Lyle Bettger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lyle Bettger
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in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
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| Born | February 13, 1915 Philadelphia, U.S.A.
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| Died | September 24, 2003 (aged 88) Atascadero, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–1980 |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Gertrude Rolfe
(m. 1941; died 1996) |
| Children | 3 |
Lyle Stathem Bettger (born February 13, 1915 – died September 24, 2003) was an American actor. He appeared in many Hollywood movies and TV shows from the 1950s. Lyle Bettger was known for often playing the "bad guy" in his roles. One of his most famous parts was Klaus, the angry elephant handler, in the Oscar-winning movie The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
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Early Life and Education
Lyle Bettger was born in Philadelphia. His father, Frank Bettger, was a professional baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. Lyle went to the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania. He later studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Starting on Stage
Lyle Bettger began his acting career in live theater. His first play was Brother Rat in New York City in 1936. He performed in several other Broadway plays. These included The Moon Is Down and Love Life.
While he was acting on stage, a talent scout from Paramount saw him. This led to Lyle Bettger signing a contract to start making movies.
Movie Career
Lyle Bettger's first movie role was in The Lie in 1949. People quickly noticed his talent. A movie writer named Frank Neill said that because of his acting, Lyle Bettger got a great contract.
He soon became known for playing villains. He was cast as the bad guy in the movie No Man of Her Own (1950). Lyle Bettger often appeared in Western films. Some of these included Denver and Rio Grande (1952) and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957).
He was very good at playing mean characters. He played Joe Beacom in Union Station (1950). He also played a cold-hearted Nazi officer named Kirchner in The Sea Chase (1955). One of his later roles was in the 1969 movie Impasse. In this film, he played a World War II veteran.
Radio Shows
Before television became popular, Lyle Bettger also acted on radio. He appeared on several old-time radio programs. One of these was called Grand Central Station.
Television Roles
Lyle Bettger made many appearances on television. He starred in the 1957 TV series The Court of Last Resort. He also guest-starred on many popular shows. These included Hawaii Five-O, Rawhide, and Bonanza. He played a murdering robber named Polk in an episode of Gunsmoke in 1962. He also appeared on The Rifleman and Combat!.
Personal Life
Lyle Bettger was married to Mary Gertrude Rolfe. They were married from 1941 until her death in 1996. They had three children together: Lyle Jr., Frank, and Paula. Mary Gertrude Rolfe was also an actress. She played Henry Aldrich's sister on the radio show The Aldrich Family. In the late 1960s, Lyle Bettger and his family moved to Hawaii.
