| Robert F. Simon | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 2, 1908 Mansfield, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | November 29, 1992 (aged 83) Tarzana, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor: Custer, Bewitched, Saints and Sinners, The Streets of San Francisco, The Amazing Spider-Man, Nancy |
| Years active | 1950-1985 |
| Children | Barbara Ann Simon Callet Susan Simon Thompson Robert L. Simon James A. Simon |
| Website | |
| http://members.tripod.com/~samstephens/simon.html | |
Robert F. Simon (December 2, 1908 — November 29, 1992)[1] was an American character actor, often portraying military or authority figure roles. Though his face was recognized by audiences, he was mostly unknown by name. Simon appeared in films and on television between 1950 and 1985, having mastered the genre of westerns, drama, and comedy.
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Simon had recurring supporting roles on six television series:
In addition to his Custer role of General Terry, Simon had other historic roles:
Simon was born in Mansfield, Ohio, where he was an all-state high school basketball champion in the 1920s. He played basketball in one-on-one games well into his forties. Before he entered acting, he was a traveling salesman. He initially thought that acting would help him to overcome his natural shyness, but he enjoyed appearing on stage and later film so much that he decided to make a career as an actor. His first professional job was in Marc Blitzstein's No For an Answer in which he displayed his song-and-dance abilities. He was also involved with the Cleveland Playhouse, and Actors Studio, through which he became an understudy to Lee J. Cobb for the lead in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.[3]
Simon had two daughters, Barbara Ann Simon Callet (born 1941) and Susan Simon Thompson, and two sons, Robert Louis Simon (born 1950) and James A. Simon (born 1951).[4] Simon's webpage does not include the name of his spouse(s).[3]
Simon appeared on Broadway in Clifford Odets's play, Clash by Night. In 1949, he succeeded Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.[5]
His first film appearances were as Inspector Foley in Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950) and as a psychiatrist in Bright Victory (1951). His first television role was at the age of 43 in 1952 as Captain Scott in the episode "Woman with a Sword" on Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series. Simon appeared as Ackerman in the 1954 film Rogue Cop. Between 1951 and 1954, he appeared on The Philco Television Playhouse and Justice.
In 1955, he appeared on television in episodes of Medic and Alfred Hitchcock Presents as well as such feature films as Chief Crazy Horse, Seven Angry Men, and The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell.[2] Actress Elizabeth Montgomery, who would later play Simon's daughter-in-law, Samantha, on Bewitched, made her film debut in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell.
In 1956, Simon achieved his first significant film role as Dave Goodman, the father of musician Benny Goodman, in The Benny Goodman Story.[6] Between 1953 and 1956, Simon appeared in four episodes of Kraft Television Theatre and twice in the anthology series Studio One.[2]
In 1956 and 1957, he appeared in episodes of State Trooper, The Millionaire and M Squad. In 1957, he appeared as George Nordmann in the feature film Edge of the City, starring John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. In 1958, Simon guest-starred as Captain Woods in "The Coward of Fort Bennett" on General Electric Theater. In 1957 and 1958, he appeared in four episodes of the anthology series, Playhouse 90.[2] In 1959, he appeared on Peter Gunn and Adventures in Paradise.[2]
There were few television westerns in which Simon did not guest star. From 1956 to 1970, he appeared in Broken Arrow, Disneyland, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, Laramie, Black Saddle, Law of the Plainsman, Johnny Ringo, Cheyenne, Wichita Town, The Man From Blackhawk, The Texan, Tombstone Territory, Tate, and Shotgun Slade, Stagecoach West, Bat Masterson, Lawman, Klondike, Rawhide and Frontier Circus, Have Gun - Will Travel, Wagon Train, The Legend of Jesse James, The Road West, Gunsmoke, Laredo, The Virginian, Bonanza, and The Guns of Will Sonnett.[2]
Simon appeared as Handy Strong in the acclaimed feature film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
In 1956, he appeared in Crusader, Route 66, Dante, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Johnny Midnight, The Asphalt Jungle, The Roaring Twenties and Sea Hunt.[2] In the 1961-62 season, he appeared on episodes of The Dick Powell Show, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Cain's Hundred, The Defenders, and Sam Benedict.[2]
Simon guest-starred three times on Perry Mason.[2] In 1965, Simon appeared in episodes of Slattery's People, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Dr. Kildare.[2]
In addition to Bewitched and Nancy, Simon appeared in other sitcoms, such as McHale's Navy, Mrs. G. Goes to College, Get Smart and The Andy Griffith Show.[2]
In 1967, Simon appeared as "Cervantes" in The Reluctant Astronaut.[2] He appeared in a 1970 episode of Love, American Style, in a 1971 episode of Nichols, and a 1973 episode of The Partridge Family.[2] In 1973, he made three guest appearances as Gen. Maynard M. Mitchell on M*A*S*H.[2]
From 1969 to 1985, Simon appeared in Marcus Welby, M.D., The Mod Squad, The Interns, Barnaby Jones, Hawaii Five-O, Cannon, Ellery Queen, Columbo, McCloud, Quincy M.E. and Eight Is Enough. His last television appearance was in a 1985 episode of Airwolf.[2]
Simon died of a heart attack in Tarzana, California on November 29, 1992, three days before what would have been his 84th birthday. He is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California.[7]