Herbert Anderson

Herbert Anderson
Herbert Anderson (left) with the co-stars of Dennis the Menace, Gloria Henry and Jay North (1959)
Born	Herbert Anderson (1917-03-30)March 30, 1917 Oakland, California
Died	June 11, 1994(1994-06-11) (aged 77) Palm Springs, California
Cause of death	Stroke
Resting place	Cremated
Other names	Cpl. Herbert Anderson Guy Anderson Herb Anderson
Spouse(s)	Mary Virginia Palmer
Children	2

Herbert Anderson (March 30, 1917 – June 11, 1994) was an American character actor from Oakland, California, probably best remembered for his role as Henry Mitchell, the father, in the CBS television sitcom Dennis the Menace,^[1] which was based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name.^{[2] [3]}

Background

Herbert Anderson was born in Oakland, California. He was the son of Herbert Julius Anderson (1889-1940) and Gertrude M. (Nelson) Anderson (1894-1929). His father, the son of Norwegian immigrants, served as Oakland City Treasurer during the 1920s. He attended Oakland High School and later the University of California, Berkeley. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Career

After a few minor roles in films for Warner Bros., Anderson got his big break in the 1941 picture Navy Blues, starring Martha Raye and Ann Sheridan, followed by The Body Disappears and The Male Animal in which he co-starred with Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland. His other films include the 1949 World War II film Battleground, Give My Regards to Broadway, Excuse My Dust, Island in the Sky, The Benny Goodman Story, Kelly and Me, Joe Butterfly, My Man Godfrey (1957), I Bury the Living, Sunrise at Campobello, Hold On! and Rascal. Anderson also acted extensively in Broadway shows, including the role of Dr. Bird in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. He was also in the film version of The Caine Mutiny, with Humphrey Bogart; he was the only person to be both in the Broadway play and the movie. ^{[7] [8]}

In addition to the role of the father on Dennis the Menace, Anderson is also known for both lead and guest-starring roles in many television shows, including: Crossroads, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Real McCoys, Perry Mason, The David Niven Show, Mr. Adams and Eve, Sea Hunt, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, My Three Sons, The Bing Crosby Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Smothers Brothers Show, The Cara Williams Show, Petticoat Junction, Bewitched, Daniel Boone, Family Affair, Adam-12, Green Acres, Batman (episode 45), Dragnet, The Brady Bunch (Season 1 episode 13 1969 titled "Is there a doctor in the House" which also starred Marion Ross), The Name of the Game, The Governor and J.J., Ironside, Gunsmoke, Nanny and the Professor, The Jimmy Stewart Show, The Smith Family, The Rookies, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and The Waltons. ^{[9] [10]}

Anderson retired from acting in 1982 after undergoing heart surgery. He died of complications from a stroke on June 11, 1994 in Palm Springs, California. ^[11]

Partial filmography

• Service with the Colors (1940)
• Navy Blues (1941)
• Honeymoon for Three (1941)
• The Body Disappears (1941)
• The Male Animal (1942)
• This Is the Army (1943)
• Battleground (1949)
• The Lawless (1950)
• Island in the Sky (1953)
• The Benny Goodman Story (1956)
• Hold On! (1966)
• Rascal (1969)

References

Bibliography

• Halliwell, Leslie (1965). The Filmgoer's Companion / with a Foreword by Alfred Hitchcock. (New York City: Hill and Wang). 

External links

• Herbert Anderson at the Internet Movie Database
• Herbert Anderson at AllMovie
• Herbert Anderson at Find a Grave