Anthony George

Anthony George (born Ottavio Gabriel George; January 29, 1921 – March 16, 2005) was an American actor mostly seen on television. He is best known for roles of Don Corey on ''Checkmate'', Burke Devlin and Jeremiah Collins on ''Dark Shadows'', Dr. Tony Vincente on ''Search for Tomorrow'', and Dr. Will Vernon on ''One Life to Live''.

Background

Anthony George was born in Endicott, New York, near Binghamton, the second son of Italian immigrant parents. From the age of six, George dreamed of being in films. After serving in World War II, George moved to Hollywood. Though the first few years were lean, by 1950, he had received his first credit and the work began to accumulate. The vast majority of George's roles were on television.

Career

In 1955, George appeared as Sergei in the episode "Mightier Than the Sword" of the religion anthology television series, '' Crossroads'', based on stories about American clergymen. He was cast as an Native American guide in the 1956 episode "Death in the Snow" of NBC's anthology series, '' The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial''; Cotten later returned the favor, guest-starring in the episode "Face in the Window" of ''Checkmate''. George portrayed Native American roles in the CBS western series, '' Brave Eagle'', starring Keith Larsen in the title role of a young Cheyenne chief who tries to maintain peace with the white community. George was cast in the episodes "The Treachery of At-Ta-Tu" (1955), as Night Wind in "Voice of the Serpent" (1955), and as Red Wing in "Witch Bear" (1956).

In 1957, George appeared as Sancho Mendariz on the TV western ''Cheyenne'' in the episode, "The Spanish Grant". On July 31, 1957, George was cast as Nick Frazee, a bank robber who kills a deputy sheriff before making his getaway, in the episode "Hold Up" of the series '' The Sheriff of Cochise'', in which Sheriff Frank Morgan ( John Bromfield), based in Cochise County, Arizona, establishes roadblocks in pursuit of Frazee and two of his men, but the fleeing bandits take an isolated road into the mountains.

In 1958, Geroge played Clarence Miller, an escaped mental patient in an episode of ''Highway Patrol'', a police drama starring Broderick Crawford. In January 1959, George played a Catholic priest, Padre John, in the episode "The Desperadoes" of the western series, '' Sugarfoot''. Later in 1959, George was first cast as federal agent Cam Allison in the first season of ABC's '' The Untouchables'', with Robert Stack. He appeared in twelve episodes before he landed his role on ''Checkmate''. After ''Checkmate'' ended, he appeared as the title character in "The Johnny Masters Story" episode of ''Wagon Train''.

George's longest-running success came from his decades-long career in daytime soap operas. In 1967, George replaced Mitchell Ryan as the brooding Burke Devlin on ''Dark Shadows''. Some months later, the character was killed in a plane crash, and George created the role of Jeremiah Collins in a flashback to the year 1795. The story ran for most of 1967, until Jeremiah was killed off. George obtained further roles on CBS's ''Search for Tomorrow'' (as Dr. Tony Vincente, 1970–75) and ''One Life to Live'' (as Dr. Will Vernon). After being written out of ''One Life to Live'' in 1984, George continued to make sporadic film and television appearances. In 1988, he played the role of Alex Karides in "Baja, Humbug" in the CBS crime drama, ''Simon and Simon''.

Death

George died of complications from emphysema in Newport Beach, California, on March 16, 2005. His death was announced by his longtime partner, actor Earl Holliman.Starr, Michael (April 1, 2005).
STARR REPORT
. ''New York Post''.

Filmography

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Anthony
1921 births
2005 deaths
American people of Italian descent
American military personnel of World War II
American male television actors
American male soap opera actors
American male film actors
Male actors from New York (state)
Deaths from emphysema
People from Endicott, New York
Military personnel from New York (state)
20th-century American male actors