Edward Andrews
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward Andrews (October 9, 1914 – March 8, 1985) was an American character actor, one of the most recognizable character actors on television and motion pictures between the 1950s and 1980's. His stark white hair, portly build and horn-rimmed glasses added to they type of roles he received, as he was he was often cast an ornery boss, a cagey businessman, or a strict disciplinarian of some type.
| Edward Andrews | |
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| Born | October 9, 1914 Griffin, Georgia, U.S.A. |
| Died | March 8, 1985 (aged 70) Santa Monica, California, U.S.A. |
| Occupation | actor |
| Years active | 1936 – 1984 |
He was born in Griffin, Georgia, the son of an Episcopalian minister and grew up in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Wheeling, West Virginia. As a child he attended Pittsburgh's Nixon Theatre and would nab a balcony seat so as to catch a good view of the 'headliners.' At age 12 he did a walk-on in a stock theatre production which featured James Gleason and he was 'hooked' on an acting career.
He attended the University of Virginia and at age 21 made his stage debut in 1926, progresseing to Broadway by 1935. In 1936, Andrews debuted in the movie Rushin' Art. It was not until 1955, however, that he appeared in his second movie. He was cast as the subversive and corrupt character of Rhett Tanner, head of a knock-them-off political machine, in The Phoenix City Story.
While Andrews' film acting career began in earnest in his forties, the actor is mostly strongly thought of (and was consistently typecast) as a grandfatherly type, and thus he is most strongly associated with his roles in later movies. Among his roles are many soft and friendly businessman characters.
Well-known films in which Andrews acted include Send Me No Flowers as Dr. Ralph Morrisey, with Doris Day and Rock Hudson, Advise and Consent, in which he played Sen. Orrin Knox, The Harder They Fall, in which he played Jim Weyerhause, The Young Savages, in which he appeared as R. Daniel Cole, Elmer Gantry, in which he was memorable as George F. Babbitt, The Absent-Minded Professor and Son of Flubber, in both of which he played the Defense Secretary, and Avanti!, in which he was a very convincing agent of the State Department. Among his other film credits are: "Summertime" (1955) with Katharine Hepburn, in a Bit Part; "Tension at Table Rock" (1956) as Kirk; ?The Harder They Fall? (1956) with Humphrey Bogart, as Jim Weyerhause; "Tea and Sympathy" (1956) as Herb Lee; "Three Brave Men" (1957) as Maj. Jensen; "The Young Doctors" (1961) as Bannister; "Youngblood Hawke" (1964) as Quentin Judd; "Good Neighbor Sam" (1964) as Mr. Burke; "The Glass Bottom Boat" (1966) as Gen. Wallace Bleecker; "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970) as Adm. Harold R. Stark; "How to Frame a Figg" (1971) as Mayor Chisholm; "Charley and the Angel" (1973) as Banker; "The Seniors" (1978) as The Banker. In 1984, he played the character of Howard Baker in John Hughes' Sixteen Candles. He also played Mr. Corben on Gremlins, filmed later the same year, which would be his final movie.
He also guested on many television series including: "Goodyear Television Playhouse"; "The U.S. Steel Hour"; "Cheyenne"; "Twilight Zone"; "Naked City"; "Gunsmoke"; "Rawhide"; "Bonanza"; "The F.B.I."; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "The Invaders"; "Bewitched"; "Charlie's Angels" and "The Bob Newhart Show." He was a regular on the series: "Broadside" (1964-65) as Commander Rogers Adrian. He played the character of Charley in the 1966 dramatization of Death of a Salesman, and constantly acted throughout the 1970s as Elton Dykstra on The Intruders, Ernest W. Stanley on The Man Who Came to Dinner, Mayor Chrisholm alongside Don Knotts in the 1971 film How to Frame a Figg, and Mayor Massey on The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton. In 1968, he played a safecracker in a 4-part episode of I Dream of Jeannie. He played Conductor Harry Flood on the short-lived series Supertrain. He played Jack Tripper's grandfather in an episode of Three's Company.
He and his wife Emily had three children, 2 daughters and a son. He was an avid yachtsman and loved sailing. He died of a heart attack on March 8, 1985 in Santa Monica, California at age 70.
