Berry Kroeger (October 16, 1912 – January 4, 1991) was an American film, television and stage actor.

Career

Kroeger was born in

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_ ...

. He got his acting start on

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a tr ...

as an announcer on ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being Decision-making, undecided, or being Doubt, doubtful. In a Drama, dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the wikt:outcome, outcome of a plot (narrative), plot or of the solution t ...

'' and as an actor, playing for a time '' The Falcon'' in the

radio series A radio program, radio programme, or radio show is a segment of content intended for broadcast on radio. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series. A single program in a series is called an episode. Radio networ ...

Sies, Luther F. (2014). ''Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . pg. 13. Also on radio, he portrayed Dr. Reed Bannister on '' Big Sister'', narrated ''Salute to Youth'', and was a regular as Sam Williams on ''

Young Doctor Malone ''Young Doctor Malone'' (a.k.a. ''Young Dr. Malone'') is an American soap opera, created by Irna Phillips, which had a long run on radio and television from 1939 to 1963. The producer was Betty Corday (1912–1987), who also produced ''Pepper You ...

''. Kroeger made his Broadway debut on December 6, 1943, at the Royale Theatre as Miley in Nunnally Johnson's ''

The World's Full of Girls ''The World's Full of Girls'' is a play in three acts by Nunnally Johnson which was adapted from Thomas Bell's 1943 novel ''Till I Come Back to You''. The work premiered on Broadway on December 6, 1943 at the Royale Theatre. The cast included Thom ...

'', which was adapted from Thomas Bell's 1943 novel ''Till I Come Back to You''. He went on to appear in ''Reclining Figure'' (1954), ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...

'' (1950), and '' The Tempest'' (1944). He portrayed the High Lama in the 1956 musical adaptation of ''

Lost Horizon ''Lost Horizon'' is a 1933 novel by English writer James Hilton. The book was turned into a film, also called '' Lost Horizon'', in 1937 by director Frank Capra. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional utopian lamaser ...

'' titled ''

Shangri-La Shangri-La is a fictional place in Asia's Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山), Uses the spelling 'Kuen-Lun'. described in the 1933 novel '' Lost Horizon'' by English author James Hilton. Hilton portrays Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, g ...

''. Kroeger was discovered by filmmaker William Wellman while performing on Broadway and began appearing in films with his role in ''

The Iron Curtain The Iron Curtain was the political boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991. The term symbolizes the efforts by the Soviet Union (USSR) to block itself and it ...

'' (1948). He specialized in playing slimy bad guys in films like '' Act of Violence'' (1948), ''The Iron Curtain'' (1948), a crooked lawyer in ''

Cry of the City ''Cry of the City'' is a 1948 American film noir starring Victor Mature, Richard Conte, and Shelley Winters. Directed by Robert Siodmak, it is based on the novel by Henry Edward Helseth, ''The Chair for Martin Rome''. The screenwriter Ben Hecht ...

'' (1948) and a heavy in Joseph H. Lewis' crime film, '' Gun Crazy'' (1949). His flair for decadent leering and evil scowls often led to his being cast in "schlock fare", like '' Chamber of Horrors'' (1966) and '' The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant'' (1971). He appeared in a small role as a village elder in ''

Young Frankenstein ''Young Frankenstein'' is a 1974 American comedy horror film directed by Mel Brooks. The screenplay was co-written by Brooks and Gene Wilder. Wilder also starred in the lead role as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor ...

'' (1974). He also appeared in dozens of television programs. He guest starred on seven episodes of '' Perry Mason'' as well as in episodes of ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The sho ...

'', ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele ( Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian partner, Tom Lopaka ( Robert ...

'', '' Get Smart'' (as a character spoofing actor Sydney Greenstreet) and '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.''. His last major film role was in 1977's ''

The Demon Seed ''Demon Seed'' is a 1977 American science fiction– horror film directed by Donald Cammell. It stars Julie Christie and Fritz Weaver. The film was based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Dean Koontz, and concerns the imprisonment and for ...

'' (1977).

Death

Kroeger died on January 4, 1991, of kidney failure at

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over ...

in Los Angeles.

Filmography

References

Turner Classic Movies

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kroeger, Barry 1912 births 1991 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors American male radio actors American male television actors Male actors from San Antonio Deaths from kidney failure 20th-century American male actors