John Beradino

Johnny Berardino
Second baseman / Shortstop
Born: Giovanni Berardino
(1917-05-01)May 1, 1917
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died: May 19, 1996(1996-05-19) (aged 79)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 22, 1939, for the St. Louis Browns
Last MLB appearance
September 19, 1952, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average.249
Home runs36
Runs batted in387
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Alma materUSC
Occupation(s)Actor, baseball player
Years active1939–1996
Known forSteve Hardy (General Hospital)
Spouses
Jeanette Nadine Barritt
​
​
(m. 1941; div. 1955)​
Charissa Hughes (née Veronica Contos Patton)[1]
​
​
(m. 1961; death 1963)​
Marjorie Binder
​
(m. 1971)​
Children4

John Beradino (born Giovanni Berardino, May 1, 1917 – May 19, 1996) was an American Major League Baseball infielder and actor. Known as Johnny Berardino[2] during his baseball career, he was also credited during his acting career as John Berardino, John Baradino, John Barardino or John Barradino.

Early life and education

Publicity photo for the 10th Anniversary of General Hospital, 1973

Beradino was born in Los Angeles[3] and was raised near Hollywood.[2] He attended Belmont High School in downtown Los Angeles. Beradino won a football scholarship to the University of Southern California in 1936,[3] but he soon switched to baseball.[3]

Although Beradino is sometimes believed to have appeared in the silent Our Gang comedies as a child actor, he has not been identified as having appeared in any of the existing films.[3]

Career

Baseball

After attending the University of Southern California, where he played baseball under coach Sam Barry and was member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, Beradino was a major league player from 1939 to 1952,[3] except for three years of military service in the U.S. Naval Reserve[4][5] during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He played for the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates, winning the World Series with the Indians in 1948.[6] While primarily a middle infielder, playing second baseman or shortstop, he also played first and third base.

After injuring his leg and being released by Pittsburgh in 1952, he retired from baseball and returned to acting, having appeared in his first film in 1948.

Acting

Beradino appeared briefly in an uncredited role as a state trooper in the 1954 thriller Suddenly, starring Frank Sinatra and Sterling Hayden, and later performed as a policeman who allows Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) to make a phone call to his mother in the 1959 Hitchcock thriller North by Northwest.

Beradino (still billed as John Berardino) played a cameo role in the 1954 sci-fi thriller Them!. He also appeared in a 1956 episode of the television series Adventures of Superman titled "The Unlucky Number" as a small-time criminal struggling to reform.

Beradino appeared twice on the Western series Annie Oakley: as Gorman in "Annie Rides the Navajo Trail" and as Roscoe Barnes in "Amateur Outlaw" (both 1956). He appeared as an outlaw in the opening scenes of Budd Boetticher'sSeven Men From Now in 1956. He guest-starred on John Bromfield's syndicated crime drama with a modern Western setting, Sheriff of Cochise, and Bromfield's successor series, U.S. Marshal. He was also cast in an episode of David Janssen's crime drama series Richard Diamond, Private Detective.

Beradino played a minor gangster in The Untouchables pilot that originally aired as an installment in the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. He then played the recurring role of gangster Augie Viale in two episodes from the first season of The Untouchables series, "The Jake Lingle Killing" and "One-Armed Bandits".

December 2, 1959, Beradino appeared in the episode "The Third Strike" of the syndicated adventure series Rescue 8, playing a professional baseball player who loses consciousness when struck by a wild pitch and awakens with short-term amnesia.

After appearing in more than a dozen B-movies, as well as in supporting roles on the series I Led Three Lives and The New Breed,[3] he was offered the role of Dr. Steve Hardy on the soap opera General Hospital.[7] Beradino also played a version of his General Hospital character on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Recognition

Cast of General Hospital 1973 (top): John Beradino, Emily McLaughlin (bottom): Martin West, Rachel Ames, Peter Hansen

For his contribution to the television industry, Beradino has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[3] at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. He has also been inducted into the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame.[citation needed]

He is the only person to have won a World Series (1948) and have his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1993).[citation needed]

Beradino received three Daytime Emmy Award nominations for best actor in a daytime drama.[3]

In tribute, General Hospital left Beradino's image with that of Rachel Ames in its opening sequence for more than a year after his death, through several updates.[8] His image was finally removed in early 1998, but an action clip of Beradino's character remained in the sequence until its 2004 retirement.

Personal life and death

Beradino had two children, Toni and Cindy. from his first marriage and two children, Katherine Ann and John Anthony from his second marriage. He had a third wife, Marjorie, when he died.[3]

Beradino was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1996[3] and died later that year, aged 79, on May 19, 1996 in his Los Angeles home.[2][3][4]

Beradino supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.[9]

Filmography

John and Marjorie Beradino, 1971.

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1948 The Winner's Circle Trainer
1949 The Kid from Cleveland Mac
1951 Francis Goes to the Races S.C. White uncredited
1952 The Winning Team Sherdel uncredited
1953 Powder River Dealer uncredited
The Kid from Left Field Hank Dreiser
1954 The Command Sergeant Major uncredited
Suddenly Trooper
Them! Patrolman Ryan
The Raid Yankee Soldier Buying Cigars uncredited
Shield for Murder Gambler Being Booked uncredited
Suddenly Trooper uncredited
The Bamboo Prison Progressive uncredited
1955 East of Eden Coalman at Lettuce Field uncredited
Marty Man in Bar uncredited
The McConnell Story Engineer uncredited
Illegal Scott's Client uncredited
1956 The Killer Is Loose Mac
Behind the High Wall Carl Burkhardt
Seven Men from Now Clint
Emergency Hospital Policeman at Accident uncredited
1958 The World Was His Jury Tony Armand
Wild Heritage Arn
The Naked and the Dead Capt. Mantelli
1959 North by Northwest Sergeant Emile Klinger
1960 Seven Thieves Chief of Detectives
1961 The Right Approach Rod
1982 Young Doctors in Love Soap Cameos directed by Garry Marshall[14]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1954 I Led Three Lives Special Agent Steven Daniels recurring from 1954 to 1956
1956 Sheriff of Cochise Walt Harris episode: "Deputy's Wife" (S 2:Ep 6)
Annie Oakley Gorman episode: "Annie Rides the Navajo Trail"(S 3:Ep 25)
Adventures of Superman Dexter Brown episode: "The Unlucky Number" (S 4:Ep 2)
Annie Oakley Henchman Roscoe Barnes episode: "Amateur Outlaw" (S 3:Ep 28)
1957 Richard Diamond, Private Detective Marty Stopka episode: "The Torch Carriers" (S 1:Ep 9)
1958 Tombstone Territory Frank Leslie episode: "Shoot Out at Dark" (S 1, Ep 13)
Tales of Wells Fargo Kendall episode: "The Counterfeiters" (S 3"Ep 13
"Sea Hunt" Athlete Father Dave Crane episode: "The Lost Ones", S 1, Episode 28
1959 Have Gun - Will Travel Nelson Pike episode: "Juliet" ( S 2:Ep 20)
Rescue 8 Al episode: "The Third Strike" ( S 2:Ep 11)
Bronco Turk Hansen episode: "The Belles of Silver Flat" (S 1:Ep 14)
The Untouchables Johnny Giannini, Augie Viale episode 1: pilot, Episodes 3 and 17
The Texan Duke Ellis episode: "The Marshal of Yellow Jacket"
1960 U.S. Marshal Carl Tabor episode: "Backfire" (S 2:Ep 25)
Lawman Walt Carmody episode: "Dilemma" (S 3:Ep 7)
Checkmate Floyd Venner episode: "The Dark Divide" (S 1:Ep 9)
1961 Tales of Wells Fargo Virgil McCready episode: "Border Renegades" (S 5:Ep 15)
Route 66 Police Lieutenant Fielding episode: "Sleep on Four Pillows: (S 1:Ep 18)
Dante Phil Diamond episode: "Not as a Canary" (S 1:Ep 20)
Coronado 9 Andre Machado episode: "Caribbean Chase" (S 1:Ep 24)
Michael Shayne Danny Fleck episode: "The Body Beautiful" (S 1:Ep 25)
Coronado 9 Will episode: "Excursion to Algiers" (S 1:Ep 26)
Miami Undercover Tom Dane episode: "The Tom Dane Story" (S 1:Ep 11)
Surfside 6 Granger episode: "Circumstantial Evidence" (S 1:Ep 29)
The Brothers Brannagan Don Girard episode: "Treasure Hunt" (S 1:Ep 33)
Whispering Smith Claude Denton
  • episode: "The Mortal Coil" (S 1:Ep 12)
  • credited as John Berardino
The New Breed Sgt. Vince Cavelli
Cain's Hundred Al Krajac episode: "Crime and Commitment: Part 1" (S 1:Ep 1–Pilot)
Bronco Ross Kinkaid episode: "The Cousin from Atlanta" (S 4:Ep 1)
1963 General Hospital Steve Hardy from 1963 to 1996
1968 Batman Doctor episode: "Penguin's Clean Sweep" (S 3:Ep 20)
1968 One Life to Live Steve Hardy 1 episode; crossover appearance
1971 Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate Det. Hallum directed by Ted Post[15] and the screenplay adapted by John D.F. Black from a novel of the same name by Doris Miles Disney.[16]
1972 Moon of the Wolf Dr. Druten directed by Daniel Petrie[17]
1978 A Guide for the Married Woman Doctor directed by Hy Averback[18]
1981 The Love Boat Dr. Cotts episode: "Black Sheep/Hometown Doc/Clothes Make the Girl" (S 4:Ep 21)
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige Jake Wells directed by Richard A. Colla[19] and based on Leroy's autobiography Don't Look Back: Satchel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball.[20]
1992 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Dr. Harding episode: "Ill Will" (S 2:Ep 18)

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Alan (2018). "Johnny Berardino". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Oliver, Mynra (May 22, 1996). "John Beradino; 'General Hospital' Star". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Grimes, William (May 22, 1996). "John Bernadino, 79, an Enduring Soap Opera Star". The New York Times. p. 21. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Markusen, Bruce (August 26, 2011). "Cooperstown Confidential: Hollywood meets Mr. Boggs". Hard Ball Times. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  5. ^ "Baseball in Wartime.com". Baseball in Wartime. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  6. ^ SOD 2009, p. 67.
  7. ^ Kearney & Buchanan 1976, pp. 17–24, 53–55.
  8. ^ DiGiacomo, Robert (July 16, 1996). "'General Hospital' To Pay Tribute To Member Of Original 1963 Cast Dr. Hardy Was A Stalwart Character On The Soap Opera For 33 Years". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  9. ^ Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107650282.
  10. ^ "Suddenly". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  11. ^ "Them!". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  12. ^ "North by Northwest". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "The Right Approach". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  14. ^ "Young Doctors in Love". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  15. ^ "Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  16. ^ Disney, Dorris Miles (1970). Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate. New York City: Doubleday. ISBN 9997406311. OCLC 98757.
  17. ^ "Moon of the Wolf". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  18. ^ "A Guide for the Married Woman". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  19. ^ "Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  20. ^ Ribowsky, Mark (2000). Don't Look Back : Satchel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0306809637.

Sources

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