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Dean Harens

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File:Dean Harens.jpg
Universal Studios publicity still for Christmas Holiday (1944)

Dean Harens (June 30, 1920 – May 20, 1996) was an American actor. He appeared in movies, plays and many TV programs over four decades.[1]

Early years

Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1920, Harens studied at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Harens was a protege of actress Alison Skipworth, who discovered him when he was acting in Michigan.[2]

Career

Harens acted summer stock before debuting on Broadway in The Talley Method in 1941.[3] His first film appearance came at the age of 24, in 1944's Christmas Holiday.[4] He appeared in seven movies throughout his career, although never in a starring role. He was a cast member on three TV series, and played a recurring character on the ABC series The F.B.I..[5] Among the television series in which Harens guest starred was the 1958-1959 docudrama about the Cold War, Behind Closed Doors, hosted and occasionally starring Bruce Gordon.[6] He also made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of murderer Frank Fettridge in the 1959 episode, "The Case of the Calendar Girl," the 1959 episode of “The Case of Paul Drake’s Dilemma” as the brother-in-law of the victim, and in 1960 the role of double murderer Riley Morgan in "The Case of the Wandering Widow."[7] Harens also appeared in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "Doomed Alibi"(03/11/1975). Harens also guest starred twice in the western TV series Bonanza: he played Jim Poole in the 1965 episode "Jonah" and he portrayed rancher Morgan Tanner in the 1966 episode "Credit for a Kill".

Harens's wife, actress June Dayton, whom he met while acting on Broadway in 1947, died in 1994 at the age of 70.

Death

Harens died in Van Nuys, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, at the age of 75.[3][8]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1944 Christmas Holiday Lt. Charles Mason
1944 The Suspect John Marshall
1946 Crack-Up Reynolds
1964 The Outer Limits Medicine Episode: "Cold Hands, Warm Heart"
with William Shatner
1967 The Invaders Dr. MacLeuen
1967 Rosie! Willetts
1969 Murder One Judge Skinner TV movie
1969 Topaz State Department Official #3 Uncredited
1970 Double Jeopardy Thomas Howard TV movie
1971 Paper Man Bureaucrat TV movie

References

9. Demetria Fulton previewed Harens appearance in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "Doomed Alibi"(03/11/1975).
  1. ^ "Dean Harens". BFI.
  2. ^ "Drama". The Atlanta Constitution. Georgia, Atlanta. September 13, 1940. p. 35.
  3. ^ a b Hill Place. "Hill Place".
  4. ^ "Overview for Dean Harens". Turner Classic Movies.
  5. ^ "The F.B.I." TV.com. CBS Interactive.
  6. ^ "Behind Closed Doors'". ctva.biz. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  7. ^ "Dean Harens - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  8. ^ The Broadway League. "Dean Harens - IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information".

External links