Rudy Bond

Rudolph Bond (October 10, 1912 – March 29, 1982) was an American actor who was active from 1947 until his death. His work spanned Broadway, films and television.

Early life Bond was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second youngest of five children. He was raised in urban Philadelphia by his mother. He was educated in Philadelphia schools, and eventually received a BA degree from Central High, the only school in the nation certificated to grant such degrees.

Bond was introduced to the world of acting at the age of 16. He was playing basketball with a group of friends when Julie Sutton, the director of a city amateur acting group (Neighborhood Players, which performed in the same building as the basketball area) approached the group and asked if anybody wanted to be in an upcoming play. He volunteered, and acted in several plays before leaving Philadelphia to join the United States Army. He spent four years in the army, was wounded while serving in World War II, and returned to Philadelphia upon his discharge.

Career He continued acting in the Neighborhood Players until 1945, when he won second prize in the John Golden Award for Actors, which allowed him to enroll in Elia Kazan's Actors Studio in New York City. Kazan got him a substantial role in two stage productions. After his success in the second (A Streetcar Named Desire), he was invited to Hollywood to recreate his stage role in the movie version. In 1951, he appeared in "Romeo and Juliet" at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York and in 1960 he toured in "Fiorello" (which starred Tom Bosley). He spent the next thirty years bouncing between California and New York, and between movie and television work.

Personal life Bond met Alma Halbert when she auditioned for a Neighborhood Players role. He was 25, she was 15. They were married in 1948. They had three children: fraternal twins Jonathan and Janet [Mrs. Brill], and Zane.

Alma went on to have a successful career on her own, as an analytical psychologist and author. She published sixteen books, and numerous articles both about psychiatry and about her Hollywood experiences.

Rudy Bond died of a heart attack in Denver, Colorado, outside the box office of a theater where the next day he was scheduled to begin appearing in a production of What the Babe Said (he was to portray Babe Ruth).

Bond wrote an autobiography but it was not completed before he died. Alma completed it, added an introduction, and had it published in 2000.

Acting credits

Film

1950: With These Hands - Business Agent (uncredited) 1951: A Streetcar Named Desire - Steve Hubbell 1953: Miss Sadie Thompson - Pvt. Hodges 1954: On The Waterfront - Moose 1957: Nightfall - Red 1957: 12 Angry Men - Judge (uncredited) 1957: The Brothers Rico - Charlie Gonzales 1957: The Hard Man - John Rodman 1958: Run Silent, Run Deep - Sonarman 1st Class Cullen 1959: Middle of the Night - Gould 1960: Because They're Young - Chris 1960: The Mountain Road - Sgt. Miller 1960: BUtterfield 8 - Big Man (uncredited) 1970: Hercules in New York - Ship's Captain 1970: Move - Detective Sawyer 1971: Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? - News Dealer 1971: Mr. Forbush and the Penguins - 3rd Pilot 1972: The Godfather - Don Carmine Cuneo 1974: The Super Cops - Policeman (uncredited) 1974: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three - Phil, Police Commissioner 1979: The Rose - Monty

Television credits Bond appeared in over 100 TV shows. Episodes in which he is credited include:

1952: 2 series 1954: 2 series 1955: 2 series 1956: 6 series 1957: 2 series 1958: 5 series 1959: 3 series 1961: 1 series 1962: 1 series 1963: 5 series 1964: 3 series 1966: 1 series 1967: 1 series 1969: 2 series 1973: 1 series 1974: 2 series 1976: 1 series 1977: 2 series 1978: 3 series 1979: 3 series

New York stage credits 1947: O'Daniel A Streetcar Named Desire 1950: The Bird Cage 1951: Romeo and Juliet Glad Tidings 1952: Golden Boy Fiorello! After the Fall 1967: Illya Darling 1968: A Mother's Kisses 1972: Night Watch