George Nader

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George Nader
George Nader

George Nader (October 9, 1921February 4, 2002) was an American film and television actor. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 through 1974, including Phone Call From A Stranger (1952), Congo Crossing (1956), and The Female Animal (1957). During this period, he also did episodic television and starred in several television series such as The Man and the Challenge (1959-60). However, his best-remembered role may be as "Roy", the hero who saves the world from the clutches of "Ro-man" in the low-budget 3-D sci-fi romp Robot Monster (1953).

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[edit] Stage, film and television work

Born in Pasadena, California, George Nader began his film career in 1950, after earning his B.A. in theater arts. Nader appeared in several productions at the Pasadena Playhouse. That work led to a number of bit parts in 1951 and '52. His big break was his first starring role, which came in Robot Monster (1953), a 3-D feature film directed by Phil Tucker. This role and his rugged good looks won him a Universal Studios contract in the 1950s, and he made a number of films for Universal. In 1955, he won a Golden Globe Award for "Most Promising Newcomer."

Despite this accolade, Nader often found himself struggling in the shadow of more famous leading men, such as Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, and Jeff Chandler. His films of that period included 1954's Carnival Story and Sins of Jezebel and 1956's Away All Boats. He moved into television in the late 1950s, appearing in several short-lived series including "The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen," "Man and the Challenge" and "Shannon." He also appeared frequently on The Loretta Young Show, a dramatic anthology series.

However, in the mid 1960s rumors about Nader's private life began to surface. The news reached the editors of a scandal sheet called Confidential Magazine, which threatened to publish the details of Nader's supposed relationship with Rock Hudson. (In fact, Nader's companion was Mark Miller, Hudson's personal secretary.) It was whispered at the time that the studio cut a deal and agreed to fire Nader if the information about Hudson was kept quiet. Whatever the truth, Nader's career in Hollywood was ended. He and Miller moved to Europe, where Nader found steady work in films. A notable role during this period was as U.S. government agent "Jerry Cotton" in a German film series.

In the mid-1970s, Nader was involved in a serious auto accident. He suffered an eye injury which made him very sensitive to the bright lights of movie sets.

[edit] Film and television roles

[edit] Filmography

  • Rustlers on Horseback (1950) "Jack Reynolds" (as George Nadar) with Allan 'Rocky' Lane; dir. Fred C. Brannon. IMDB: 6.1
  • The Prowler (1951) Photographer (uncredited); with Van Heflin; dir. Joseph Losey. IMDB: 7.1
  • Take Care of My Little Girl (1951) (uncredited) Jack Gruber; with Jeanne Crain, Dale Robertson, Mitzi Gaynor, Jeffrey Hunter; dir. Jean Negulesco. IMDB: 6.9
  • The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) Commando (uncredited); with James Mason, Cedric Hardwicke, Jessica Tandy; dir. Henry Hathaway. IMDB: 7.1
  • Two Tickets to Broadway (1951) Crosby's Sound Technician (uncredited); with Bob Crosby, Mamie van Doren; dir. James V. Kern. IMDB: 5.8
  • Overland Telegraph (1951) Paul Manning; with Tim Holt, Gail Davis, Mari Blanchard, Hugh Beaumont; dir. Lesley Selander. IMDB: 6.2
  • Phone Call from a Stranger (1952) Pilot (uncredited); with Bette Davis, Gary Merrill, Shelley Winters, Michael Rennie, Craig Stevens, and Hugh Beaumont; dir. Jean Negulesco. IMDB: 7.2
  • Monsoon (1953) Burton; with Ellen Corby and Myron Healey; dir. Rodney Amateau. IMDB: NR
  • Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1953) Lt. Homer Briggs; with William Lundigan, Jane Greer, Mitzi Gaynor, Gloria DeHaven, Jack Paar; dir. Edmund Goulding. IMDB: 5.5
  • Robot Monster (1953) Roy; with George Barrows, Claudia Barrett, Selena Royle; dir. Phil Tucker. IMDB: 3.9
  • Sins of Jezebel (1954) Jehu; with Paulette Goddard, John Hoyt, Eduard Franz; Dir. Reginald Le Borg. IMDB: 4.3
  • Miss Robin Crusoe (1954) with Amanda Blake, Rosalind Hayes; dir. Eugene Frenke. IMDB: NR
  • Carnival Story (1954) Bill Vines; with Anne Baxter, Steve Cochran, Lyle Bettger; dir. Kurt Neumann. IMDB: 5.7
  • Four Guns to the Border (1954) Bronco; with Rory Calhoun, Colleen Miller, Walter Brennan, Nina Foch, Jay Silverheels; dir. Richard Carlson. IMDB: 5.6
  • Six Bridges to Cross (1955) Edward Gallagher; with Julie Adams, Tony Curtis; dir. Joseph Pevney. IMDB: 6.8
  • The Second Greatest Sex (1955) Matt Davis; with Jeanne Crain, Kitty Kallen, Bert Lahr, Mamie Van Doren, Keith Andes; dir. George Marshall. IMDB: 5.1
  • Lady Godiva of Coventry (1955) Lord Leofric; with Maureen O'Hara, Rex Reason; dir. Arthur Lubin. IMDB: 5.3
  • Congo Crossing (1956) David Carr; with Virginia Mayo, Peter Lorre; Dir. Joseph Pevney. IMDB: 5.1
  • Away All Boats (1956) Lt. Dave MacDougall; with Jeff Chandler, Lex Barker, Julie Adams, Richard Boone, Keith Andes, Jock Mahoney; dir. Joseph Pevney. IMDB: 6.1
  • The Unguarded Moment (1956) Lieutenant Harry Graham; with Esther Williams, John Saxon; dir. Harry Keller. IMDB: 6.1
  • Four Girls in Town (1957) Mike Snowden; with Julie Adams, Sydney Chaplin; dir. Jack Sher. IMDB: 5.4
  • Man Afraid (1957) Rev. David Collins; with Phyllis Thaxter, Tim Hovey; dir. Harry Keller. IMDB: 5.9
  • Joe Butterfly (1957) Sgt. Ed Kennedy; with Audie Murphy, Keenan Wynn, John Agar; dir. Jesse Hibbs. IMDB: 6.4
  • Appointment With a Shadow (1957) Paul Baxter; with Joanna Cook Moore, Brian Keith; dir. Richard Carlson. IMDB: 5.4
  • The Female Animal (1958) Chris Farley; with Hedy Lamarr, Jane Powell, Jan Sterling; dir. Harry Keller. IMDB: 5.0
  • Flood Tide (1958) Steve Martin; with Cornell Borchers, Michel Ray, Judson Pratt, Joanna Cook Moore; dir. Abner Biberman. IMDB: 5.9
  • Nowhere to Go (1958) Paul Gregory; with Maggie Smith, Bernard Lee; dirs. Basil Dearden & Seth Holt. IMDB: 6.5
  • Colpo segreto di d'Artagnan, Il/The Secret Mark of D'Artagnan (1962) D'Artagnan; with Raf Baldassarre, Franco Fantasia, Georges Marchal; dir. Siro Marcellini. IMDB: 4.1
  • Zigzag (1963) with Joseph De Cordova, Sylvia Lawrence; dir. Albert Zugsmith. IMDB: NR
  • The Human Duplicators (1965) Glenn Martin; with Dolores Faith, Richard Kiel, George Macready; dirs. Hugo Grimaldi & Arthur C. Pierce (uncred.). IMDB: 2.3
  • Schüsse aus dem Geigenkasten/Shots from the Violin-case (1965) Jerry Cotton; dir. Fritz Umgelter. IMDB: 5.9
  • Misión Lisboa/Mission to Lisbon (1965) Drunk in hotel room (uncredited); with Brett Halsey, Marilù Tolo, Fernando Rey; dir. Federico Aicardi, Tulio Demicheli. IMDb: 6.2
  • Mordnacht in Manhattan/Manhattan Night of Murder (1965) Jerry Cotton; with Heinz Weiss, Monika Grimm; dir. Harald Philipp. IMDB: 5.3
  • Um Null Uhr schnappt die Falle zu/The Trap Closes at Midnight (1966) Jerry Cotton; with Horst Frank, Heinz Weiss, Monique Wilms; dir. Harald Philipp. IMDB: 5.3
  • Rechnung - eiskalt serviert, Die/Cold Calculation (1966) Jerry Cotton; with Yvonne Monlaur, Horst Tappert, Heinz Weiss; dir. Helmut Ashley. IMDB: 5.8
  • Mörderclub von Brooklyn, Der/Murderers Club of Brooklyn (1967) Jerry Cotton; with Heinz Weiss, Helmut Förnbacher; dir. Werner Jacobs. IMDB: 4.9
  • The Million Eyes of Su-Muru (1967) Nick West; with Frankie Avalon, Shirley Eaton, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Klaus Kinski; dir. Lindsay Shonteff. IMDB: 3.9
  • Casa de las mil muñecas, La/House of 1,000 Dolls (1967) Stephen Armstrong; with Vincent Price, Martha Hyer; dir. Jeremy Summers. IMDB: 5.0
  • Dynamit in grüner Seide/Dynamite in Green Silk (1968) Jerry Cotton; with Heinz Weiss, Silvia Solar; dir. arald Reinl. IMDB: 5.1
  • Radhapura - Endstation der Verdammten/Radhapura - Last Stop for the Damned (1968) Steve; with Gordon Mitchell, Carl Möhner, Femi Benussi; dir. Hans Albin. IMDB: NR
  • Der Tod im roten Jaguar/Death in a Red Jaguar (1968) Jerry Cotton; with Heinz Weiss, Daniela Surina; dir. Harald Reinl. IMDB: 6.3
  • Todesschüsse am Broadway/Deadly Shots on Broadway (1968) Jerry Cotton; with Heinz Weiss, Heidy Bohlen; dir. Harald Reinl. IMDB: 5.7
  • Beyond Atlantis (1973) Nereus; with Patrick Wayne, John Ashley, Leigh Christian; dir. Eddie Romero. IMDB: 3.9
  • Nakia (1974) McMasters; with Robert Forster, Arthur Kennedy, Linda Evans; Dir. Leonard Horn. IMDB: 5.4

[edit] Series television

  • The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (TV-Series 1958-1959)
"Death Liked It Hot" (1959)
  • The Man and the Challenge (1959-1960) as human factors scientist "Dr. Glenn Barton"
  • Shannon (1961-1962) -- as "Joe Shannon", insurance investigator; with Regis Toomey as "Bill Cochran"; dir. Fred Jackman Jr.

[edit] Episodic television

  • Fireside Theatre (TV-Series 1949-1955)
  1. "The Golden Ball" Original Air Date: January 17, 1950 (Season 2, Episode 2)
  2. "Appointment with Death" Original Air Date: November 17, 1953 (Season 6, Episode 10)
  • Gruen Guild Playhouse (TV-Series 1951-1952)
"An Affair at the Embassy" Original Air Date: October 18, 1952
  • Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV-Series 1952-1953)
"Heart's Desire" Original Air Date: May 19, 1953 (Season 1, Episode 18)
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV-Series 1951-1959)
"Richard and the Lion" Original Air Date: July 3, 1953 (Season 2, Episode 39)
  • Your Play Time (TV-Series)
Episode dated July 5, 1953
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (TV-Series 1951-????)
"McCoy of Abilene" Original Air Date: October 18, 1953
  • The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV-Series 1953-1955)
  1. "Account Closed" Original Air Date: January 15, 1954 (Season 1, Episode 16)
  2. "His Brother's Girl" Original Air Date: February 26, 1954 (Season 1, Episode 22)
  • Cavalcade of America (TV-Series 1952-1957)
  1. "Moonlight School" Original Air Date: May 18, 1954 (Season 2, Episode 30)
  2. "The Forge" Original Air Date: October 26, 1954 (Season 3, Episode 3)
  • Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (TV-Series 1955-1958)
"Golden Gift" Original Air Date: 24 November 1955 (Season 1, Episode 9)
  • Lux Video Theatre (TV-Series 1950-1959)
  1. "An Angel Went AWOL" Original Air Date: October 21, 1954 (Season 5, Episode 9)
  2. "The Glass Web" Original Air Date: November 15, 1956 (Season 7, Episode 9)
  3. "One Way Street" Original Air Date: February 21, 1957 (Season 7, Episode 22)
  • Climax! (TV-Series 1954-1958)
"The Stranger Within" Original Air Date: August 22, 1957 (Season 3, Episode 41)
  • Laramie (TV-Series 1959-1963)
".45 Calibre" Original Air Date: November 15, 1960 (Season 2, Episode 8)
  • Letter to Loretta (TV-Series 1953-1961)
  1. "Trial Run" Original Air Date: September 20, 1953 (Season 1, Episode 1)
  2. "The Mirror" Original Air Date: September 27, 1953 (Season 1, Episode 2)
  3. "Kid Stuff" Original Air Date: November 8, 1953 (Season 1, Episode 8)
  4. "Hotel Irritant" Original Air Date: 28 December 1953 (Season 1, Episode 15)
  5. "The Clara Schumann Story" Original Air Date: March 21, 1954 (Season 1, Episode 26)
  6. "The Enchanted Schoolteacher" Original Air Date: April 25, 1954 (Season 1, Episode 31)
  7. "Oh, My Aching Heart" Original Air Date: May 9, 1954 (Season 1, Episode 33)
  8. "The Choice" Original Air Date: February 26, 1961 (Season 8, Episode 20)
  • The Andy Griffith Show (TV-Series 1960-1968)
"The New Doctor" Original Air Date: March 27, 1961 (Season 1, Episode 24)
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV-Series 1955-1962)
  1. "Self Defense" Original Air Date: May 23, 1961 (Season 6, Episode 32)
  2. "Where Beauty Lies" Original Air Date: June 26, 1962 (Season 7, Episode 38)
  • Burke's Law (TV-Series 1963-1966)
"Who Killed the Jackpot?" Original Air Date: April 21, 1965 (Season 2, Episode 30)
  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (TV-Series 1971-1974)
"Warlock at Mach 3" Original Air Date: January 6, 1972 (Season 1, Episode 15)
  • The F.B.I. (TV-Series 1965-1974)
"A Game of Chess" Original Air Date: November 5, 1972 (Season 8, Episode 8)
  • The Mike Douglas Show(TV-Series 1961-1982)
  1. Episode dated August 26, 1964 ... as himself
  2. Episode dated September 9, 1964 ... as himself

[edit] Writing career

After damage to his eye made it difficult to endure the bright lights required for acting, Nader began a career as a writer. He authored several science-fiction works, including the 1978 novel Chrome.

[edit] Later life

Nader and Miller eventually returned to the U.S. and settled in Palm Springs, California. Stricken by multiple medical problems, Nader entered the hospital in September, 2001. He died at Woodland Hills, California of cardiac-pulmonary failure, pneumonia, and multiple cerebral infarctions. Nader is survived by Miller, his cousin Sally Kubley and his nephew, actor Michael Nader.

[edit] Trivia

According to Variety Magazine's Army Archerd, Nader recently completed a book called "The Perils of Paul," about the gay community in Hollywood, which he did not want published until after his death.

[edit] External links

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