Ed Begley

Edward James Begley Sr. (March 25, 1901 – April 28, 1970) was an American actor of theatre, radio, film, and television. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film Sweet Bird of Youth and appeared in such classics as 12 Angry Men (1957), Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964). He was twice nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, including for his portrayal of Matthew Harrison Brady in a television adaptation of Inherit the Wind, a role which, ten years before, had earned him the Tony Award. Additionally, he was a one-time Golden Globe, two-time Laurel Award, and three-time Grammy Award nominee. He is the father of the actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr.

Early life Begley was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to two Irish immigrants, Hannah (née Clifford) and Michael Joseph Begley. After he dropped out of school as a fifth-grader, Begley ran away from home several times, going to work for "carnivals, fairs, and small circuses". Later he sold brushes, delivered milk, and served four years in the United States Navy during World War I.

Career Begley began his career as a Broadway and radio actor while in his teens. He appeared in the hit musical Going Up on Broadway in 1917 and in London the next year. He later acted in roles as Sgt. O'Hara in the radio show The Fat Man. His radio work included Stroke of Fate and a period as Charlie Chan, among other roles. He also starred in the 1950s radio program Richard Diamond, Private Detective, playing Lieutenant Walter Levinson, head of homicide at the 5th Precinct, Manhattan. He was elected a member of The Lambs in 1943. In the late 1940s, he began appearing regularly in supporting film roles.

In the 1952–1953 television season, Begley co-starred with Eddie Albert in the CBS sitcom Leave It to Larry. In 1954 Begley starred in the NBC Television show Robert Montgomery Presents in "Big Boy", an episode sponsored by Lucky Strike, as Joe Grant, an engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who worked on the famous Union Pacific Big Boy steam locomotives. The show is about how Begley's character copes with the transition from steam locomotives to diesel locomotives in the 1950s.

He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sweet Bird of Youth (1962). Some of his other notable films include Deadline – U.S.A. (1952), 12 Angry Men (1957) as juror #10, Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), and Wild in the Streets (1968). One notable role Begley played both on television (twice in 1955) and in the theatrical film (1956) is William (Bill) Briggs, one of the three primary characters in Rod Serling's Patterns.

In 1956, he appeared in the Broadway production of Inherit the Wind, in the role of Matthew Harrison Brady. For this performance, he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. In 1968 he appeared with Clint Eastwood in the classic Western Hang 'Em High.

His other television work included appearances on the 1954 TV series Justice, Empire, The Virginian, Bonanza, The Fugitive, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Target: The Corruptors, The Invaders, The Wild Wild West, My Three Sons, Wagon Train and Going My Way, with Gene Kelly. Among his many Broadway credits were All My Sons and Our Town.

Personal life Begley married his first wife, Amanda Huff, in 1922; they had two children. Huff died in 1957. His second marriage ended in divorce and his third wife, Helen, survived him. His younger brother, Martin Begley, worked briefly for him as his manager. Both were members of The Lambs in New York.

Death Begley died of a heart attack while attending a party at the home of Jay Bernstein in Hollywood, California, on April 28, 1970. He is buried at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1947 Body and Soul Party leader Uncredited The Web Man Uncredited Boomerang Paul Harris The Roosevelt Story Narrator Documentary 1948 Sitting Pretty Horatio J. Hammond The Street with No Name Chief Bernard Harmatz Deep Waters Josh Hovey Sorry, Wrong Number James Cotterell 1949 Tulsa John J. 'Johnny' Brady as Edward Begley It Happens Every Spring Edgar Stone The Great Gatsby Myron Lupus 1950 Backfire Captain Garcia Stars in My Crown Lon Backett Convicted Mackay, Head of Parole Board Saddle Tramp August Hartnagle Wyoming Mail Prison Warden Haynes Dark City Barney 1951 You're in the Navy Now Port Commander The Lady from Texas Dave Blodgett On Dangerous Ground Captain Brawley 1952 Boots Malone Howard Whitehead Lone Star Senator Anthony Demmet Deadline – U.S.A. Frank Allen The Turning Point Neil Eichelberger 1954 Big Boy Joe Grant 1955 Kraft Television Theatre (TV) Andy Sloane Episode: "Patterns" Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role 1956 Patterns William Briggs 1957 12 Angry Men Juror #10 1959 Odds Against Tomorrow Dave Burke 1961 The Green Helmet Bartell 1962 Sweet Bird of Youth Tom 'Boss' Finley Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated – Laurel Award for Top Male Supporting Performance Naked City Jimmy Fenton Season 4, Episode 9 My Three Sons (TV) Ed Wallace, Carl Storffmann Season 2, Episode 15 & Season 9, Episode 13 1963 Route 66 (TV) Kyle Hawkes Season 3, Episode 21 1964 The Unsinkable Molly Brown Seamus Tobin Nominated – Laurel Award for Top Male Supporting Performance Rawhide (TV) Piney Kinney Season 7, Episode 3 The Virginian (TV) Micah Ellis, Mike Tyrone (2 episodes) Season 2, Episode 15 & Season 4, Episode 19 1965 The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV) Judge Season 4, Episode 21 The Fugitive (TV-1963) Dan Brady Season 2, Episode 27 Inherit the Wind (TV) Matthew Harrison Brady Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Gunsmoke (TV) Jeb Crater Bonanza Dan Tolliver/Clint Watson 2 episodes 1966 The Oscar Grobard The Wild Wild West (TV Series)Season 2, Episode 14 Night of the Infernal Machine The Lucy Show (TV Series) Andrew Bailey Season 5, Episode 3 1967 Warning Shot Captain Roy Klodin The Violent Enemy Colum O'More Billion Dollar Brain General Midwinter Do Not Fold, Staple, Spindle or Mutilate Scotty Duncan 1968 Firecreek Preacher Broyles Wild in the Streets Senator Allbright Hang 'Em High Captain Wilson, Cooper Hanging Party A Time to Sing Kermit Dodd 1969 The Monitors President Secrets of Pirates' Inn Dennis McCarthy TV film1970 The Dunwich Horror Henry Armitage Neither Are We Enemies Annas Hallmark Hall of Fame Easter special Road to Salina Warren Posthumous release (final film role) Corwin (TV series) Stan Holindrake Posthumous release; Season 2, Episode 1

Radio Date Show Episode Role Notes 1944–48 Charlie Chan All Charlie Chan 1946–1951 The Fat Man Various episodes Sgt. O'Hara 1947 Mollé Mystery Theatre "Goodbye, Darling" George Lucas 1947 The Adventures of Philip Marlowe "The Friend From Detroit" 1948 The Whistler "Hired Alibi" with Jack Webb 1949–53 Richard Diamond, Private Detective Various episodes Lt. Levinson 1949 Let George Do It "The Man Under the Elm Tree" Darrell 1949 Our Miss Brooks "Mr. Conklin's Wakeup Call" 1951 Fibber McGee and Molly "Hitchhiking Bureau" Tilford C. Crabfish 1951 Tales of the Texas Rangers "Blind Justice" Unknown "No Living Witnesses" "Paid in Full" "The Blow Off" 1952 Tales of the Texas Rangers "Birds of a Feather" "Prelude to Felony"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref. 1962 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor Sweet Bird of Youth 1962 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture 1958 Grammy Awards Best Performance, Documentary or Spoken Word Great American Speeches 1962 Laurel Awards Top Male Supporting Performance Sweet Bird of Youth 1964 The Unsinkable Molly Brown 1956 Primetime Emmy Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Kraft Television Theatre 1966 Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Inherit the Wind 1956 Tony Awards Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Play Inherit the Wind