Staats Cotsworth

Staats Cotsworth (February 17, 1908 – April 9, 1979) was an American actor in old-time radio. He is perhaps best known for playing the title role in Casey, Crime Photographer.

Early years Staats Cotsworth Jr. was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of Staats and Dorothy (Bodley) Cotsworth. He had a brother named John Littlefield Cotsworth. In 1929, he earned a diploma in the Department of Art from the Pennsylvania Museum's School of Industrial Art.

Radio Cotsworth was once described as "the busiest actor in radio," having performed in 7,500 broadcasts in 12 years.

Other programs on which Cotsworth appeared included The Chase, These Are Our Men, X Minus One, Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons, Cavalcade of America, Grand Central Station, The Story of Mary Marlin, and Silver Theater.

Stage Cotsworth's professional debut on stage was in Alice in Wonderland, produced by Eva LeGallienne. His Broadway credits include First Episode (1934), Othello (1935), Macbeth (1935 and 1941–1942), Damaged Goods (1937), As You Like It (1937), Stop-Over (1938), Madame Capet (1938), Boudoir (1941), She Stoops to Conquer (1949–1950), Richard III (1953), Inherit the Wind (1955–1957), Pictures in the Hallway (1956), I Knock at the Door (1957), Advise and Consent (1960–1961), The Right Honourable Gentleman (1965–1966), Weekend (1968), A Patriot for Me (1969), and Lost in the Stars (1972).

Television Cotsworth was seen in Killer's Choice, the premiere episode of Kraft Mystery Theatre, in June 1958, and in "The Thirty-first of February'", an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, in January 1963. He was in Macbeth when that play was presented on Hallmark Hall of Fame. "He attended several art schools in this country and studied for seven years in Paris," at the Académie Colarossi. His work included illustrating Ernest Peixotto's book, A Bacchic Pilgrimage, published by Charles Scribner's Sons and painting "three murals for some swank bowling alleys in Washington." His work was exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Water Color Club in Philadelphia. and in 1949.

Personal life Cotsworth married Muriel Kirkland, an actress, in New York City on May 24, 1936. Later he married Josephine Hutchinson, who was also an actress.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1957 That Night! Salesman 1957 Peyton Place Charles Partridge 1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Vincent Season 1 Episode 15: "The Thirty-First of February"1964 Hamlet Polonius 1971 They Might Be Giants Winthrop 1972 Silent Night, Bloody Night Wilfred Butler Voice, (final film role)