Stafford Alois Repp (April 26, 1918 November 5, 1974) was an American actor best known for his role as Police Chief Miles Clancy O'Hara on ABC's ''

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

'' television series.

World War II

Soon after the December 7, 1941 attack on

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Reci ...

, he served a stint in the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

during

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 ...

. He was active in performing in and producing shows while he was in the Army Air Corps. After his military service, he began his acting career.

Acting career

Repp acted in stage productions on the West Coast before World War II. At the beginning of his film career, Repp appeared in numerous film and TV productions including the films '' I Want to Live!'' (1958) with

Susan Hayward Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrener; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American actress best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Clarence Thornton, Walt ...

, and ''

The Brothers Karamazov ''The Brothers Karamazov'' ( rus, Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ), also translated as ''The Karamazov Brothers'', is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly ...

,'' both made in 1958. Also at this same time he began to appear in a string of early television programs from the middle 1950s to the early 1960s, including

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

anthology series An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...

''Frontier'' and the Barry Sullivan/ Clu Gulager western, '' The Tall Man''. Repp appeared on Rod Cameron's '' State Trooper'',

Barbara Eden Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead; August 23, 1931) is an American actress and singer, who starred as the title character in the sitcom ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (1965–1970). Her other roles included Roslyn Pierce opposite Elvis Presley in ...

's ''

How to Marry a Millionaire ''How to Marry a Millionaire'' is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed by Jean Negulesco and written and produced by Nunnally Johnson. The screenplay was based on the plays ''The Greeks Had a Word for It'' (1930) by Zoe Akins and '' ...

'',

Peter Lawford Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford (né Aylen; 7 September 1923 – 24 December 1984) was an English-American actor.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', 26 December 1984. He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of US president Jo ...

's ''

The Thin Man ''The Thin Man'' (1934) is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in a condensed version in the December 1933 issue of '' Redbook''. It appeared in book form the following month. A film series followed, featuring the main ...

'' (1957), Tom Tryon's '' Texas John Slaughter'' (1958),

Rex Allen Rex Elvie Allen Sr. (December 31, 1920 – December 17, 1999), known as "The Arizona Cowboy", was an American film and television actor, singer and songwriter; he was also the narrator of many Disney nature and Western productions. For his cont ...

's ''

Frontier Doctor ''Frontier Doctor'' is an American Western television series starring Rex Allen that aired in syndication from September 26, 1958, until June 20, 1959. The series was also known as ''Unarmed'' and ''Man of the West''.TV Guide Guide to TV. Bar ...

'' (1959), ''

Rawhide Rawhide may refer to: *Rawhide (material), a hide or animal skin that has not been tanned * Whip made from rawhide Entertainment * ''Rawhide'' (1926 film), a Western directed by Richard Thorpe * ''Rawhide'' (1938 film), a Western starring baseball ...

'' (1959),

Howard Duff Howard Green Duff (November 24, 1913July 8, 1990) was an American actor. He started in radio during World War II before appearing in many Hollywood features and television programs from 1947 to 1990. He also directed for television. His career ...

's ''

Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...

'' (1961),

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

's ''

The Real McCoys ''The Real McCoys'' is an American sitcom starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Company, it was br ...

'' (1957 and 1959), ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' (1957, 1960 & 1965), ''

The Donna Reed Show ''The Donna Reed Show'' is an American sitcom starring Donna Reed as the middle-class housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz co-stars as her Pediatrics, pediatrician husband Dr. Alex Stone, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen as their teenage childr ...

'' (1960), '' Guestward, Ho!'' (1960), ''

Angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...

'' (1961), and '' Dennis the Menace'' (1962 and 1963). He appeared as Joe Melvin, a plumber, in a 1963 episode of ''

The Lucy Show ''The Lucy Show'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962 to 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to ''I Love Lucy''. A significant change in cast and premise for the fourth season (1965–1966) divides the program into two distinct ...

'', "Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower". Repp made four appearances on '' Perry Mason'' between 1959 and 1962 in minor roles, including Private Investigator Phillip Morgan in "The Case of the Petulant Partner." From 1963 to 1964, he portrayed Brink, the factory supervisor on

Phil Silvers Phil Silvers (born Phillip Silver; May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and comedic actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah". His career as a professional entertainer spanned nearly 60 years. He achieved major popularity w ...

' '' The New Phil Silvers Show''. His series co-stars were Buddy Lester, Herbie Faye, Elena Verdugo, Ronnie Dapo, and Sandy Descher. Repp made appearances in ''

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 ...

'' episodes " Nick of Time" which starred

William Shatner William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1966 debut as the captain of the starship USS Enterpri ...

; a supporting role in " The Grave" with a cast which consisted of

Lee Marvin Lee Marvin (February 19, 1924August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and prematurely white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Although initially typecast as th ...

Lee Van Cleef Clarence LeRoy Van Cleef Jr. (January 9, 1925 – December 16, 1989) was an American actor. He appeared in over 170 film and television roles in a career spanning nearly 40 years, but is best known as a star of spaghetti Westerns, particularly t ...

Strother Martin Strother Douglas Martin Jr. (March 26, 1919 – August 1, 1980) was an American character actor who often appeared in support of John Wayne and Paul Newman and in Western films directed by John Ford and Sam Peckinpah. Among Martin's memorable ...

James Best Jewel Franklin Guy (July 26, 1926 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as James Best, was an American television, film, stage, and voice actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician. Duri ...

, and

Elen Willard Elen Willard is a retired American character actress who worked exclusively in various American network dramatic television series from 1960 to 1966. Her very first aired performance was a supporting role in a 1960 episode of the short-lived ...

; then finally in " Caesar and Me." In early 1966, he appeared as a railroad detective in an episode in the last season of ''

My Favorite Martian ''My Favorite Martian'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963, to May 1, 1966, for 107 episodes. The show stars Ray Walston as "Uncle Martin" (the Martian) and Bill Bixby as Tim O'Hara. ''My Favorite Martian'' was th ...

''. In 1966, he started his stint as Chief O'Hara on ''

''. While on ''

'', he appeared as a guest in numerous other television programs, including '' Love American Style'', ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series created by Sidney Sheldon and starring Barbara Eden as a beautiful but guileless 2,000-year-old Jinn, genie and Larry Hagman as an astronaut with whom s ...

'' and '' The Mothers-in-Law'', in the latter once again playing a policeman. His last released film was '' Linda Lovelace for President'' in

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

. He had a posthumous appearance in ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that originally aired for eight seasons on CBS from September 16, 1967, to March 13, 1975. The show was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer ...

'' that was first broadcast two months after his death. His last television appearance was on the TV show ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richa ...

'' (as a Military Police Officer) that was first broadcast four months after his death. Shortly before his death in 1974, he filmed several scenes for

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

' unfinished film ''

The Other Side of the Wind ''The Other Side of the Wind'' is a 2018 satirical drama film co-written, co-edited, and directed by Orson Welles, and posthumously released after 48 years in development. The film stars John Huston, Bob Random, Peter Bogdanovich, Susan Strasb ...

'', which was not completed and released until 2018.

Personal life

Repp was married and had five children. Repp died at age 56 on November 5, 1974, in Inglewood, California. He is interred at Westminster Memorial Park in

Westminster, California Westminster is a city in western Orange County, California, United States. Westminster was founded in 1870 by Rev. Lemuel Webber as a Presbyterian Temperance movement, temperance colony and was incorporated in 1957. Westminster is bordered by ...

. After his death, his sister, a television writer, established the Stafford Repp Memorial Scholarship for alumni of his

alma mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...

, Lowell High School.Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Selected TV and filmography

* '' Fireman Save My Child'' (1954) - Emma's Third Coachman (uncredited) * ''

Shield for Murder ''Shield for Murder'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film co-directed by and starring Edmond O'Brien as a police detective who has become malevolent. It was based on the novel of the same name by William P. McGivern. Plot Lieutenant Barney ...

'' (1954) - Detective O'Dell (uncredited) * ''

Down Three Dark Streets ''Down Three Dark Streets'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film starring Broderick Crawford and Ruth Roman. Directed by Arnold Laven, the picture's screenplay was written by Gordon Gordon and Mildred Gordon, based on their novel ''Case ...

'' (1954) - Boxing Manager (uncredited) * '' Black Tuesday'' (1954) - Bert Posmonick (uncredited) * '' Unchained'' (1955) - Mr. Miller, Prison Welding Supervisor (uncredited) * ''

Big House, U.S.A. ''Big House, U.S.A.'' is a 1955 American crime film noir directed by Howard W. Koch and written by John C. Higgins. The film stars Broderick Crawford, Ralph Meeker, Reed Hadley, William Talman, Lon Chaney Jr., and Charles Bronson. The fi ...

'' (1955) - Prison Warden Machek (uncredited) * '' Strange Lady in Town'' (1955) - Macaneer (uncredited) * '' The Shrike'' (1955) - Fleming (uncredited) * ''

Not as a Stranger ''Not as a Stranger'' is a 1955 American film noir drama film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra and Gloria Grahame. It is based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Morton Th ...

'' (1955) - Orientation Doctor (uncredited) * ''

Man with the Gun A man is an adult male human. Before adulthood, a male child or adolescent is referred to as a boy. Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromosome from the father ...

'' (1955) - Arthur Jackson (uncredited) * '' The Killer Is Loose'' (1956) - State Police Capt. Lyle Snow (uncredited) * ''

The Steel Jungle ''The Steel Jungle'' is a 1956 American film noir crime drama directed by Walter Doniger and starring Perry Lopez, Beverly Garland, and Walter Abel. The film was directed and written by Walter Doniger. Produced independently, the film was d ...

'' (1956) - Beakeley * ''

The Price of Fear The Price of Fear may refer to: * The Price of Fear (radio serial), a BBC horror/mystery radio serial * The Price of Fear (1956 film) ''The Price of Fear'' is a 1956 American film noir crime film directed by Abner Biberman and starring Merle Obe ...

'' (1956) - Johnny McNab * ''

The Harder They Fall The Harder They Fall may refer to: * ''The Harder They Fall'' (1956 film), an American boxing film noir directed by Mark Robson * ''The Harder They Fall'' (2021 film), an American Western film directed by Jeymes Samuel * "The Harder They Fall", a ...

'' (1956) - Reporter (uncredited) * ''

Star in the Dust ''Star in the Dust'' is a 1956 American Technicolor Western film directed by Charles F. Haas and starring John Agar, Mamie Van Doren and Richard Boone. It was based on the 1953 Lee Leighton novel ''Law Man''. In the town of Gunlock, sheriff B ...

'' (1956) - Leo Roos * '' Canyon River'' (1956) - Bartender (uncredited) * '' The Boss'' (1956) - Earl Bentley (uncredited) * ''

Plunder Road ''Plunder Road'' is a 1957 American crime film, crime film noir directed by Hubert Cornfield and starring Gene Raymond, Jeanne Cooper and Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris. Plot Five men carry out an elaborate plan to rob a gold shipmen ...

'' (1957) - Roly Adams * ''

'' (1957) - Charlie Brewer * ''

The Green-Eyed Blonde ''The Green-Eyed Blonde'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard and written in collaboration by Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter; and his front Sally Stubblefield, who wrote the story that Trumbo then adapted ...

'' (1957) - Bill Prell (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) - Innkeeper (uncredited) * '' Hot Spell'' (1958) - Baggage Man (uncredited) * ''

As Young as We Are ''As Young as We Are'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard and written by Meyer Dolinsky. The film stars Robert Harland, Pippa Scott, Majel Barrett, Ty Hardin, Barry Atwater and Carla Hoffman. The film was released in ...

'' (1958) - John (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) - Mr. Hightower * '' I Want to Live!'' (1958) - Police Sgt. * ''

Official Detective ''Official Detective'' is an American anthology television series which aired in syndication from 1957 to March 19, 1958. The series was hosted by veteran film actor Everett Sloane.McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: ...

'' (1958, Episode: "Hijackers") - Hank Coles * ''

The Walter Winchell File ''The Walter Winchell File'' is a television crime drama series that initially aired from 1957 to 1958, dramatizing cases from the New York City Police Department that were covered in the ''New York Daily Mirror''. The series featured columnist ...

'' (1958, Episode: "David & Goliath") - Benny Getzler * '' The Californians'' (NBC-TV, 1959, TV Series) - Amos Dayton * ''

The Crimson Kimono ''The Crimson Kimono'' is a 1959 American crime film noir drama starring James Shigeta, Glenn Corbett and Victoria Shaw. Directed by Samuel Fuller, it featured several ahead-of-its-time ideas about race and society's perception of race, a thematic ...

'' (1959) - City Librarian (uncredited) * ''

Richard Diamond, Private Detective ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' is an American detective drama, created by Blake Edwards, which aired on radio from 1949 to 1953, and on television from 1957 to 1960. Radio Dick Powell starred in the ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective' ...

'' in "The Popskull" (1960) * ''

Hennesey ''Hennesey'' is an American military comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from 1959 to 1962, starring Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton. Cooper played a United States Navy physician, Lt. Charles W. "Chick" Hennesey, with Abby Dalto ...

'' (1959-1961, TV Series) - Charley London * ''

'' (CBS-TV, 1960) * ''

'' (1960) - Styles * ''

The DuPont Show with June Allyson ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series w ...

'' in "The Way Home" (CBS-TV, 1960) - Jesse * ''

The Explosive Generation ''The Explosive Generation'' is a 1961 film directed by Buzz Kulik. It stars William Shatner and Patty McCormack. Plot The story is about Peter Gifford, a teacher who wants to teach high school students to think for themselves and express thems ...

'' (1961) - Police Captain * ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'' (1960-1961, three episodes) - Mine Owner / Sheriff Brady / Carter * ''

'' (1961) – Matt Walters in S3:E13, "Incident of the Promised Land" * ''

The New Phil Silvers Show ''The New Phil Silvers Show'' is an American sitcom television series starring Phil Silvers which centers around a factory foreman who is always involved in get-rich-quick schemes. Original episodes aired from September 28, 1963, until April 25, 1 ...

'' (1963) - Brink * ''

Our Man Higgins ''Our Man Higgins'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1962, to May 17, 1963. Synopsis ''Our Man Higgins'' follows the adventures of an English butler who is inherited by a suburban American family, along with a quarter- ...

'' (1962, in the episode, "The Rules of the Road") - Buckmaster * ''

'' (1963), Joe Melvin in the episode "Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower" * ''The Lucy Show'' (1964), Counterman in the episode "Lucy Is a Process Server" * ''

A Tiger Walks ''A Tiger Walks'' is a 1964 American drama film directed by Norman Tokar and starring Brian Keith and Vera Miles. Based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Ian Niall, it was produced by Walt Disney Productions. It was Indian-born actor Sabu' ...

'' (1964) - Mr. Blonden, City Editor (uncredited) * ''

'' (1965) - Otie Schaffer * ''

A Very Special Favor ''A Very Special Favor'' is a 1965 romantic comedy film directed by Michael Gordon and starring Rock Hudson and Leslie Caron. The film was co-produced by Hudson's Gibraltar Productions and Shapiro's Lankershim Company. Plot Paul Chadwick (Hudso ...

'' (1965) - Bartender * ''

'' (1966–1968, TV Series) - Chief O'Hara * ''

'' (1966) - Chief O'Hara * ''

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 ...

'' (1969) - Superintendent * ''

'' (1972) - Sheriff Tanner * '' Cycle Psycho'' (1973) * '' Linda Lovelace for President'' (1975) - Dirty Old Man * ''

'' (2018) - Al Denny (Stock Footage)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Repp, Stafford 1918 births 1974 deaths American male film actors American male television actors United States Army Air Forces soldiers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II 20th-century American male actors Western (genre) television actors