Anthony Zerbe

Anthony Zerbe
Anthony Zerbe in trailer for The Laughing Policeman (1973)
Born
Anthony Jared Zerbe

(1936-05-20) May 20, 1936 (age 88)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Alma materPomona College
OccupationActor
Years active1963–present
Spouse
Arnette Jens
​
(m. 1962)​
Children2

Anthony Jared Zerbe (born May 20, 1936) is an American actor. His notable film roles include the post-apocalyptic cult leader Matthias in The Omega Man, a 1971 film adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 novel, I Am Legend; as an Irish Catholic coal miner and one of the Molly Maguires in the 1970 film The Molly Maguires; as a corrupt gambler in Farewell, My Lovely; as the leper colony chief Toussaint in the 1973 historical drama prison film Papillon; as Abner Devereaux in Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park; as villain Milton Krest in the James Bond film Licence to Kill; Rosie in The Turning Point; Roger Stuart in The Dead Zone; Admiral Dougherty in Star Trek: Insurrection; and Councillor Hamann in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.[1]

Life and career

Zerbe was born in Long Beach, California, the son of Catherine (née Scurlock) and Arthur LeVan Zerbe.[2] He went to Newport Harbor High School. He attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, graduating in 1958.[3] His parents were also alumni of Pomona College.[4] He served in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1961.[5]

Zerbe's interest in acting was kindled by stage productions when he was 17.[6] He studied at the Stella Adler Studio in New York City. He made his New York City stage debut at the Greenwich Mews Theatre on October 15, 1961 with The Cave Dwellers.[7] On television, he has played guest roles on such series as Naked City, The Virginian, Kung Fu (2 episodes), The Big Valley, Route 66, The Wild Wild West, Twelve O'Clock High, Bonanza, Mission: Impossible (5 episodes), Gunsmoke (3 episodes with one a double role), Hawaii Five-O, Mannix (4 episodes), It Takes a Thief, The Chisholms, Ironside, The F.B.I., The Rookies, The Rockford Files, Dynasty, and Columbo, among others.

Zerbe had a starring role in The Young Riders. He co-starred on Harry O from the second half of the first season through the series' conclusion at the end of the second season as Lieutenant Trench, known for his stentorian baritone, alternately heard yelling for his underling, Sergeant Roberts, or, at a lower decibel, horse-trading for information with the title character, P.I. Harry Orwell, played by David Janssen. He was seen as Pontius Pilate in the miniseries A.D. and as General Grant in North and South: Book II. He appeared in many episodes of the mini-series Centennial, in 1978. In 2013, he played Senator Horton Mitchell in the black comedy/crime film American Hustle.[1] He was Mr. Crumwald in the 2014 Hungarian-American film, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.[8]

Zerbe is the former artistic director of Reflections, A New Plays Festival at the Geva Theatre in Rochester, New York, and toured the United States, in 1981, with Behind the Broken Words, a performance of contemporary poetry, comedy, and dramatic works with fellow actor Roscoe Lee Browne.[9]

In 1976, Zerbe won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Lieutenant K.C. Trench in the private detective series Harry O.[10] In 1981, he played eldest brother Benjamin Hubbard in a Broadway revival of The Little Foxes.[11]

Personal life

Zerbe has been married to Arnette Jens (sister of actress Salome Jens), since October 7, 1962; the couple have two children.[1]

Selected filmography

Television

References

  1. ^ a b c Anthony Zerbe at IMDb
  2. ^ "Anthony Zerbe profile". Film Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "1958". Pomona College Timeline. Pomona College. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Pomona College Alumni Directory, 2000, p. 278.
  5. ^ "Overview For Anthony Zerbe". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Hubbard, Ann (February 2, 1998). "Live theater was actor's inspiration". Kokomo Tribune. pp. A1-2. Retrieved October 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Gelb, Arthur (October 16, 1961). "The Cave Dwellers Revived in 'Village'". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Gussow, Mel (December 11, 1981). "Stage - Broken Words, Verse In Performance". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  10. ^ "Anthony Zerbe". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  11. ^ "Supporting Cast Named For The Little Foxes". The New York Times. January 22, 1981. Retrieved May 29, 2017.

Media related to Anthony Zerbe at Wikimedia Commons