Anthony Ross

Anthony Ross
Anthony Ross as Lt. Hale in The Telltale Clue
Born(1909-02-23)February 23, 1909
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 26, 1955(1955-10-26) (aged 46)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Stage, film, television actor
Years active1932–1955

Anthony Ross (born Rosenthal,[1] February 23, 1909 – October 26, 1955) was an American character actor whose career extended to Broadway stage, television and film.

Born in New York City, Ross was the son of Charles M. Rosenthal and Cora S. Rosenthal; he had his name changed legally.[1] He was a graduate of Brown University and, while living in France, continued his studies at the Sorbonne and the University of Nancy.[2][3] He may be best remembered for being the first to play the character of the "Gentleman Caller" in the original 1944 production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.[4]

Publicity still of (left to right): Anthony Ross, Laurette Taylor, Eddie Dowling and Julie Haydon in the initial (1945) Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Ross made his Broadway debut in Whistling in the Dark (1932).[5] He also appeared on Broadway as a fictionalized version of Harold Ross, the founding editor of The New Yorker, in the 1950 Wolcott Gibbs comedy Season in the Sun.

Ross appeared in 20th Century Fox films including Kiss of Death (1947) and The Gunfighter (1950); in the Warner Bros. courtroom drama Perfect Strangers (1950) the Nicholas Ray-directed film noir, On Dangerous Ground (1952), and in the popular serial Mysterious Island (1951). He also appeared as the "Producer" in The Country Girl, both the movie and the Broadway production as well as the "Professor" in the Broadway production of Bus Stop.[6]

He appeared in many television productions, including the 1954 CBS series The Telltale Clue in which he starred as police captain Richard Hale.

Personal Life

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He and his wife, Mary Jean Copeland, who was the assistant stage manager for the Broadway production of The Glass Menagerie, were the parents of a son, Stephen.[3]

Death

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Ross was 46 when he died of a heart attack while sleeping in his apartment at 506 East 89th Street in Manhattan. A few hours earlier, he had played the supporting role of The Professor at the Tuesday evening performance of Bus Stop (play) at the Music Box Theatre.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1944 Winged Victory Ross Uncredited
1947 Boomerang Warren Uncredited
1947 Kiss of Death 'Big Ed' Williams
1949 The Window Detective Ross Uncredited
1950 The Vicious Years Police Insp. Umberto Spezia
1950 Perfect Strangers Robert (Bob) Fisher
1950 The Gunfighter Deputy Charlie Norris
1950 The Skipper Surprised His Wife Joe Rossini
1950 Between Midnight and Dawn Police Lt. Masterson
1950 The Flying Missile Adm. Bradley
1951 On Dangerous Ground Pete Santos
1953 Girls in the Night Charlie Haynes
1953 Taxi Mr. Alexander
1954 Rogue Cop Father Ahearn
1954 The Country Girl Philip Cook (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Anthony Ross Dies at 46; Featured in Play 'Bus Stop'". The Berkshire Eagle. Massachusetts, Pittsfield. October 27, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved 6 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Barron, Mark. "Broadway, Sights, Sidelights" (Lewiston Evening Journal, October 27, 1950, p. 10)
  3. ^ a b "Anthony Ross, Actor, Dead at 46; Portrayed Professor in 'Bus Stop'" (The New York Times, October 27, 1955, p. 33)
  4. ^ "Anthony Ross Will Portray a Magazine Editor in New Comedy". The Boston Globe. Massachusetts, Boston. September 10, 1950. p. 42 A. Retrieved 6 August 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Anthony Ross". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  6. ^ Calta, Louis. "Inge's 'Bus Stop' Set to Rehearse / Anthony Ross Is Signed for Featured Role in Play Due to Open Next Month" (The New York Times, January 8, 1955, p. 10)
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