Richard Basehart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Basehart
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Basehart in 1969
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| Born |
John Richard Basehart
August 31, 1914 Zanesville, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | September 17, 1984 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Burial place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1942–1984 |
| Spouse(s) |
Stephanie Klein
(m. 1940; Diana Lotery
(m. 1962) |
| Children | 3, including Jackie |
John Richard Basehart (born August 31, 1914 – died September 17, 1984) was an American actor. He was famous for playing Admiral Harriman Nelson in the TV science-fiction show Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea from 1964 to 1968.
He also played Wilton Knight in the first episode of the TV series Knight Rider (1982). You might recognize his voice as the narrator at the start of every Knight Rider episode. Richard Basehart was also a successful movie actor. He won awards for his roles in films like Fourteen Hours (1951) and Moby Dick (1956).
Contents
Richard Basehart's Acting Career
Richard Basehart had a long and exciting career in both movies and television. He was known for playing many different kinds of characters.
Famous Movie Roles
One of his most well-known movie roles was "the Fool" in the Italian film La Strada (1954). This movie was directed by Federico Fellini and is considered a classic.
Basehart also appeared in several other important films:
- He played a killer in the crime movie He Walked by Night (1948).
- He was Ishmael in the adventure film Moby Dick (1956), based on the famous book.
- He acted in the drama Decision Before Dawn (1951) and the disaster film Titanic (1953).
- In The Brothers Karamazov (1958), he played Ivan.
Television Adventures
From 1964 to 1968, Richard Basehart starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson in the popular science-fiction show Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. In this series, he commanded a futuristic submarine called the Seaview.
He also appeared in many other TV shows, including:
- The Twilight Zone (episode "Probe 7, Over and Out").
- Hawaii Five-O.
- Little House on the Prairie in 1976.
- An episode of Columbo called "Dagger of the Mind" (1972).
Narrator and Voice Work
Richard Basehart was also a talented narrator. He used his voice to tell stories for many TV and movie projects.
- In 1964, he narrated Four Days in November, a documentary about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
- In 1980, he narrated Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War, a miniseries about the Vietnam War.
- He is famously the narrator at the beginning of the Knight Rider TV series.
Richard Basehart's Life Story
Richard Basehart was born in Zanesville, Ohio. His parents were Mae and Harry T. Basehart.
Family Life
He was married three times during his life. His first wife, Stephanie Klein, passed away. He then married Italian actress Valentina Cortese. They had one son together, who also became an actor, Jackie Basehart. Richard and Valentina later divorced in 1960. In 1962, he married his third wife, Diana Lotery. They had two children together and remained married until his death.
His Final Years
Richard Basehart passed away in Los Angeles on September 17, 1984, at the age of 70. He had suffered from several strokes. His ashes were buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Just one month before he died, Richard Basehart narrated a poem. This was during the closing ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, as the Olympic flame was put out.
Awards and Recognition
Richard Basehart received several awards and nominations for his acting work.
- In 1951, he won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actor for his role in Fourteen Hours.
- In 1956, he won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor for Moby Dick.
- He was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 1958 for Time Limit.
- In 1960, Richard Basehart received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to motion pictures.
Images for kids
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Richard Basehart's grave
See also
In Spanish: Richard Basehart para niños
