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Ross Elliott

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Ross Elliott Veteran Famous memorial

Birth
Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA
Death
12 Aug 1999 (aged 82)
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Cremated. Specifically: Ashes given to family or friend.
Memorial ID
View Source

Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the stern Sgt. Daniels in the cult classic "Monster on the Campus" (1958). Born Elliot Blum, upon attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the City College of New York, he began his career performing on the radio with Orson Welles Mercury Theatre. After meeting Hal B. Wallis during a War Bond Rally in his native New York City, New York, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, articulate voice, and manly physique, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision in a supporting role in "This is the Army" (1943). From there, he would go on to flourish as a character actor appearing in over 100 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, guards, cowboys, policemen, sheriffs, blue-collared workers, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, detectives, reporters, city slickers, eccentrics, doctors, military men, authority figures, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Burning Cross" (1947), "Angels on the Amazon" (1948), "The Gal Who Took the West" (1949), "Three Secrets" (1950), "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" (1951), "Affair in Trinidad" (1952), "Tumbleweed" (1953), "Ma and Pa Kettle at Home" (1954), "African Manhunt" (1955), "D-Day the Sixth of June" (1956), "As Young as We Are" (1957), "Never So Few" (1959), "Tammy Tell Me True" (1961), "The Thrill of It All" (1963), "Wild Seed" (1965), "Day of the Evil Gun" (1968), "Kelly's Heroes" (1970), "Skyjacked" (1972), ""Act of Vengeance" (1974), "Gable and Lombard" (1976), "Mr. Too Little" (1978), and "Scorpion" (1986). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "I Love Lucy," "The Twilight Zone," "Adventures of Superman," "The Lone Ranger," "Pony Express," "The Rifleman," "Lassie," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "Leave It to Beaver," "Perry Mason," "Combat!," "Hazel," "Dragnet," "Adam-12," "Emergency!," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Wonder Woman," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Little House on the Prairie," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Dallas," "General Hospital," and "The A-Team". During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, presided on the board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner within the Temple Israel of Hollywood, served as a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, had been a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, was one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and he was married to fellow stage actress Ellen Andrews from 1943 until their divorce, and then to Hollywood wigmaker Esther ("Sue") Melling from 1954 until his death (their union produced no children). Upon his 1986 retirement, he spent the final years of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions and was a generous benefactor for several libraries and state parks, until his death from the complications of advanced age.

Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the stern Sgt. Daniels in the cult classic "Monster on the Campus" (1958). Born Elliot Blum, upon attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the City College of New York, he began his career performing on the radio with Orson Welles Mercury Theatre. After meeting Hal B. Wallis during a War Bond Rally in his native New York City, New York, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, articulate voice, and manly physique, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision in a supporting role in "This is the Army" (1943). From there, he would go on to flourish as a character actor appearing in over 100 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, guards, cowboys, policemen, sheriffs, blue-collared workers, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, detectives, reporters, city slickers, eccentrics, doctors, military men, authority figures, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Burning Cross" (1947), "Angels on the Amazon" (1948), "The Gal Who Took the West" (1949), "Three Secrets" (1950), "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" (1951), "Affair in Trinidad" (1952), "Tumbleweed" (1953), "Ma and Pa Kettle at Home" (1954), "African Manhunt" (1955), "D-Day the Sixth of June" (1956), "As Young as We Are" (1957), "Never So Few" (1959), "Tammy Tell Me True" (1961), "The Thrill of It All" (1963), "Wild Seed" (1965), "Day of the Evil Gun" (1968), "Kelly's Heroes" (1970), "Skyjacked" (1972), ""Act of Vengeance" (1974), "Gable and Lombard" (1976), "Mr. Too Little" (1978), and "Scorpion" (1986). During the advent of television, he became an even more familiar face appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "I Love Lucy," "The Twilight Zone," "Adventures of Superman," "The Lone Ranger," "Pony Express," "The Rifleman," "Lassie," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "Leave It to Beaver," "Perry Mason," "Combat!," "Hazel," "Dragnet," "Adam-12," "Emergency!," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Wonder Woman," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Little House on the Prairie," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Dallas," "General Hospital," and "The A-Team". During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, presided on the board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner within the Temple Israel of Hollywood, served as a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II, had been a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, was one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and he was married to fellow stage actress Ellen Andrews from 1943 until their divorce, and then to Hollywood wigmaker Esther ("Sue") Melling from 1954 until his death (their union produced no children). Upon his 1986 retirement, he spent the final years of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions and was a generous benefactor for several libraries and state parks, until his death from the complications of advanced age.

Bio by: Lowell Thurgood



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Apr 16, 2001
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21484/ross-elliott: accessed ), memorial page for Ross Elliott (18 Jun 1917–12 Aug 1999), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21484; Cremated; Maintained by Find a Grave.