Carl Peter Brocco (January 16, 1903 – December 20, 1992) was an American screen and stage actor. He appeared in over 300 credits, notably ''

Spartacus Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Historical accounts o ...

'' (1960) and '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975), during his career spanning over 60 years.

Early years

Brocco was born in

Reading, Pennsylvania Reading ( ; ) is a city in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, fourth-most populous ...

. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brocco.

Career

Brocco acted on stage with the Walter Hampton Players. He debuted on Broadway in ''Centuries'' (1927); he also performed in Shakespeare's ''

The Merry Wives of Windsor ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...

'' (1938). Brocco appeared as a criminal type in three episodes of TV's '' Adventures of Superman''."Adventures of Superman", complete cast and crew
at IMDb He holds the distinction of having been killed off in two of them, a relative rarity for villains in the series. In the first, ''The Secret of Superman'', he deduces that Kent is Superman, but is killed in a police shootout soon after. In ''The Clown Who Cried'', he falls off a building and Superman is unable to save him. He also appeared as "The Spectre" in ''The Phantom Ring'', where the criminals developed a machine that can make them invisible. Finally, in that episode, he survives, albeit rather banged up by Superman. Brocco was also on two episodes of '' Combat!'',"Combat", complete cast and crew
at IMDb "The Long Walk" in 1964 and "The Flying Machine" in 1966. He appeared as Claymare, an Organian council member, in the ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the Star Trek: The Original Series, series of the same name and became a worldwide Popular culture, pop-culture Cultural influence of ...

'' episode "

Errand of Mercy "Errand of Mercy" is the twenty-sixth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by Gene L. Coon and directed by John Newland, it was first broadcast on March 23, 1967. It was the fir ...

", which established the uneasy treaty of peace between the

United Federation of Planets In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'', the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly re ...

and the Klingon Empire. In 1969, he played an artist on the TV series ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb and produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pe ...

''. Brocco displayed a comedic talent portraying Peter The Waiter for 8 episodes of ''

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', sometimes called ''The Burns and Allen Show'', is a half-hour television sitcom broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS. It starred George Burns and Gracie Allen, one of the most enduring acts in entertainm ...

'' on CBS during its 1955–1956 season.''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', full cast and crew
at IMDb Brocco played Colonel Matterson, a patient who used a wheelchair and had dementia, in the Academy Award-winning '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975). He also appeared as the patient in the hospital, Mr. Egan, in the ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'' 1974 episode "Hardware Jungle". In 1983 he played Ali MacGraw's father in the epic TV miniseries '' The Winds of War''. Brocco lived for some 40 years in Laurel Canyon, in a 1920s Spanish style home on Laurel Canyon Blvd. near the Country Store. He had his ceramics studio in the ground floor, a source of income when he was

blacklist Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list; if people are on a blacklist, then they are considere ...

ed for a while during the

red scare A Red Scare is a form of moral panic provoked by fear of the rise of left-wing ideologies in a society, especially communism and socialism. Historically, red scares have led to mass political persecution, scapegoating, and the ousting of thos ...

of the early 1950s.

Death

Brocco died from a heart attack in Los Angeles on December 20, 1992, aged 89.

Selected filmography

* ''

Roar of the Dragon ''Roar of the Dragon'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code adventure film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Howard Estabrook and released on July 8, 1932. The film stars Richard Dix, Gwili Andre, Edward Everett Horton, Arline Judge, and Za ...

'' (1932) as Wireless Operator * '' Devil and the Deep'' (1932) as Wireless Operator * '' Stand By All Networks'' (1942) as Cab Driver * '' The Return of Monte Cristo'' (1946) as Clerk * '' Alias Mr. Twilight'' (1946) as Brick Robey * '' The Lone Wolf in Mexico'' (1947) as Emil * '' The Swordsman'' (1948) as Groom * '' The Argyle Secrets'' (1948) as Scanlon * '' The Vicious Circle'' (1948) as Dr. Georges Samosch * '' The Saxon Charm'' (1948) as Cyril Leatham * '' The Gallant Blade'' (1948) as Sergeant Jacques, Cadeau's Servant * '' The Countess of Monte Cristo'' (1948) as Hotel Desk Clerk * '' The Boy with Green Hair'' (1948) as Bit Part * '' Appointment with Murder'' (1948) as Giuseppe Donatti * '' Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture'' (1949) as Rolfe * '' The Undercover Man'' (1949) as Johnny * '' Search for Danger'' (1949) as Morris Jason * '' Susanna Pass'' (1949) as Coroner Carter * '' The Lady Gambles'' (1949) as Horse Player * '' Flaming Fury'' (1949) as E.V. Wessman * ''

Jolson Sings Again ''Jolson Sings Again'' is a 1949 American musical biographical film directed by Henry Levin, and the sequel to '' The Jolson Story'' (1946), both of which cover the life of singer Al Jolson. It was the highest-grossing film of 1949 and receiv ...

'' (1949) as Headwaiter * ''

Post Office Investigator ''Post Office Investigator'' is a 1949 black and white American crime film about the theft of postage stamps, directed by George Blair, and starring Audrey Long, Warren Douglas and Jeff Donnell. ''Allmovie'' called it a "diligent Republic pro ...

'' (1949) as Bruno Antista * ''

Miss Grant Takes Richmond ''Miss Grant Takes Richmond'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon, starring Lucille Ball, William Holden, and Janis Carter, and produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was released under the alternative title ''I ...

'' (1949) as Prospective Home Buyer, Father of Triplets * '' The Reckless Moment'' (1949) as Pete, Bartender * '' Tension'' (1949) as Balew * '' House by the River'' (1950) as Harry – Coroner * '' Key to the City'' (1950) as Waiter * '' Gunmen of Abilene'' (1950) as Henry Turner * '' Guilty of Treason'' (1950) as Judge Vilmos Oltey * '' Black Hand'' (1950) as Roberto Columbo * ''

Champagne for Caesar ''Champagne for Caesar'' is a 1950 American comedy film about a quiz show contestant directed by Richard Whorf from an original screenplay by Hans Jacoby and Fred Brady. It stars Ronald Colman, Celeste Holm, Vincent Price, Barbara Britton, and ...

'' (1950) as Fortune Teller * '' The Gunfighter'' (1950) as Card Player * '' Peggy'' (1950) as Bob Winters * '' The Breaking Point'' (1950) as Macho * '' Three Secrets'' (1950) as Stephani * '' The Killer That Stalked New York'' (1950) as Tom the Wino * '' Belle Le Grand'' (1951) as Tyler * '' Flame of Stamboul'' (1951) as Sadik Raschin * ''

Francis Goes to the Races ''Francis Goes to the Races'' is a 1951 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Arthur Lubin, that stars Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, and Cecil Kellaway. The distinctive ...

'' (1951) as Dr. Marberry * '' The Great Caruso'' (1951) as Father Bronzetti * '' The Fat Man'' (1951) as Racetrack Bookkeeper * ''

Sirocco Sirocco ( ) or scirocco is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and can reach hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe, especially during the summer season. Names ''Sirocco'' derives from '' šurūq'' (), verbal noun o ...

'' (1951) as The Barber * ''

Hollywood Story ''Hollywood Story'' is a 1951 American mystery film directed by William Castle and starring Richard Conte and Julia Adams. The supporting cast features Richard Egan, Henry Hull, Fred Clark and Jim Backus. The film was an attempt by Universal P ...

'' (1951) as Charles Rodale * '' The Tall Target'' (1951) as Fernandina * '' His Kind of Woman'' (1951) as Thompson's First Henchman * '' Chain of Circumstance'' (1951) as Clerk * '' Drums in the Deep South'' (1951) as Union Corporal * ''

Roadblock A roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be: * Roadworks *Temporary road closure during special events * Police chase *Robbery * Sobriety checkpoint * Protests In peaceful ...

'' (1951) as Bank Heist Man * '' The Whip Hand'' (1951) as Nate Garr * ''

Too Young to Kiss ''Too Young to Kiss'' (also ''All Too Young'') is a 1951 American comedy film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Van Johnson and June Allyson. The film, in which the 34-year-old Allyson's Cynthia Potter masquerades as a 14-year-old child prodigy ...

'' (1951) as Waiter * '' Radar Men from the Moon'' (1952) as Krog * '' Harem Girl'' (1952) as Ameen * ''

Mutiny Mutiny is a revolt among a group of people (typically of a military or a crew) to oppose, change, or remove superiors or their orders. The term is commonly used for insubordination by members of the military against an officer or superior, ...

'' (1952) as Sykes, Gunner * '' The Narrow Margin'' (1952) as Vincent Yost * '' Young Man with Ideas'' (1952) as Butler * '' Actor's and Sin'' (1952) as Mr. Herbert (segment "Actor's Blood") * '' Cripple Creek'' (1952) as Cashier Ed * '' Holiday for Sinners'' (1952) as Father * ''

Big Jim McLain ''Big Jim McLain'' is a 1952 American film noir political thriller film starring John Wayne and James Arness as HUAC investigators hunting down communists in the postwar Hawaii organized-labor scene. Edward Ludwig directed. This was the first ...

'' (1952) as Dr. Carter * '' The Ring'' (1952) as Barney Williams * ''

The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in o ...

'' (1952) as Johann * '' Woman in the Dark'' (1952) as Nick Petzik * '' The Bandits of Corsica'' (1953) as Angelo * '' The Story of Three Loves'' (1953) as Bartender (segment "Mademoiselle") * '' Invaders from Mars'' (1953) as Brainard, Wilson's Aide * '' Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation'' (1953) as Adolph Wade * '' The Desert Song'' (1953) as Old Refugee * '' El Alamein'' (1953) as Selim * '' Duffy of San Quentin'' (1954) as Nealy * '' Tobor the Great'' (1954) as Dr. Gustav * '' Rogue Cop'' (1954) as George 'Wrinkles' Fallon * '' The Atomic Kid'' (1954) as Comrade Mosley * '' The Silver Chalice'' (1954) as Stall Keeper * '' The Racers'' (1955) as Gatti * '' Wyoming Renegades'' (1955) as Dawson * ''

I'll Cry Tomorrow ''I'll Cry Tomorrow'' (1955) is a biopic that tells the story of Lillian Roth, a Broadway star who rebels against the pressure of her domineering mother and struggles with alcoholism after the death of her fiancé. It stars Susan Hayward, Rich ...

'' (1955) as Doctor * '' Diane'' (1956) as Court Painter * '' Hot Blood'' (1956) as Doctor Robert Turchino * '' Stranger at My Door'' (1956) as Saddler * '' He Laughed Last'' (1956) as Al Fusary * '' Black Patch'' (1957) as Harper *'' Perry Mason'' (1959) (Season 2, Episode 16: "The Case of the Fraudulent Photo") - Theophile Duclerc * '' Twilight Zone'' (1959) as Mr. Marshak in the episode “ The Four of Us Are Dying” * '' Compulsion'' (1959) as Albert, Steiner's Chauffeur * ''

Elmer Gantry ''Elmer Gantry'' is a 1927 satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis that presents aspects of the religious activity of the United States in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. Reverend Dr. ...

'' (1960) as Benny, Photographer * ''

'' (1960) as Ramon * '' Let No Man Write My Epitaph'' (1960) as Salesman at Florist Shop * ''

Underworld U.S.A. ''Underworld U.S.A.'' (also known as ''Underworld USA'') is a 1961 American neo-noir crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylisticall ...

'' (1961) as Vic Farrar * '' Fear No More'' (1961) as Steve Cresca * ''A Public Affair'' (1962) as Leonard Lohman * '' The Three Stooges in Orbit'' (1962) as Doctor Appleby * '' Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man'' (1962) as Headwaiter * '' The Interns'' (1962) as Arnold Auer * ''

The Balcony ''The Balcony'' () is a Play (theatre), play by the French people, French dramatist Jean Genet. It is set in an unnamed city that is experiencing a revolutionary uprising in the streets; most of the action takes place in an upmarket brothel that ...

'' (1963) as Judge * '' The Pleasure Seekers'' (1964) as Arturo * '' Dark Intruder'' (1965) as Chi Zang * '' Our Man Flint'' (1966) as Dr. Wu * '' The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming'' (1966) as Reverend Hawthorne * '' Star Trek: The Original Series'' (1967) as Claymare in the episode "

" * '' Enter Laughing'' (1967) as Lawyer Peabody * ''

Games A game is a Structure, structured type of play (activity), play usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an Educational game, educational tool. Many games are also considered to be Work (human activity), work (such as p ...

'' (1967) as Count, Party Guest * '' In Enemy Country'' (1968) as Prisoner at Factory Yard * ''Dr. Heidegger's Experiment'' (1969) as Dr. Heidegger * '' Some Kind of a Nut'' (1969) as Mr. Suzumi * '' Hail, Hero!'' (1969) as Old Man #1 * ''

The Comic ''The Comic'' is a 1969 American Pathécolor comedy-drama film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Carl Reiner. It stars Dick Van Dyke as Billy Bright (which was the original title of the film), Michele Lee as Bright's love interest, and R ...

'' (1969) as Minister * '' Gaily, Gaily'' (1969) as Swami * '' A Time for Dying'' (1969) as Seth * '' Johnny Got His Gun'' (1971) as Ancient Prelate * ''

What's the Matter with Helen? ''What's the Matter With Helen?'' is a 1971 American horror film directed by Curtis Harrington and starring Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters. Plot In mid- 1930s Iowa,A then-current newsreel clip reporting on First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt' ...

'' (1971) as Old Man * '' Fuzz'' (1972) as Man with Garbage * '' Papillon'' (1973) as Doctor * '' The Killing Kind'' (1973) as Louise's Father * '' Homebodies'' (1974) as Mr. Blakely * '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975) as Colonel Matterson * '' Raid on Entebbe'' (1976) as Mr. Scharf * '' The One and Only'' (1978) as Autograph Hound * '' Butch and Sundance: The Early Days'' (1979) as Old Robber * '' Fighting Back'' (1982) as Donato * '' Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again'' (1982) as Hubert Howes * '' Twilight Zone: The Movie'' (1983) as Mr. Mute (Segment #2) * ''Money to Burn'' (1983) as Harry * ''

Throw Momma from the Train ''Throw Momma from the Train'' is a 1987 American crime black comedy film starring and directed by Danny DeVito in his theatrical directorial debut. It co-stars Billy Crystal, Anne Ramsey, Rob Reiner, Branford Marsalis, Kim Greist and Kate ...

'' (1987) as Old Man * '' The War of the Roses'' (1989) as Elderly Mourner * ''

Other People's Money ''Other People's Money'' is a 1991 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Norman Jewison, starring Danny DeVito, Gregory Peck, and Penelope Ann Miller. It was adapted by screenwriter Alvin Sargent from the 1989 play of the same nam ...

'' (1991) as Garfield's Office Valet

Television

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brocco, Peter 1903 births 1992 deaths American male film actors American male television actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors Actors from Reading, Pennsylvania Male actors from Pennsylvania