Michael St. Angel (1916–1984) was an American

film actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

Biography

Second lead and featured actor Michael St. Angel was born in

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...

in 1916, to Jasper and Giacomina St. Angel, the son of a prominent real estate businessman and community leader. Following high school, the darkly handsome youth attended Wisconsin's

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1846 when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It has an enrollment of roughly 1,000 undergradua ...

majoring in drama, then later transferred to Iowa's St. Ambrose College where he became a drama teacher after receiving his degree. Deciding to pursue acting professionally, he left his teaching post after only a couple of years and returned to Wisconsin where he joined up with the Belfry Players and traveled the country in stock shows. He eventually made it to New York and in July 1942 made his Broadway debut in the small role of a soldier in ''The Cat Screams''. The show closed four days later. Two months later he was cast in the much more successful comedy "Janie," which ran well over a year. A

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

talent scout picked up on Michael's dark, wavy-haired good looks and convinced him to travel West to audition for the lead role of

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned jazz, popular music, popular and classical music. Among his best-known works are the songs "Swan ...

in the biopic ''

Rhapsody in Blue ''Rhapsody in Blue'' is a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band by George Gershwin. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the work combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects and premiered in a concer ...

'' (1945). The part went to

Robert Alda Robert Alda (born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo; February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) was an American theatrical and film actor. He was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. Alda was featured in a number of Broadway productio ...

, however, and he was about to return to NY when a meeting with

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, is an American film production and distribution company, historically one of the major film studios, "Big Five" film studios of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood's Clas ...

resulted in a contract. Michael started out inauspiciously in tiny parts starting out with the film '' Gangway for Tomorrow'' (1943). Following a couple of other obscure bits, he secured more visible roles in ''

Bride by Mistake ''Bride by Mistake'' is a 1944 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, and starring Alan Marshal and Laraine Day. The screenplay is by Phoebe Ephron and Henry Ephron, based on a story by Norman Krasna, and is a remake of ...

'' (1944) and ''

Marine Raiders The Marine Raiders are special operations forces originally established by the United States Marine Corps during World War II to conduct amphibious warfare, amphibious light infantry warfare. Despite the original intent for Raiders to serve ...

'' (1944), which led to the romantic co-starring role opposite

Elaine Riley Elaine Riley (January 15, 1917 – December 7, 2015) was an American film and television actress. Early years The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Riley, Riley was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, on January 15, 1917. She won the Miss East Liverpool ...

in the

Leon Errol Leon Errol (born Leonce Errol Sims, July 3, 1881 – October 12, 1951) was an Australian-American comedian and actor in the United States, popular in the first half of the 20th century for his appearances in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in film ...

comedy starrer '' What a Blonde'' (1945). Michael showed enough promise from this to be cast as the second lead role in the thriller ''

The Brighton Strangler ''The Brighton Strangler'' is a 1945 American crime film directed by Max Nosseck and starring John Loder (actor), John Loder, June Duprez and Michael St. Angel. Plot During The Blitz in World War II, wartime London, an actor suffers concussion an ...

'' (1945) which toplines John Loder as an actor dangerously obsessed by the title role he plays on stage. Michael married Fox singer/dancer Marjorie Holliday in 1945. After the birth of their son Jasper Michael, in 1951, she abandoned her career for family obligations. But Michael's film career already went into a steep decline as quickly as it peaked. Before he knew it, he found himself back to minor roles in such films as ''

First Yank Into Tokyo ''First Yank into Tokyo'' is a 1945 American war film directed by Gordon Douglas for RKO Radio Pictures, starring Tom Neal, Keye Luke, Barbara Hale, and Richard Loo. It was one of the last American films to be produced during World War II, releas ...

'' (1945), a loanout to

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures is currently an acquisition-only label owned by Paramount Pictures. Its history dates back to Republic Pictures Corporation, an American film studio that originally operated from 1935 to 1967, based in Los Angeles, California ...

The Madonna's Secret ''The Madonna's Secret'' is a 1946 American film noir crime film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Francis Lederer, Gail Patrick, Ann Rutherford and Edward Ashley.Alvarez p.46 Plot In an art gallery, drama critic John Earl sees a portr ...

'' (1946) and back to RKO for ''

The Truth About Murder ''The Truth About Murder'' is a 1946 American mystery film directed by Lew Landers, written by Lawrence Kimble, Hilda Gordon and Eric Taylor (screenwriter), Eric Taylor, and starring Bonita Granville, Morgan Conway, Rita Corday, Don Douglas (acto ...

'' (1946). Over his objections, RKO changed his marquee name to "Steven Flagg" to give his career a boost but little changed. Under this name he found work with former co-star Leon Errol in several of the star's short films. Producer

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American Aerospace engineering, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor. He was The World's Billionaires, one of the richest and most influential peo ...

kept Michael under contract despite his lack of stature and following a few parts in such films as '' Easy Living'' (1949), ''

Flying Leathernecks ''Flying Leathernecks'' is a 1951 American Technicolor action war film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Edmund Grainger (who had produced ''Sands of Iwo Jima''), and starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The movie details the exploits an ...

'' (1951), '' The Pace That Thrills'' (1952) and ''

The French Line ''The French Line'' is a 1953 American musical film starring Jane Russell made by RKO Radio Pictures, directed by Lloyd Bacon and produced by Edmund Grainger, with Howard Hughes as executive producer. The screenplay was by Mary Loos and Richa ...

'' (1953), he was dropped. Quickly switching his stage name back to his real name, Michael moved more and more towards TV work. One very promising opportunity in 1957 to star as TV detective

Mike Hammer Michael Hammer or Mike Hammer may refer to: * Michael Hammer (politician) (born 1977), Austrian politician * Michael Armand Hammer (1955–2022), American philanthropist and businessman * Michael Martin Hammer (1948–2008), engineer and author * Mi ...

fell through. Outside of acting, to make ends meet Michael worked for producer Howard Hughes over at

TWA The Twa, often referred to as Batwa or Mutwa (singular), are indigenous hunter-gatherer peoples of the Great Lakes Region in Central Africa, recognized as some of the earliest inhabitants of the area. Historically and academically, the term � ...

at one point and also served as a

personal assistant A personal assistant, also referred to as personal aide (PA) or personal secretary (PS), is a job title describing a person who assists a specific person with their daily business or personal task. It is a subspecialty of secretarial duties ...

to his old friend, columnist

Walter Winchell Walter Winchell (April 7, 1897 – February 20, 1972) was a syndicated American newspaper gossip columnist and radio news commentator. Originally a vaudeville performer, Winchell began his newspaper career as a Broadway reporter, critic and c ...

. In the next couple of decades only occasional small acting roles came his way both on film '' What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1962), ''

4 for Texas ''4 for Texas'' is a 1963 American comedy Western film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress, Charles Bronson and Mike Mazurki, with a cameo appearance by Arthur Godfrey and the Three Stooges. The film was writ ...

'' (1963), '' Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' (1966), '' The Love Machine'' (1971)) and TV (''

The Gale Storm Show ''The Gale Storm Show'' is an American sitcom starring Gale Storm. The series premiered on September 29, 1956, and ran until 1960 for 125 half-hour black-and-white episodes, initially on CBS and in its last year on ABC. Its title is also seen a ...

'', ''

The Untouchables Untouchable or Untouchables may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status * Untouchables, word for the Dalits or Scheduled Castes of India * Untouchables (law enforcement), ...

'', '' The Virginian'', ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an American anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from September 29, 1969, to January 11, 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a pa ...

'', '' The Magician''). Following wife Marjorie's sudden death at age 48 in 1969 of a cerebral hemorrhage, Michael ventured on in the restaurant business as owner and manager of his last eatery, Michael's Los Feliz. He died in 1984 at age 67 at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital survived by his son.

Partial filmography

* '' Gangway for Tomorrow'' (1943) - Jim Johnson - Mechanic * ''

The Falcon Out West ''The Falcon Out West'' (aka ''The Falcon in Texas'') is a 1944 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Tom Conway, Joan Barclay and Barbara Hale. The film was part of RKO's The Falcon series of detective films, this ...

'' (1944) - Nightclub Patron (uncredited) * ''

Seven Days Ashore ''Seven Days Ashore'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by John H. Auer and written by Edward Verdier, Irving Phillips and Lawrence Kimble. The film stars Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Marcy McGuire, Virginia Mayo, Elaine Shepard, Gordon Oliver ...

'' (1944) - Marine (uncredited) * ''

'' (1944) - Lt. Sherwood * ''

'' (1944) - Lt. Stephen Corey * '' What a Blonde'' (1945) - Andrew Kent * ''

'' (1945) - Lt. Bob Carson * ''

First Yank into Tokyo ''First Yank into Tokyo'' is a 1945 American war film directed by Gordon Douglas for RKO Radio Pictures, starring Tom Neal, Keye Luke, Barbara Hale, and Richard Loo. It was one of the last American films to be produced during World War II, releas ...

'' (1945) - Capt. Andrew Kent * ''

'' (1946) - Hunt Mason * ''

'' (1946) - Hank * '' The Velvet Touch'' (1948) - Jimmy * '' Race Street'' (1948) - Clerk (uncredited) * ''

Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an very important person, important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public offic ...

'' (1948) - Kelly - Reporter (uncredited) * '' Easy Living'' (1949) - Gilbert Vollmer * ''

A Dangerous Profession ''A Dangerous Profession'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff, written by Warren Duff and Martin Rackin, and starring George Raft, Ella Raines and Pat O'Brien.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company ...

'' (1949) - Roberts, Law Firm Receptionist (uncredited) * ''

Hit Parade of 1951 ''Hit Parade of 1951'' is a 1950 American musical film directed by John H. Auer and written by Lawrence Kimble, Elizabeth Reinhardt and Aubrey Wisberg. The film stars John Carroll, Marie McDonald, Estelita Rodriguez, Frank Fontaine, Grant Wit ...

'' (1950) - Chuck * ''

Operation Pacific ''Operation Pacific'' is a 1951 black-and-white World War II submarine war drama from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Louis Edelman, and written as well as directed by George Waggner. John Wayne and Patricia Neal star and Ward Bond and ...

'' (1951) - Lt. Jorgenson (uncredited) * ''

Million Dollar Pursuit ''Million Dollar Pursuit'' is a 1951 film noir crime film directed by R. G. Springsteen and starring Penny Edwards, Grant Withers and Norman Budd.Martin p.470 The film's art direction was by Frank Hotaling. Plot Cast * Penny Edwards as Ronni ...

'' (1951) - Police Lieut. Matt Whitcomb * ''

'' (1951) - Capt. Harold Jorgensen, Ops. Officer * '' The Las Vegas Story'' (1952) - Mitch - Deputy (uncredited) * '' The Pace That Thrills'' (1952) - Chris Rhodes * '' One Minute to Zero'' (1952) - Lt. Martin (uncredited) * '' Affair with a Stranger'' (1953) - Frank - Actor (uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) - George Hodges * '' Man Trap'' (1961) - Murray, Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

The George Raft Story ''The George Raft Story'' is a 1961 American biographical film directed by Joseph M. Newman that stars Ray Danton as Hollywood film star George Raft. The picture was retitled ''Spin of a Coin'' for release in the United Kingdom, a reference to R ...

'' (1961) - Mustached Patron (uncredited) * '' Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1962) - Bank Manager (uncredited) * '' Critic's Choice'' (1963) - Actor, Jimmy in 'Week End' (uncredited) * ''

Black Zoo ''Black Zoo'' (also known as ''Horrors of the'' ''Black Zoo'') is a 1963 American horror film directed by Robert Gordon and starring Michael Gough, Jeanne Cooper, Rod Lauren, Virginia Grey, Jerome Cowan, and Elisha Cook, Jr. It was produced ...

'' (1963) - Officer Donovan (uncredited) * ''

4 For Texas ''4 for Texas'' is a 1963 American comedy Western film starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress, Charles Bronson and Mike Mazurki, with a cameo appearance by Arthur Godfrey and the Three Stooges. The film was writ ...

'' (1963) - Williams * '' Looking for Love'' (1964) - Bistro Owner (uncredited) * '' Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' (1966) - Captain William Yates * ''

The Cool Ones ''The Cool Ones'' (aka ''Cool, Baby Cool'') is a 1967 film starring Roddy McDowall and directed by Gene Nelson. The 1960s novelty singer known as Mrs. Miller performs in a cameo role, and the film features performances by the bands the Leaves ...

'' (1967) - Director (uncredited) * '' Doctor's Wives'' (1971) - Doctor (uncredited) * '' The Love Machine'' (1971) - Agency Man (uncredited)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:St. Angel, Michael 1916 births 1984 deaths American male film actors American male television actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors