Ned Wever

Ned Wever
Florence Freeman (Ellen Brown)
and Ned Wever (Dr. Anthony Loring)
from Young Widder Brown
Born
Edward Hooper Wever

(1902-04-27)April 27, 1902
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 1984(1984-05-06) (aged 82)
Laguna Hills, California, U.S.
Alma materPrinceton University
SpouseCarla Wever
Children2

Ned Wever (born Edward Hooper Weaver;[1] April 27, 1902 – May 6, 1984) was an actor on stage and on old-time radio. Garyn G. Roberts wrote in his book, Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context, "Wever's most famous role was probably that of H.C. McNeile's British detective and adventurer Bulldog Drummond for the program of the same name."[2]

Early life

The son of a New York attorney,[3] Wever was born on April 27, 1902, in New York City.[4] He graduated from the Pawling School and Princeton University, where he was president of the Triangle Club dramatic organization in his senior year[1] and was a member of the staff of The Daily Princetonian newspaper and the Nassau Literary Magazine.[3]

Radio

Wever's roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below.

Program Role
Betty and Bob Al Bishop[5]
Big Sister Jerry Miller[5]: 40 
Bulldog Drummond Bulldog Drummond[6]
Dick Tracy Dick Tracy[6]
Her Honor, Nancy James District Attorney[7]
Kate Hopkins, Angel of Mercy Tom Hopkins[5]: 187 
Lady Counsellor Tony Howard[1]
Little Italy Nicholas[5]: 202 
Lora Lawton Peter Carver[5]: 206 
Two on a Clue Jeff Spencer[8]
Under Arrest Captain Jim Scott[5]: 344-345 
Valiant Lady Colin Kirby[5]: 346 
Young Widder Brown Anthony Loring[6]

He also had leads on True Detective, The True Story Hour, Angel of Mercy and Manhattan Mother and was heard frequently on The Wonder Show, Grand Central Station, Perry Mason and The Cavalcade of America.[9]

Stage

Wever's initial professional stage work came with Stewart Walker's stock theater company in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] His Broadway credits include Days to Come (1936), The Second Little Show (1930) and The Grab Bag (1924).[10]

Musical composition

In his book, The Great Radio Soap Operas, Jim Cox called Wever "as talented a musician as he was an actor".[9] Cox added, "He composed show tunes for Broadway productions featuring Billy Rose and Ed Wynn."[9] Wever's compositions included "Spellbound", "I Can't Resist You", "Trouble in Paradise" and "Trust in Me".[9]

Television

Wever was credited with more than 70 appearances on television programs, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Get Smart and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.[11]

Selected filmography

Personal life

Wever and his wife, Carla, had two daughters, Patricia and Pamela.[3]

Death

Wever died of heart failure May 6, 1984, in a convalescent home in Laguna Hills, California.[11]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1957 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue Captain Sid Wallace
1957 The Joker Is Wild Dr. Pierson Uncredited
1958 High School Confidential Police Commissioner Walter Burroughs / Narrator Uncredited
1958 The Fiend Who Walked the West Prosecutor Coyne Uncredited
1958 Ride a Crooked Trail Attorney Clark
1958 Some Came Running Smitty
1959 The Shaggy Dog FBI Chief E.P. Hackett
1959 These Thousand Hills Link Gorham Uncredited
1959 Anatomy of a Murder Dr. Raschid
1959 The Big Fisherman Minor Role Uncredited
1960 One Foot in Hell Royce City Official Uncredited
1961 Tammy Tell Me True Dr. Stach

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ecksan, K.L. (April 30, 1936). "Coast to Get Special Show Boat Program". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. p. 22. Retrieved September 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Roberts, Garyn G. (1993). Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context. McFarland. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-7864-1698-1. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Knaster, Ira (April 1949). "The Wever Way". Radio and Television Mirror. Vol. 31, no. 5. pp. 40–41, 85–87. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  4. ^ DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 281.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 36.
  6. ^ a b c Roebuck, Jay (August 25, 1968). "'Bulldog Drummond' Is Alive and Residing in Orange county". Independent Press-Telegram. California, Long Beach. p. 93. Retrieved September 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Questions and Answers". The Lincoln Star. Nebraska, Lincoln. January 29, 1939. p. 60. Retrieved September 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ "(untitled brief)". The Circleville Herald. Ohio, Circleville. September 8, 1945. p. 7. Retrieved September 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. ^ a b c d Cox, Jim (1999). The Great Radio Soap Operas. McFarland. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-7864-3865-5. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  10. ^ "("Ned Wever" search results)". Playbill Vault. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "The voice of Dick Tracy dies at 85". The Deseret News. May 8, 1984. p. A 3. Retrieved September 17, 2016.