Joseph Sweeney (actor)

For other people named Joseph Sweeney, see Joseph Sweeney (disambiguation).

Joseph Sweeney
Joseph Sweeney in 12 Angry men.
Born	(1884-07-26)July 26, 1884 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died	November 25, 1963(1963-11-25) (aged 79) New York City, New York, USA
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1918-1963

Joseph Sweeney (July 26, 1884 – November 25, 1963) was an American actor who worked in stage production, television and movies. His most famous role was as the elderly Juror #9 in the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, the role he originated in a 1954 Westinghouse Studio One live teleplay of which the film was an adaptation.

Stage career

Sweeney had a successful career as a stage performer in such productions as The Clansmen, George Washington Slept Here, Ladies and Gentlemen, A Slight Case of Murder, Dear Old Darlin{'}, and Days To Remember. In the 1940s Sweeney made the switch to television as audiences' interests changed. Sweeney returned to the stage in 1953 to portray Giles Corey in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

Later life

Sweeney kept acting until his death, appearing in numerous television shows, including at least twelve during the last year of his life. He died on November 25, 1963, at the age of 79.

Filmography

• Sylvia on a Spree (1918) - A Pal of Jack's
• Soak the Rich (1936) - Capt. Pettijohn, 1st detective
• The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Butler (uncredited)
• Outside the Wall (1950) - Prison Hospital Inmate (uncredited)
• Twelve Angry Men (1954) (TV) - Juror #9
• The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) - Edward M. Schultz
• The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) - Reverend
• 12 Angry Men (1957) - Juror #9

External links

• Joseph Sweeney at IMDb
• Biography by New York Times
• Biography by Fandango (ticket service)
• Joseph Sweeney at Find a Grave