Whit Bissell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whit Bissell
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Bissell in 1947
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| Born |
Whitner Nutting Bissell
October 25, 1909 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | March 5, 1996 (aged 86) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Education | Dalton School |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1933–1991 |
| Known for | The Time Tunnel The Time Machine |
| Spouse(s) |
Adrienne Marden
(m. 1938; div. 1954)Dilys Mary Shan Jukes
(m. 1954; died 1958)Jennifer Raine
(m. 1967; died 1993) |
| Children | 4, including stepson Brian Forster |
Whitner Nutting Bissell (October 25, 1909 – March 5, 1996) was an American character actor. A character actor is someone who plays unusual or interesting supporting roles, not usually the main hero.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Whit Bissell was born in New York City. His father, Dr. J. Dougal Bissell, was a surgeon. Whit went to the Allen-Stevenson School and the Dalton School in New York City.
He was related to Daniel Bissell. Daniel Bissell was a spy during the American Revolutionary War. He received an award from George Washington, which was a very early version of the Purple Heart medal.
Whit studied drama and English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He trained with the Carolina Playmakers. This was a theater group at the university.
Acting Career Highlights
Whit Bissell had many roles on Broadway theatre, which are plays performed in New York City. One of his roles was in a play called Winged Victory. He was an airman in the United States Army Air Forces at the time.
His film career started in 1943 with Holy Matrimony. He appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows. He was known for playing interesting supporting characters.
Famous Roles in Sci-Fi and Horror
Whit Bissell often appeared in science fiction and horror movies. He played a mad scientist in I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957). He also played Professor Frankenstein in I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957).
He was in the movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). In this film, he played a psychiatrist. He also appeared in the classic monster movie Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).
Television Appearances
Bissell was a guest star on many TV shows from the 1950s to the 1970s. He appeared on shows like The Lone Ranger. He also appeared in Sheriff of Cochise and Peyton Place.
He played different characters in four episodes of the popular show Perry Mason. He was also in an episode of Star Trek called "The Trouble with Tribbles". Parts of this episode were used again in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
From 1959 to 1961, Bissell was a regular on the TV series Bachelor Father. He played General Heywood Kirk in 30 episodes of the science-fiction show The Time Tunnel (1966–1967). He often played smart, official characters, like military officers or police.
He also appeared in two episodes of The Incredible Hulk in 1978 and 1980.
Notable Film Roles
In 1960, Whit Bissell was in George Pal's movie The Time Machine. He played Walter Kemp, a friend of the Time Traveller. He also appeared in a 1978 TV movie based on the same H. G. Wells novel.
He played the undertaker in the famous Western movie The Magnificent Seven (1960). His character believed everyone, no matter their background, was "just another future customer."
In 1993, Bissell appeared in a documentary called Time Machine: The Journey Back. He played Walter Kemp again in the opening scene. This was his last acting role.
Awards and Recognition
Whit Bissell was a special guest at a fan convention in New York City in 1975. He met fans and signed autographs. In 1994, he received a special award for his long career from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. He also served on the board of directors for the Screen Actors Guild.
Personal Life
Whit Bissell was married three times. He had three daughters: Kathy Marden, Victoria Brown, and Amanda Whiteley. He also had a stepson, Brian Forster. Brian Forster was an actor who played Chris Partridge on The Partridge Family TV show.
Whit Bissell was a Unitarian. He was also a lifelong member of the Democratic Party.
Later Years and Death
Whit Bissell died on March 5, 1996, at the age of 86. He passed away in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. He was buried in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
