Milton Selzer (October 25, 1918 – October 21, 2006) was an American stage, film, and television

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. ...

Early life

Born in

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, United States. Alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge, it is one of two traditional county seat, seats of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in ...

, Selzer and his family moved to

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on ...

, where he was raised. After graduating from Portsmouth High School, he attended the

University of New Hampshire The University of New Hampshire (UNH) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Durham, New Hampshire, United States. It was founded and incorporated in 1866 as a land grant coll ...

before serving in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Career

Selzer's acting career began with small parts on Broadway. After moving to Hollywood in 1960, he began a prolific career as a character actor making many guest appearances in film and television.

Stage

Selzer's Broadway credits include ''Tiger at the Gates'' (1955), ''Once Upon a Tailor'' (1954), ''Arms and the Man'' (1950), and ''Julius Caesar'' (1950).

Television

Selzer's many television roles included appearances on ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'', where he portrayed an alien in " Hocus-Pocus and Frisby", and as the miserly son-in-law in " The Masks". He appeared as Dr. Nobel in an episode of '' Have Gun Will Travel'', He appeared in an episode of '' The Asphalt Jungle'' in 1961. He made two memorable guest appearances on '' Perry Mason''; in 1963 he played defendant and title character Dr. Aaron Stuart in "The Case of the Decadent Dean," and in 1964 he played murder victim Dr. Max Taylor in "The Case of the Bullied Bowler". From 1965–67, he made seven guest appearances as Professor Parker in ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the Spy fiction, secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Bu ...

'' followed by roles on '' That Girl'', '' The Rat Patrol'', '' Hogan's Heroes'', and '' The Bold Ones: The Protectors''. In the many crime shows of the 1960s and 1970s, Selzer would often portray unsympathetic characters who would also possess sad and often pathetic qualities. He was a regular on the 1973

situation comedy A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

'' Needles and Pins'' as Julius Singer. He made his last onscreen appearance in the 1995

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

''Cagney & Lacey: Together Again''.

Film

Selzer's film career includes roles in '' The Young Savages'' (1961) opposite

Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor. Initially known for playing tough characters with tender hearts, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year caree ...

, '' A Big Hand for the Little Lady'' (1966), '' In Enemy Country'' (1968), '' The Buddy System'' (1984) and '' Sid and Nancy'' (1986).

Death

On October 21, 2006, four days before his 88th birthday, Selzer died of pulmonary complications.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Selzer, Milton 1918 births 2006 deaths Male actors from Lowell, Massachusetts American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Male actors from New Hampshire People from Portsmouth, New Hampshire Military personnel from New Hampshire American military personnel of World War II University of New Hampshire alumni American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni The New School alumni Jewish American male actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American Jews 21st-century American Jews