Stephen Elliott (actor)

Elliott Pershing Stitzel (November 27, 1918 – May 21, 2005), better known by his stage name Stephen Elliott, was an American actor. His best known roles were that of the prospective father-in-law, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film ''Arthur'' and as Chief Hubbard in the 1984 blockbuster ''Beverly Hills Cop''.

Career

Theatre

From 1940 to 1942, Elliott studied acting with Sanford Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse."Stephen Elliott, 86; Veteran Stage, Film and TV Actor Known for Role in 'Arthur'"
''The Los Angeles Times''. May 24, 2005. After serving in World War II with the United States Merchant Marine, he started a successful career on Broadway with his debut in Shakespeare's ''The Tempest''; two years later, Elliott was selected by Robert Lewis to be one of The Actors Studio's founding members.

In 1967, Elliott was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for ''Marat/Sade''. Two years later, he won the Drama Desk Award for ''A Whistle in the Dark''. Additional Broadway credits include ''King Lear'', ''The Miser'', '' Georgy'', ''The Crucible'', and '' The Creation of the World and Other Business''.

Television

Elliott's television credits include the role of Jane Wyman's first husband, newspaper publisher Douglas Channing, in ''Falcon Crest'', General Padget in ''Columbo'', Harold W. Smith in the 1988 television adaptation of '' Remo Williams'', Texan millionaire attorney Scotty Demarest in ''Dallas'', and Judge Harold Aldrich in '' Chicago Hope''. He also appeared in the "Murder! Murder!" episode of '' The Eddie Capra Mysteries''. In 1981 he had a small role as the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the TV serial ''Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years''. Elliott appeared in '' Highway To Heaven '' episodes "Thoroughbreds: Part 1" and "Thoroughbreds: Part 2" with Helen Hunt and Michael Landon 1985. He was a member of the regular cast of the short-lived 1988 situation comedy ''Trial and Error''.

Radio

In 1981, Elliott played the role of Bail Organa, father of Princess Leia, in the radio drama adaptation of ''Star Wars''.

Personal life

Elliott was born Elliott Pershing Stitzel in New York City. His marriage to Barbara Blaise was terminated by divorce in February 1947, according to ''The Kingston Daily Freeman'' (Kingston, NY), 4 October 1947, page 3. He married stage actress Nancy Chase on 9 October 1947 (''Billboard'', 18 October 1947, p. 47) and divorced in 1960. They had two children, Jency and Jon.

He married his third wife, actress Alice Hirson, in 1980; they met on Broadway in 1964. Hirson appeared for several seasons in a recurring role as Mavis Anderson, close friend of Ellie Ewing Farlow, on the television series ''Dallas'', although her character never interacted with Elliot’s Scotty Demerest.

Elliott died in 2005 in Woodland Hills, California as result of congestive heart failure.

Filmography

Television

References

External links

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Stephen Elliott
at Internet Off-Broadway Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Stephen
1918 births
2005 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
Male actors from New York City
Military personnel from New York City
Military personnel from New York (state)
United States Merchant Mariners of World War II