Lyle Bettger

Lyle Stathem Bettger (February 13, 1915 – September 24, 2003) was an American character actor who had roles in Hollywood films and television from the 1950s onward, often portraying villains. One such role was the wrathfully jealous elephant handler Klaus from the Oscar-winning film The Greatest Show on Earth.

Early life and education Bettger was born in Philadelphia, the son of Frank Bettger, an infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1910 (as Frank Betcher), successful insurance salesman and best-selling self-help author, and Mertie Stathem Bettger. He graduated from the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania and from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Stage Bettger's theatrical debut was in Brother Rat at the Biltmore Theatre in New York City in 1936. His Broadway credits include Dance Night (1938), Summer Night (1939), The Flying Gerardos (1940–1941), The Moon Is Down (1942), All for All (1943), Oh, Brother! (1945), John Loves Mary (1947–1948), and Love Life (1948–1949).

When Paramount sent a talent scout to see him, Bettger was signed to a three-year contract.

Film Bettger's movie career began when he was cast in The Lie in 1949. Movie columnist Frank Neill reported, "On the basis of his performance in the movie, he has been signed to a juicy contract."

Later, Bettger was cast as the villain in the film noir No Man of Her Own (1950). He soon became a regular on the set of Westerns such as Denver and Rio Grande (1952), The Great Sioux Uprising (1953), Forbidden (1953), Drums Across the River (1954), Destry (1955), The Lone Ranger, (1956) and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957).

Bettger developed a reputation for playing the bad guy and excelled in villainous roles such as the menacing Joe Beacom in Union Station (1950) and the cold-blooded Nazi Chief Officer Kirchner in The Sea Chase (1955). One of his later roles was in the 1969 film Impasse as a bigoted World War II veteran.

Radio Programs on which Bettger appeared in old-time radio included Grand Central Station.

Television Bettger made many appearances in dramatic roles on television, starring in the 1957 series The Court of Last Resort as well as guest starring on Hawaii Five-O, Rawhide, The Tall Man, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke (as Polk, a murdering robber in 1962's S9E22 - "The Kite"), Bonanza, Combat!, Blue Light, The Time Tunnel, Death Valley Days, Laramie, and Tales of Wells Fargo (as John Wesley Hardin). He is cast on the right side of the law as U.S. Marshall John Welker and hunts down the bank robber that killed his wife in the 1959 episode, "The Law and the Gun" of Zane Grey Theater. This episode also features Michael Ansara, Paul Carr and Don Diamond(as Henry Seidel, the wife killer)

Personal life Bettger was married to Mary Gertrude Rolfe from 1941 until her death in 1996. They had three children: Lyle Jr., Frank, and Paula. She was an actress who played Henry Aldrich's sister in The Aldrich Family on radio. Bettger and his family moved to Hawaii in the late 1960s.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1950 No Man of Her Own Stephen 'Steve' Morley 1950 Union Station Joe Beacom 1951 The First Legion Dr. Peter Morrell 1951 Dear Brat Mr.Baxter 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth Klaus 1952 Denver and Rio Grande Johnny Buff 1952 Hurricane Smith Clobb 1953 The Vanquished Roger Hale 1953 The Great Sioux Uprising Stephen Cook 1953 All I Desire Dutch Heinemann 1953 Forbidden Justin Keit 1954 Carnival Story Frank Colloni 1954 Drums Across the River Frank Walker 1954 Destry Decker 1955 The Sea Chase Chief Officer Kirchner 1956 The Lone Ranger Reece Kilgore 1956 Showdown at Abilene Dave Mosely 1957 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Ike Clanton 1957-1961 Tales of Wells Fargo John Wesley Hardin 2 episodes1959 "The Rifleman" Jay Jefferson Episode: The Wrong Man–1960 Guns of the Timberland Clay Bell 1962 Bonanza Lem Partridge Episode: "The Guilty"1962 The Rifleman Holt Coyle Episode: Skull1964 Combat! Captain Brauer Episode: A Rare Vintage1965 Town Tamer Lee Ring / Marshal Les Parker 1966 Johnny Reno Mayor Jess Yates 1966 Nevada Smith Jack Rudabough 1966 Bonanza Jed Ferguson Episode: "Something Hurt, Something Wild" S8 E11967 Return of the Gunfighter Clay Sutton 1967 The Fastest Guitar Alive Charlie 1969 Impasse Hansen 1969 Hawaii Five-O Joe Fletcher Episode: "All the King's Horses"1970 The Hawaiians Janders 1971 The Seven Minutes Frank Griffith 1973 Hawaii Five-O Klepper Episode: "The Sunday Torch"1975 Hawaii Five-O Admiral Dean Episode: "Murder: Eyes Only"1976 Hawaii Five-O Karl Norton Episode: "Let Death Do Us Part"1977 Hawaii Five-O Dr. Dimitri Sartain Episode: "Tsunami"1977 Hawaii Five-O Jonathan Kaye Episode: "The Silk Trap"1977 Hawaii Five-O Jonathan Kaye Episode: "Head to Head"1978 Hawaii Five-O Malcolm Rhodes Episode: "Invitation to Murder"1978 Hawaii Five-O Jonathan Kaye Episode: "A Stranger in His Grave"