Theo Marcuse

Theodore "Theo" Marcuse (August 2, 1920 – November 29, 1967) was an American character actor who appeared frequently on television in the 1950s and 1960s. His sinister, hulking countenance was enhanced by a shaven head that accentuated his elephantine ears.

Life and career

Marcuse was born in Washington, D.C. of Irish-Jewish parentage to a successful fur designer. He grew up in San Francisco and received a master's degree in classical literature from Stanford University. He served with the Navy during World War II and was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation for his heroics while serving as a lieutenant on the famed submarine USS Tirante. Other officers on board included future Massachusetts governor Endicott Peabody and author Edward L. Beach, Jr., who wrote the submarine classic Run Silent, Run Deep.

His love for William Shakespeare's plays led to a desire to act on the stage. He trained under Guthrie McClintic in his theatre company, along with Charlton Heston, and appeared on Broadway with Katharine Cornell, Maurice Evans and others. On television he appeared on many series, including The Outer Limits, The Wild Wild West, Have Gun – Will Travel, Bonanza, Hogan's Heroes, Batman, Star Trek (episode "Catspaw"), The Time Tunnel, I Spy, The Monkees, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone episodes "The Trade-Ins" and "To Serve Man", and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episodes "The Re-collectors Affair," "The Minus-X Affair," and "The Pieces of Fate Affair". His film career included roles in The Two Little Bears (1961), Hitler (1962, as Julius Streicher), A Tiger Walks (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Mara of the Wilderness (1965), Harum Scarum (1965), The Last of the Secret Agents? (1966), The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968) and The Picasso Summer (1969).

Marcuse, who sometimes was credited as Theodore Marcuse, died in a traffic accident in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 47.

External links

• Theo Marcuse at the Internet Movie Database
• Theo Marcuse at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)