Richard Deacon

Richard Lewis Deacon (May 14, 1922 – August 8, 1984) was an American television and motion picture actor, widely known for playing supporting roles in television shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Leave It to Beaver, and The Jack Benny Program, along with minor roles in films such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963).

Career Deacon often portrayed pompous, prissy, and/or imperious figures in film and television. He made appearances on The Jack Benny Program as a salesman and a barber, and on NBC's Happy as a hotel manager. He made a brief appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds (1963). He played a larger role in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) as a physician in the "book-end" sequences added to the beginning and end of the film after its original previews.

In Billy Wilder's 1957 film adaptation of Charles Lindbergh's The Spirit of St. Louis, Deacon portrayed the chairman of the Columbia Aircraft Corporation, Charles A. Levine.

His best-known roles are milksop Mel Cooley (producer of The Alan Brady Show) on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966) and Fred Rutherford on Leave It to Beaver (1957–1963), although Deacon played Mr. Baxter in the 1957 Beaver pilot episode "It's a Small World". He co-starred as Tallulah Bankhead's butler in an episode of The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour called "The Celebrity Next Door". Deacon played Roger Buell on the second season of TV's The Mothers-in-Law (1967–1969), replacing Roger C. Carmel in the role. He played Principal "Jazzbo" Conroy in The Danny Thomas Show (1958). He also appeared in the 1960 Perry Mason episode The Case of the Red Riding Boots as Wilmer Beaslee.

In Carousel (1956), the film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical, Deacon had a bit role as the policeman who admonishes Julie and Mr. Bascombe about Billy Bigelow in the "bench scene". It was one of the few films in which he did not wear glasses, as were his roles in Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), and the 1954 costumer Désirée, where he played Jean Simmons' elder brother, an 18th-century Marseilles silk merchant. Philadelphia native Deacon played the role of Morton Stearnes' butler, George Archibald, whose courtroom testimony is a turning point in The Young Philadelphians (1959), starring Paul Newman. He played an imbibing justice of the peace, Reverend Zaron, in the 1957 Budd Boetticher western Decision at Sundown.

Deacon appeared in some Westerns and many sitcoms, including It's a Great Life, The People's Choice, How to Marry a Millionaire, Guestward, Ho!, Pete and Gladys, The Donna Reed Show, Gunsmoke (he was the original actor to portray town banker, Mr. Botkin), The Real McCoys (in the episode "The Tax Man Cometh", he clashes with series star Walter Brennan over property tax assessments in the San Fernando Valley), Get Smart, Bonanza (a deceitful character who cheats the Cartwrights during their visit to San Francisco in the episode "San Francisco"), and The Rifleman (episode "The Hangman", in an uncredited role). In episode 5 of the first season of The Munsters, "Pike's Pique", he plays water district commissioner Mr. Pike, buying the underground rights to lay pipe. In The Addams Family, he administers Cousin Itt a battery of psychological tests in the episode "Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counselor". In 1966, he appeared on Phyllis Diller's short-lived television sitcom, The Pruitts of Southampton.

Deacon appeared on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1983 as a game show participant / celebrity guest star.

In 1983, Deacon reprised his role of Fred Rutherford in the television movie Still the Beaver, a sequel to the original TV series. When the television movie spawned a series of the same name on The Disney Channel, he was to reprise the role but died weeks before the series began production.

In 1984, Deacon had a cameo role in the teen comedy film Bad Manners.

Personal life Deacon was born in Philadelphia, and his family later moved to Binghamton, New York, living on the west side of that city. He attended West Junior High and Binghamton Central High School, where fellow Binghamton resident Rod Serling was a classmate. After high school, he worked as an orderly at Binghamton General Hospital.

During World War II, Deacon served in the United States Army medical corps. In 1946, upon completion of his service, he returned to Binghamton. He attended Ithaca College, first as a medical student, but later developed an interest in acting.

Deacon was a gourmet chef in addition to working as an actor. In the 1970s and 1980s, he wrote a series of cookbooks and hosted a Canadian television series on microwave oven cooking.

According to academic writers David L. Smith and Sean Griffin, Deacon was gay, and was among "a number of actors and actresses who were closeted homosexuals" working in Hollywood and often employed in Disney films.

Death Deacon died of an apparent heart attack on August 8, 1984, at age 62. His remains were cremated and the ashes scattered at sea.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1953 Invaders from Mars MP Uncredited 1954 Them! Bald Reporter Uncredited Shield for Murder The Professor Uncredited Private Hell 36 Mr. Mace Uncredited Rogue Cop Stacey Uncredited Désirée Etienne Clary Uncredited Cry Vengeance Shiny Sam Uncredited 1955 Prince of Players Theater Manager Uncredited Blackboard Jungle Mr. Stanley Uncredited This Island Earth Pilot Uncredited Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Semu Lay That Rifle Down Glover Speckleton My Sister Eileen Baker's Receptionist Uncredited Good Morning, Miss Dove Mr. Spivvy Uncredited 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers Dr. Harvey Bassett Uncredited Carousel First Policeman Uncredited Hot Blood Mr. Swift Uncredited The Kettles in the Ozarks Big Trout Uncredited When Gangland Strikes Dixon Brackett Uncredited The Scarlet Hour Mr. Elman Uncredited The Proud Ones Barber Uncredited Francis in the Haunted House Jason The Solid Gold Cadillac Williams Uncredited The Power and the Prize Howard Carruthers Spring Reunion Sidney Uncredited 1957 Affair in Reno H.L. Denham The Spirit of St. Louis Charles Levine Uncredited Designing Woman Larry Musso Uncredited My Man Godfrey Farnsworth Decision at Sundown Rev. Zaron Kiss Them for Me Bill Hotchkiss Uncredited 1958 The High Cost of Loving Obstetrician Uncredited A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed Milburn Schroeder The Last Hurrah Graves Uncredited 1959 The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker Sheriff The Young Philadelphians George Archibald It Started with a Kiss Capt. Porter Uncredited The Man Who Understood Women Rossi Uncredited A Summer Place Pawnbroker Uncredited -30- Chapman 1960 North to Alaska Angus Uncredited 1961 All in a Night's Work Fur Salesman Uncredited Everything's Ducky Dr. Deckham Lover Come Back Dr. Melnick Uncredited 1962 That Touch of Mink Mr. Miller Uncredited 1963 Critic's Choice Harvey Rittenhouse The Birds Mitch's Neighbor Who's Minding the Store? Tie Salesman The Raiders Commissioner Mailer 1964 The Patsy Sy Devore 1965 John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! Sec. of Defense Charles Maginot Billie Principal Wilson That Darn Cat! Drive-in Manager 1966 Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title Mr. Travis Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. Narrator Uncredited; voice only 1967 Enter Laughing Pike The Gnome-Mobile Ralph Yarby The King's Pirate Swaine 1968 Blackbeard's Ghost Dean Roland Wheaton The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band Charlie Wrenn Lady in Cement Arnie Sherwin 1974 The Man from Clover Grove Charlie Strange 1978 Rabbit Test Newscaster Piranha Earl Lyon 1980 The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood Joseph Rottman 1984 Bad Manners Ticket Salesman

Television Year Title Role Notes 1954 Four Star Playhouse Dr. Constanti Episode: "The Long Count" The Public Defender Truant Officer Episode: "Step Child" Topper Judge Episode: "Preparations for Europe"1954–1956 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show First Man/Mr. Dayton 2 episodes It's a Great Life Clerk/Dr. Randall/Dr. Irwin/Dr. Brannigan 4 episodes 1955 The Man Behind the Badge Rev. Edgefield Episode: "The Case of the Tattooed Man" Stage 7Dr. Mathews/Dr. Constanti 2 episodes Damon Runyon Theater Episode: "Lonely Heart" Screen Directors Playhouse Hotel Clerk UncreditedEpisode: "Life of Vernon Hathaway" The Ford Television Theatre Peter O'Toole/Slim Bailey 2 episodes The Millionaire Jeweler Episode: "The Luke Fortune Story" The Great Gildersleeve Matthew Walker Episode: "Gildy Goes Diving"1955–1956 Schlitz Playhouse Dr. Thomas Gregory 2 episodesLux Video TheatreVan Cassell/Norton/Salambro/Sheldon4 episodes1955–1958 The People's Choice Dr. Sidney Baxter/Homer 3 episodes 1956 Telephone Time Episode: "Captain from Kopenick" Private Secretary Waiter/Doorman 2 episodes December Bride James/Bud Hodges 2 episodes Crossroads Episode: "The Rabbi Davis Story" The Charles Farrell Show Sherman Hall Main cast; 12 episodes1956–1957The Life of RileyChauffer/Tree Surgeon/Actor3 episodes1956–1961 The Danny Thomas Show John Savich/Principal Conroy/Dr. Stanley Patman/Assistant Manager 4 episodes1956–1962The Jack Benny ProgramVarious8 episodes1956–1963The Red Skelton ShowVarious7 episodes 1957 Gunsmoke Botkin Episode: "Pucket's New Year" The Bob Cummings Show District Attorney Episode: "Eleven Angry Women" The Millionaire Gibson Episode: "The Professor Amberson Adams Story" Studio 57 Mr. Baxter Episode: "It's a Small World" The Gale Storm Show Artist UncreditedEpisode: "The Partisan Touch" Navy Log Al Carder/Captain Twohig 2 episodes The 20th Century Fox Hour Paul Erickson Episode: "The Great American Hoax" The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour Winslow Episode: "The Celebrity Next Door" 1957–1958 Date with the Angels Roger Finley 6 episodes1957–1959The Gale Storm ShowArtist/Zonko2 episodes 1957–1963 Leave It to Beaver Fred Rutherford 23 episodes1958 Annette Dr. Archie McCloud 13 episodes Tales of Wells Fargo Sam Potter Episode: "The Gambler" The Silent Service Wheeler B. Lipes Episode: "Operation Seadragon" The Ed Wynn Show Conway Episode: "Lover's Lone" How to Marry a Millionaire Kranz Episode: "Loco Goes to Night School" 1959 Bachelor Father Mr. Haris Episode: "Bentley's Economy Wave" The Thin Man Mr. Peabody Episode: "Black Wind and Lightning" Colonel Humphrey Flack Professor Brookhouse/Evans 2 episodes Zorro Father Ignacio UncreditedEpisode: "Senor China Boy" Maverick Floyd Gimbel Episode: "The Cats of Paradise" Shotgun Slade Episode: "The Safe Crackers"1959–1951 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Mr. Crawford/Desk Clerk 2 episodes1959–1962The Donna Reed ShowMr. Johnson/Mr. Conroy/Mr. Heflin/Mr. Moorhead4 episodesThe Real McCoysMr. Wells/Mr. Laidlaw/Mr. Milton3 episodes 1960 Alcoa Theatre Michael Gilmore Episode: "The Silent Kill" The Untouchables Bill Skidmore Episode: "The Unhired Assassin: Part 1" Bourbon Street Beat Philipe Duvere Episode: "Neon Nightmare" Bonanza Captain Shark Episode: "San Francisco" The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Cecil Ellingboe Episode: "That's Show Biz" The Rifleman Col. Jebediah Sims UncreditedEpisode: "The Hangman" M Squad Raleigh King Episode: "Fire in the Sky" Happy Hotel Manager Episode: "Help Wanted" My Three Sons Elderly Man Episode: "Adjust or Bust" 77 Sunset Strip Wallace Friend Episode: "The Duncan Shrine" Perry Mason Wilmer Beaslee Episode: "The Case of the Red Riding Boots"1961 Guestward, Ho! Mr. Andrews Episode: "Too Many Cooks" National Velvet Forsythe Episode: "The Riding Mistress" Mister Ed Dr. Gordon Episode: "Psychoanalyst Show" Hawaiian Eye Funeral Director Episode: "Two for the Money"1961–1962 Pete and Gladys Foster/Busby 2 epidoes1961–1964Mister EdVarious6 episodes 1961–1966 The Dick Van Dyke Show Mel Cooley Regular role; 82 episodes 1962 87th Precinct Martin Episode: "The Pigeon" Follow the Sun Lester Markel Episode: "The Inhuman Equation" The Dick Powell Theatre John Fiske Episode: "The Boston Terrier" Wagon Train Mayor Hadden Episode: "The Madame Sagittarius Story" McKeever and the Colonel Capt. Stadish Episode: "The Bugle Sounds"1963–1964 My Favorite Martian James J. Jackson/Mr. Bentley 2 episodes1964 The Twilight Zone Wallace V. Whipple Episode: "The Brain Center at Whipple's" The Munsters Borden T. Pike Episode: "Pike's Pique"The Chrysler TheatreHimselfEpisode: "Have Girls, Will Travel" 1965 The Addams Family Mortimer Phelps Episode: "Cousin Itt and the Vocational Counselor" 1966 The Farmer's Daughter John Pilgrim Episode: "Have You Ever Thought of Building" The Carol Channing Show Leon Thatcher Unsold pilot 1966–1967 The Pruitts of Southampton Mr. Baldwin 6 episodes 1967 Rango Pennypacker Episode: "What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing Holding Up a Place Like This?" The Danny Thomas Hour Witherspoon Episode: "Instant Money" I Dream of Jeannie Harley Z. Pool Episode: "Who Are You Calling a Genie?"1967–1969The Bob Hope ShowHimself2 episodes1967–1970 The Beverly Hillbillies Mr. Brubaker/Dr. George Klinger 5 episodes 1968 The Jackie Gleason Show Dr. Henry Rankin Episode: "The Honeymooners: Sleepy Time Gal" 1968–1969 The Mothers-In-Law Roger Buell Main role; 26 episodes 1969 The Good Guys Fogarty Episode: "The Eyes Have It" Get Smart Doctor UncreditedEpisode: "And Baby Makes Four: Part 2" Arsenic and Old Lace Mr. Benner Television film1969–1972 Love, American Style Boyd Daniels/Charlie/Charles Furman 3 episodes 1971 Green Acres Mr. Oglethorpe Episode: "The Ex-Secretary"1971–1972 Here's Lucy Harvey Hoople/Elmer Zellerbach 2 episodes1972 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Resort Manager Episode: "The Color of Respect"1972–1975 McMillan & Wife Peter Childs/Luther Dorfman 2 episodes 1973 Night Gallery Man with Mallet Episode: "How to Cure the Common Vampire"1975 The Lost Saucer Mr. Kroog Episode: "My Fair Robot" 1976 Maude Col. Reikert Episode: "Tuckahoe Bicentennial" 1977 CHiPs Singleton Episode: "Career Day" 1978 Getting Married Wedding Director Television film 1979 What's Happening!! Mr. Bradford Episode: "A Present for Dee" The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Sheriff Masters Episode: "Run for the Money: Part 3" B. J. and the Bear 4 episodes1980Comedy is Not PrettyKing of Cey WhatTelevision special Murder Can Hurt You Mr. Burnice Television film 1981 No Man's Valley PandaTelevision film1981–1983Trapper John, M.D.Reverend Perkins/Fred Zisk2 episodes1982Romance Theatre5 episodes The Love Boat Dr. Yates Episode: "The Groupies/The Audition/Doc's Nephew" 1983 Alice R.J. Meyerson Episode: "The Grass Is Always Greener" Still the Beaver Fred Rutherford Television film 1984 The Hoboken Chicken Emergency City Council Member Television film