Howard David Wendell[1] (January 2, 1908[2] – August 11, 1975[1]) was an American actor.
Early life and career
A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Wendell was one of two sons born to Irwin Wendell and Clara Heal.[1][3] By 1913, the family had relocated to Elyria, Ohio,[4] where his father found regular employment at Parsch Lumber and Coal Company,[5] first as a truck driver and later as the foreman at the lumber yard.[6][7] Wendell attended Ohio University and later apprenticed at the Cleveland Playhouse.[8][9]
Wendell's Broadway credits include Make a Wish (1951), The Curious Savage (1950), Arms and the Man (1950), The Show Off (1950), and The Great Campaign (1947).[10] He acted in the Santa Barbara Summer Theatre and in theaters in Hollywood, Phoenix, La Jolla, and San Francisco.[11] He received a gold cup in recognition of being named as the actor with the best performance in 1946 at the Newport Casino Theatre in Rhode Island.[12]
From September 13, 1937 until their divorce in January 1968, Wendell was married to Harriet Morley,[3][13] whom he had met while apprenticing at the Cleveland Play House, where she was employed as a costumer. The union produced three sons and one daughter.[14]
On August 11, 1975, at age 67, Wendell died of undisclosed causes at his home in Oregon City, survived by his wife, children and brother.[1]
^ abcd"Obituaries: Howard D. Wendell". Variety. September 3, 1975. p. 102. ProQuest1401281820. Howard David Wendell, 67, prolific stage and film actor, died August 11 at his home in Oregon City. Ore. Born in Johnstown, Pa., and brought up in Elyria, Ohio, he spent most of his life as an actor in legit, films and television, specializing in character roles. Wendell started his theatrical career as an apprentice at the Cleveland (O.) Playhouse an then spent four seasons directing little-theatre groups in Johnstown and Saginaw, Mich. [...] He is survived by his wife, three sons, a daughter, and a brother.
^"Michigan, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJQ-8VJ5 : Fri Mar 08 16:53:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Howard David Wendell and Pit and Balcony Inc.. See also:
"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9QH-Z6X : 9 January 2021), Howard Wendell, Aug 1975; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
^"California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPTR-ZXX : 15 May 2014), Harriet D Morley and Howard D Wendell, Jan 1968; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Santa Barbara, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
