he could maintain his career in both theater and movies.
4
A frequent traveler by air between New York and California.
5
He went on to play a long series of tough guy types, usually on the right side of the law (or in positions of authority), most notably in Psycho (1960), West Side Story (1961) and as Antonio Vincenzo (Kolchak's boss) in the sci-fi TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974). A gifted actor, he often accepted roles that were inferior to his acting ability and often played on type rather than talent. He was highly respected by his co-workers as an actor; he died of cancer, one day after his 68th birthday.
6
He made his film debut as the "tough, but compassionate" journalist who speaks up for Susan Hayward's "Barbara Graham" in I Want to Live! (1958). He would wind up playing this type often over the course of his career.
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Through his career, he performed on Broadway.
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Until the 1940s, he was a concert violinist.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Tony Rome
1967
Rudy Kosterman
Tarzan
1967
TV Series
Judson Burnett / Thompson
Dundee and the Culhane
1967
TV Series
Kneeland
Chubasco
1967
Laurindo
Captain Nice
1967
TV Series
Harry Houseman
Mission: Impossible
1967
TV Series
Jack Wellman
The Sand Pebbles
1966
Stawski
The Plainsman
1966
Chief Black Kettle
The Virginian
1965
TV Series
Charles Sanders / Bob Coulter
Combat!
1963-1965
TV Series
Sgt. Tom Akers / Pvt. Clawson
Gunsmoke
1956-1965
TV Series
Carl Mandee / Miguel / Jim Nation / ...
Get Smart
1965
TV Series
Cowboy
The Trials of O'Brien
1965
TV Series
Harry
Rawhide
1963-1965
TV Series
Sheriff Blaine / Bolivar Jagger
The Satan Bug
1965
Tasserly
Profiles in Courage
1965
TV Series
Perry Fuller / Captain Bogart
The Rogues
1965
TV Series
Absalom MacBride
Who Has Seen the Wind?
1965
TV Movie
Inspector
Slattery's People
1965
TV Series
Murray Keller
The Doctors and the Nurses
1962-1965
TV Series
Charley / Hal Weatherwax / Patrolman Braden
The Defenders
1961-1965
TV Series
District Attorney / Assistant District Attorney Murphy / District Attorney Gardella
The Reporter
1964
TV Series
Det. Lt. Gene Gordon
Mr. Broadway
1964
TV Series
Shaw
Directions
1964
TV Series
Mr. Verdin
Ready for the People
1964
TV Movie
Murray Brock
Mr. Novak
1964
TV Series
Carl Green
The Outer Limits
1964
TV Series
Empyrian
77 Sunset Strip
1963
TV Series
Antonio Malfi
East Side/West Side
1963
TV Series
Harry Bernstein
The Raiders
1963
Sgt. Austin Tremaine
The Bill Dana Show
1963
TV Series
Hotel Guest Brown
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
TV Series
Maj. Stern
My Favorite Martian
1963
TV Series
Lt. Murphy
Wall of Noise
1963
Johnny Papadakis
The Untouchables
1962-1963
TV Series
Russ Bogan / Pete 'The Persuader' Kalmisky / Joe Palakopolous aka Mr. Pal
Stoney Burke
1963
TV Series
Sam Hagen
The Twilight Zone
1961-1963
TV Series
Captain Beecham / De Cruz
Wagon Train
1960-1962
TV Series
Alonzo Galezio / Col. Vasily
Saints and Sinners
1962
TV Series
Alberto Bianco
The United States Steel Hour
1961-1962
TV Series
Golikov
Car 54, Where Are You?
1962
TV Series
Secret Service Agent Cordner
Purex Summer Specials
1962
TV Series
Barney
Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man
1962
Joe Boulton
Ben Casey
1962
TV Series
Jake
Third of a Man
1962
Doon
Follow That Dream
1962
Nick
Cain's Hundred
1962
TV Series
Walter Hayes
Adventures in Paradise
1959-1962
TV Series
McGraw / Red Mulligan / John Briggs / ...
Tales of Wells Fargo
1962
TV Series
Poderio
Bus Stop
1962
TV Series
Sgt. Brokaw
Route 66
1962
TV Series
Ben Newcombe
Follow the Sun
1961
TV Series
Franklyn Davis
The New Breed
1961
TV Series
Felix Pascal
West Side Story
1961
Schrank
Perry Mason
1960-1961
TV Series
Capt. Mike Caldwell / Howard Walters
Checkmate
1961
TV Series
Lewis Bates
The Law and Mr. Jones
1961
TV Series
Marek
Outlaws
1961
TV Series
Neil Gwinner
General Electric Theater
1961
TV Series
Director
Murder, Inc.
1960
Det. Sgt. William Tobin
Armstrong Circle Theatre
1957-1960
TV Series
Herbert Holland
Psycho
1960
Dr. Fred Richman
Who Was That Lady?
1960
Belka
Zane Grey Theater
1959-1960
TV Series
Jesse Harp / Corporal Townsend
Laramie
1960
TV Series
Vernon Kane
Bronco
1960
TV Series
Sergeant Ross
The Detectives
1960
TV Series
Nick Stahl
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond
1960
Lt. Moody
Captain David Grief
1960
TV Series
Esteban
Unsolved
1960
TV Movie
Martin 'Mugsy' Heidel
Men Into Space
1959
TV Series
Dr. Horton
The Alaskans
1959
TV Series
Doc Booker
Tightrope
1959
TV Series
Bill Mitchell
Brenner
1959
TV Series
Mike Dover
Naked City
1959
TV Series
Duke
Black Saddle
1959
TV Series
Grat Mowery
The Ten Commandments
1959
TV Movie
The Third Man
1959
TV Series
Demos Recuite
Deadline
1959
TV Series
Lyons
I Want to Live!
1958
Edward S. 'Ed' Montgomery
Kraft Theatre
1956-1958
TV Series
Hank / Parole Officer
The Silent Service
1958
TV Series
Kossler
Have Gun - Will Travel
1958
TV Series
Sancho Fernandez
The Brothers Karamazov
1958
Mavrayek
The Thin Man
1958
TV Series
Ernie - Barber
The O. Henry Playhouse
1957
TV Series
Producers' Showcase
1957
TV Series
General Javorsky
Decoy
1957
TV Series
Sgt. Steve Necclo / Lieutenant
The Sheriff of Cochise
1956
TV Series
Charlie Moon
Goodyear Playhouse
1956
TV Series
Ward
The Alcoa Hour
1956
TV Series
Bert
I Spy
1955
TV Series
Yon Richter
The Desperate Hours
1955
State trooper (uncredited)
You Are There
1955
TV Series
Craterus
Big Town
1951
TV Series
Tucker's Witch
1983
TV Series
Daniel Gorman
Quincy M.E.
1978-1982
TV Series
U.S. Sen. Reeves / Keith Zagner / Chick Thomas / ...