Charles Fredericks (born Fred Cockerham; or Crockenham; September 5, 1918 – May 14, 1970) was an American actor of stage, television, and film.

Early years

Fredericks was born Fred Cockerham (or Crockenham) the son of a Presbyterian minister M. O. Cockerham and his wife. He had two brothers. He sang in the choir at the church at which his father preached. Although his father wanted him to become a minister, Fredericks wanted to be a singer. Success in competitions moved him further in that direction, as he won one contest that designated him the best male singer in Mississippi and another that earned him a singing scholarship.

Career

Fredericks was particularly known for his career in television Westerns during the 1950s and 1960s.

Singing

Fredericks debuted as a professional singer at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver. After two weeks when the orchestra leader paid him $5 per week out of his own pocket, the hotel manager raised his salary to $20 per week. He went from that job to performing in vaudeville at $75 per week — an unsuccessful venture that led him back to Denver. With no employment as a singer available, he worked as a bellhop.

Stage and film

John Charles Thomas heard Fredericks singing in a night club and "was instrumental" in helping Fredericks to obtain the role of the governor when ''

The Red Mill ''The Red Mill'' is an operetta written by Victor Herbert, with a libretto by Henry Blossom. The farcical story concerns two American vaudevillians who wreak havoc at an inn in Holland, interfering with two marriages; but all ends well. The musica ...

'' was presented by the

Los Angeles Civic Light Opera The Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (LACLO) was an American theatre/opera company in Los Angeles, California. Founded under the motto "Light Opera in the Grand Opera manner" in 1938 by impresario Edwin Lester, the organization presented fifty seaso ...

. Fredericks gained early acting experience on the "Bortsch circuit" in the Catskill Mountains. During the summer, his troupe performed a musical comedy, a revue, and a straight drama at each hotel. Fredericks received the George Jean Nathan Award for his performance when he starred as Gaylord Ravenal in the 1946

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

revival of ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock worke ...

'', and was selected for the same role in the film of that title. He also appeared as Captain Nicholas Gregorovitch in the original 1947 production of '' Music in My Heart''. In 1948, he portrayed a minister in ''My Romance'' at the Shubert Theatre in Boston and had the lead role in ''

Music in the Air ''Music in the Air'' is a musical written by Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics and book) and Jerome Kern (music). It introduced songs such as "The Song Is You", "In Egern on the Tegern See" and " I've Told Ev'ry Little Star". The musical premiered on ...

'' at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. In 1953, he portrayed Shy Masterson in a touring company of ''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also bo ...

.'' Fredericks portrayed the singing King in the "Just You Wait" sequence of the film ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...

'' (1964).

Radio and television

On July 13, 1947, Fredericks sang on the ''Family Hour'' radio program. Among Fredericks's work on television, on '' Colt .45'', he appeared as "Larkin" in the episode "Small Man" (1957) and as Marshal Ed Springer in "The Gandy Dancers".(1960). He portrayed Sheriff Ankers on ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'' in S3E10s "Last Stop To Austin". He also appeared as villains in the ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...

episodes Episodes may refer to: * Episode An episode is a narrative unit within a larger dramatic work or documentary production, such as a series intended for radio, television or streaming consumption. The noun ''episode'' is derived from the Greek ...

"Trail West to Fury" and "The Maverick Line". He appeared in '' The Tab Hunter Show'' episode "For Money or Love" (1960). He also appeared on '' Gunsmoke'' as “Band” (1959), as “Senator McGovern” (1962), in S8E15's "False Front" and earlier that year as a convicted soldier in S7E33’s “The Prisoner”.

Personal life

Fredericks was married to singer Muriel Parker, and they had two sons.

Partial filmography

*'' Thunder Pass'' (1954) - McCurdy *'' Port of Hell'' (1954) *''

Treasure of Ruby Hills ''Treasure of Ruby Hills'' is a 1955 American black-and-white Western (genre), Western film directed by Frank McDonald (director), Frank McDonald and starring Zachary Scott, Carole Mathews, Barton MacLane, Dick Foran, and Lola Albright. The fil ...

'' (1955) - Walt Payne *'' Tarzan's Hidden Jungle'' (1955) - DeGroot *'' Las Vegas Shakedown'' (1955) - Sheriff Charlie Woods *'' Night Freight'' (1955) - Workman *''

Hell Canyon Outlaws ''Hell Canyon Outlaws'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Paul Landres and written by Allan Kaufman and Max Glandbard. The film stars Dale Robertson, Brian Keith, Rossana Rory, Dick Kallman, Don Megowan and Mike Lane. The film wa ...

'' (1957) - Deputy Bear *''

I Want to Live! ''I Want to Live!'' is a 1958 American biographical film noir directed by Robert Wise and starring Susan Hayward, Simon Oakland, Virginia Vincent and Theodore Bikel. It follows the life of Barbara Graham, a prostitute and habitual criminal w ...

'' (1958) - Sucker at Card Game (uncredited) *''

Ice Palace An ice palace or ice castle is a castle-like structure made of blocks of ice. These blocks are usually harvested from nearby rivers or lakes when they become frozen in winter. The first known ice palace (or, rather, '' ice house'', ледяной ...

'' (1960) - Bit Role (uncredited) *''

A Fever in the Blood ''A Fever in the Blood'' is a 1961 American courtroom drama, produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. The film features a roster of the studio's television contract players, often miscast according to the film's producer and screenwriter Roy ...

'' (1961) - Callahan Party Worker (uncredited) *''

Tender Is the Night ''Tender Is the Night'' is the fourth and final novel completed by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in French Riviera during the twilight of the Jazz Age, the 1934 novel chronicles the rise and fall of Dick Diver, a promising young p ...

'' (1962) - Mr. Albert Charles McKisco *'' Lad, A Dog'' (1962) - Sheriff *''

The Cabinet of Caligari ''The Cabinet of Caligari'' is a 1962 American horror film by Roger Kay, starring Glynis Johns, Dan O'Herlihy, and Richard Davalos, and released by 20th Century Fox. Although the film's title is very similar to the German silent horror film ...

'' (1962) - Bob *''

Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man ''Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man'' is a 1962 American adventure film directed by Martin Ritt based on Ernest Hemingway's semi-autobiographical character Nick Adams, and featuring Richard Beymer as Adams. A.E. Hotchner wrote the screenpl ...

'' (1962) - Mayor *'' Black Gold'' (1962) - Oil Man (uncredited) *''

To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and was instantly successful. In the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' has become ...

'' (1962) - Court Clerk (uncredited) *'' Dead Ringer'' (1964) - Tom Marshall (uncredited) *'' A House Is Not a Home'' (1964) - Bert *''

Kisses for My President ''Kisses for My President'' is a 1964 comedy film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Fred MacMurray and Polly Bergen. Leslie McCloud (Bergen) makes history when she is elected the first female president of the United States. However, her ...

'' (1964) - Blonde's Escort (uncredited) *''

'' (1964) - King George V in Fantasy Sequence (uncredited) *''

The Great Race ''The Great Race'' is a 1965 American Technicolor slapstick comedy film starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, and Natalie Wood, directed by Blake Edwards, written by Arthur A. Ross (from a story by Edwards and Ross), and with music by Henry Manci ...

'' (1965) - Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fredericks, Charles 1918 births 1970 deaths American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male television actors Male actors from Mississippi People from Columbus, Mississippi Male actors from Los Angeles People from Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male singers