Joseph Sweeney (July 26, 1884 – November 25, 1963) was an American actor who worked in stage productions, television and movies principally in the 1950s, often playing grandfatherly roles.
His best-known role was as the elderly Juror #9 in the 1957 classic ''
12 Angry Men'',
the role he originated in a 1954 ''
Westinghouse Studio One
''Studio One'' is an American anthology drama television series that was adapted from a radio series. It was created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher Markle, who came to CBS from the CBC. It premiered on November 7, 1948, and ended on Se ...
'' live
teleplay
A teleplay is a screenplay or script used in the production of a scripted television program or series. In general usage, the term is most commonly seen in reference to a standalone production, such as a television film, a television play, or a ...
of which the film was an adaptation.
Early life
Born in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
on 26 July 1884, he was raised in a
rooming house
A rooming house, also called a "multi-tenant house", is a "dwelling with multiple Lease-by-room, rooms rented out individually", in which the tenants share kitchen and often bathroom facilities. Rooming houses are often used as housing for low-i ...
in the same place with
W. C. Fields.
[
]
Career
In 1910 he started on an acting career and moved to Broadway, being fully active on-stage and touring throughout the United States.[ Sweeney debuted on stage in stock theater with a company in ]Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich ( ) is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic River, Yantic, Shetucket River, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River f ...
.
He had a successful career as a stage performer in such productions as ''The Clansmen'', '' George Washington Slept Here'', '' Ladies and Gentlemen'', ''A Slight Case of Murder
''A Slight Case of Murder'' is a 1938 American black comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Edward G. Robinson. The film is based on the 1935 play by Damon Runyon and Howard Lindsay.
Plot
With the end of Prohibition, bootlegger Remy ...
'', ''Dear Old Darlin'', and ''Days To Remember''.[ In the 1940s, he made the switch to television as audiences' interests changed.]Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), '' Death of a Salesman'' (1 ...
's ''The Crucible
''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1692 to 1693. Miller wrote ...
''.[''The Crucible'', Bantam Book edition, 1959 at page xiii]
In 1949 he was a regular on the CBS series Wesley, and between 1950 and 1960 he appeared in leading and supporting roles and in installments of '' Lights Out'', ''Kraft Television Theatre
''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947, on NBC, airing at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Impe ...
'', ''The Philco Television Playhouse
''The Philco Television Playhouse'' is an American television anthology series that was broadcast live on NBC from 1948 to 1955. Produced by Fred Coe, the series was sponsored by Philco. It was one of the most respected dramatic shows of the ...
'', '' Campbell Television Soundstage'', '' Studio One'', ''Producers' Showcase
''Producers' Showcase'' is an American anthology television series that was telecast live during the 1950s in compatible color by NBC. With top talent, the 90-minute episodes, covering a wide variety of genres, aired under the title every fou ...
'', ''Playwrights '56
''Playwrights '56'', a.k.a. ''The Playwright Hour'', is a 60-minute live American dramatic anthology series produced by Fred Coe for Showtime Productions. Twenty episodes aired on NBC from October 4, 1955, to June 19, 1956. It shared a Thursday ...
'', '' The U.S. Steel Hour'', '' The Defenders'', ''Car 54, Where Are You?
''Car 54, Where Are You?'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 1961 to April 1963. Filmed in black and white, the series starred Joe E. Ross as Gunther Toody and Fred Gwynne as Francis Muldoon, two mismatched New York City Po ...
'', and '' Dr. Kildare''.[
His most important performance in television was '']Twelve Angry Men
''Twelve Angry Men'' is an American courtroom drama written by Reginald Rose about the deliberations of a jury at a homicide trial. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. It was adapted for the stage the following year, and ...
'' (1954), by Reginald Rose
Reginald Rose (December 10, 1920 – April 19, 2002) was an American screenwriter. He wrote about controversial social and political issues. His realistic approach was particularly influential in the anthology programs of the 1950s.
Rose w ...
, who played Juror Mr. McCardle, and later repeated the role in Sidney Lumet
Sidney Arthur Lumet ( ; June 25, 1924 – April 9, 2011) was an American film director. Lumet started his career in theatre before moving to film, where he gained a reputation for making realistic and gritty New York City, New York dramas w ...
film adaption alongside Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway theatre, Broadway and in Hollywood. On screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image.
Bo ...
, Lee J. Cobb
Lee J. Cobb (born Leo Jacoby; December 8, 1911February 11, 1976) was an American actor, known both for film roles and his work on the Broadway stage, as well as for his starring role on the television series '' The Virginian''. He often played a ...
and Jack Warden
Jack Warden (born John Warden Lebzelter Jr.; September 18, 1920July 19, 2006) was an American actor who worked in film and television. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Shampoo (film), Shampoo'' (1975) and '' ...
.[ He also played crafty and villainous roles, such as the larcenous former household employee in '' The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit'' (1956) or '' The Fastest Gun Alive'' (1956).][
]
Death
Sweeney continued to act until the time of his death on 25 November 1963 at the age of 79, appearing in numerous television shows and programs that year alone, including at least in more than a dozen during the last year of his life.
Filmography
Television
Films
Notes
References
External links
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*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweeney, Joseph
1880s births
1963 deaths
American male television actors
20th-century American male actors
Male actors from Philadelphia
American male film actors
American male stage actors