Norman Leavitt
Norman Leavitt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Leavitt in an episode of One Step Beyond (1960) | |
| Born | Norman Turner Leavitt December 1, 1913 Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 2005 (aged 92) Solvang, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Film and television actor |
| Years active | 1935–1978 |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Anna Haldin (m. 19??; died 1992)[1] |
| Children | Norman T. Leavitt |
Norman Turner Leavitt (December 1, 1913 – December 11, 2005) was an American film and television actor. He was best known for playing the recurring role of dimwitted jail handyman Ralph in the American western television series Trackdown.
Life and career
Leavitt was born in Lansing, Michigan.[2][3] He began his stage career in 1935, appearing as a wedding guest in the Broadway play How Beautiful With Shoes.[4] He then began his screen career in 1946, appearing in the film The Harvey Girls.[5] During his screen career, he mainly appeared in films in uncredited and supporting roles.[6]
Later in his career, Leavitt appeared in numerous films such as It's a Dog's Life, The Long, Long Trailer, Stars and Stripes Forever, Somebody Loves Me, The Merry Widow, Hannah Lee: An American Primitive, O. Henry's Full House, California Passage, Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell, Harvey, The Killer That Stalked New York, Wabash Avenue, The Inspector General, A Woman of Distinction, Off Limits, The Luck of the Irish, Showdown at Boot Hill, God Is My Partner, Valerie, The Way to the Gold, The Shadow on the Window, The Ten Commandments, Fury at Gunsight Pass, Ride, Vaquero!, Living It Up, The Kentuckian and When Gangland Strikes,[2][3][6][7] Combat Squad,[8] The Rookie, and Teenage Monster.[9]
Leavitt made his television debut in 1952, appearing in the syndicated western television series The Adventures of Kit Carson. From 1958 to 1960, he played the recurring role of the dimwitted jail handyman Ralph in the western television series Trackdown.[10] He guest-starred in numerous television programs and fewer films. His television credits included Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Mayberry, R.F.D., Perry Mason, The Fugitive, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Bonanza, Lost in Space, The Wild Wild West, The Jack Benny Program, Mister Ed, Death Valley Days, The Rifleman, Leave It to Beaver, Peter Gunn, The Addams Family, Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Millionaire, The Guns of Will Sonnett and Ironside.[2][3][6][7] He also appeared in the CBS sitcom television series The Andy Griffith Show, playing a number of different roles.[7]
Leavitt retired from acting in 1978, last appearing in the television series Quincy, M.E..[2]
Death
Leavitt died on December 11, 2005 of dehydration and dementia at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Solvang, California, at the age of 92.[2][11][12] His body was cremated.[11]
References
- ↑ "California Death Index, 1940—1997", digital database, death of Margaret Anna (née Haldin) Leavitt in Merced, California, June 17, 1992; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento; record via FamilySearch archives, Salt Lake City, Utah. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Lentz, Harris (May 4, 2006). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005. McFarland. pp. 220–221. ISBN 9780786424894 – via Google Books.
- 1 2 3 "Norman Leavitt". TV Guide. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ↑ "Norman Leavitt". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ↑ Vogel, Michelle (June 8, 2015). Marjorie Main: The Life and Films of Hollywood's "Ma Kettle". McFarland. p. 166. ISBN 9781476604268 – via Google Books.
- 1 2 3 "Norman Leavitt Filmography". Fandango. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 3 Robinson, Fernandes, Dale, David (2012). The Definitive Andy Griffith Show Reference: Episode-by-Episode, with Cast and Production Biographies and a Guide to Collectibles. McFarland. p. 31. ISBN 978-1476601878 – via Google Books.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Lentz, Robert (May 2016). Korean War Filmography: 91 English Language Features through 2000. McFarland. pp. 86–88. ISBN 978-1476621548 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Craig, Rob (September 25, 2013). It Came from 1957: A Critical Guide to the Year's Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. McFarland. p. 197. ISBN 9780786477777 – via Google Books.
- ↑ Mayers, Boyd. "Do You Remember... "Trackdown"". westernclippings.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 Willson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d Ed. McFarland. p. 431. ISBN 9781476625997 – via Google Books.
- ↑ The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, 2005. Carroll & Graf. 2006. p. 537. ISBN 9780786718337 – via Google Books.
External links
- Norman Leavitt at IMDb
- Norman Leavitt at the Internet Broadway Database
- Norman Leavitt at the TCM Movie Database (archived)
- Norman Leavitt at Rotten Tomatoes