Michael Ansara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Ansara
|
|
|---|---|
Michael Ansara in Law of the Plainsman (1959)
|
|
| Born | April 15, 1922 Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon
|
| Died | July 31, 2013 (aged 91) Calabasas, California, U.S.
|
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Los Angeles City College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1944–2001 |
| Spouse(s) |
Jean Byron
(m. 1955; div. 1956)Beverly Kushida
(m. 1977) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Hollywood Walk of Fame, Western Heritage Award, Saturn Award |
Michael George Ansara (born April 15, 1922 – died July 31, 2013) was a famous American actor. He played many different characters in movies and TV shows. You might know him as Cochise in the TV series Broken Arrow. He was also Kane in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Star Trek fans will remember him as Commander Kang. He also voiced the supervillain Mr. Freeze in Batman: The Animated Series. Michael Ansara has a special star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his amazing work in television.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Michael George Ansara was born in a small village in what is now Lebanon. His family moved to the United States when he was just two years old. They lived in Lowell, Massachusetts, for ten years before moving to California.
Michael first wanted to become a doctor. But he discovered a love for acting after taking classes at Pasadena Playhouse. These classes helped him overcome his shyness. He studied at Los Angeles City College and earned a degree. During World War II, Ansara served in the army as a medic.
A Career Full of Roles
Becoming a Household Name
In the 1950s, Michael Ansara appeared in many TV shows. He was in Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Lone Ranger. In 1953, he acted in the big movie Julius Caesar.
His most famous role came in 1956. He played the lead character, Cochise, in the popular TV series Broken Arrow. This show made him very well-known. While working on Broken Arrow, he met actress Barbara Eden. They later got married.
Ansara even appeared on Barbara Eden's famous show, I Dream of Jeannie. He played the Blue Djinn and also King Kamehameha. Michael and Barbara divorced in 1974. Sadly, their son, Matthew Ansara, passed away in 2001.
Michael Ansara also starred in his own TV series, Law of the Plainsman (1959–1960). He played an Apache Indian named Sam Buckhart, who became a U.S. Marshal. This show started as an episode of The Rifleman.
Epic Roles and Voice Acting
Ansara appeared in several movies based on the Bible. He was in The Robe (1953) and The Ten Commandments (1956). He also played Belshazzar in the 1953 movie Slaves of Babylon.
In 1961, he acted in the film Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea with Barbara Eden. He later appeared in an episode of the TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. In 1964, he had a guest role on Perry Mason. That same year, he played "Qarlo" in The Outer Limits.
He also appeared in the 1965 Elvis Presley film, Harum Scarum. Ansara continued to guest star on many popular TV shows. These included Lost in Space, Daniel Boone, and The Time Tunnel. He was also in The Fugitive and Mission: Impossible.
In 1976, Ansara starred in the movie Mohammad, Messenger of God. This film was about the beginning of Islam. In 1978, he was in the miniseries Centennial. He played an Indian leader named Lame Beaver.
From 1979 to 1980, Ansara played Killer Kane in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He also narrated children's stories on the PBS series Reading Rainbow.
One of his most famous voice roles was Mr. Freeze in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. His performance was highly praised. He continued to voice Mr. Freeze in the animated film Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero and other Batman shows and video games. In 1994, he played the Technomage Elric in the Babylon 5 episode "The Geometry of Shadows".
His Star Trek Legacy
Michael Ansara is one of only nine actors to play the same character on three different Star Trek TV series! He played the fierce Klingon commander Kang.
- Star Trek: The Original Series (episode "Day of the Dove")
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (episode "Blood Oath")
- Star Trek: Voyager (episode "Flashback")
Awards and Recognition
Michael Ansara was nominated for a Saturn Award. He also won a Western Heritage Award for his work in Rawhide.
On February 8, 1960, Michael Ansara received a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard. This honor recognized his great contributions to television.
Personal Life
Michael Ansara was married three times. His first marriage was to actress Jean Byron in 1955. They divorced in 1956. In 1958, he married Barbara Eden. They had one son together, Matthew Ansara. Michael and Barbara divorced in 1974. He then married actress Beverly Kushida in 1977.
Michael Ansara was a Greek Orthodox Christian. He passed away on July 31, 2013, at the age of 91. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, next to his son Matthew.
Images for kids
-
Michael Ansara in Law of the Plainsman (1959)
-
Michael Ansara and Suzanne Lloyd in Law of the Plainsman (1962)
-
Michael Ansara's wife Barbara Eden and their son Matthew (1966)
See also
In Spanish: Michael Ansara para niños
