Robert Osterloh

Robert Osterloh
Robert Osterloh in an episode of The Public Defender (1954)
Born(1918-05-31)May 31, 1918
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
DiedApril 16, 2001(2001-04-16) (aged 82)
Los Osos, California
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
SpouseHarriet Hughes

Robert Osterloh (May 31, 1918 – April 16, 2001) was an American actor. In a career spanning 20 years, he appeared in films such as The Dark Past (1948), The Wild One (1953), I Bury the Living (1958) and Young Dillinger (1965).

Biography

Robert Osterloh (left) in the Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse debut of The Untouchables (1959)

Osterloh was the son of Dr. Charles T. Osterloh and Emma Geiselhart Osterloh.[1] As a student at Perry High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was president of the student council and the Dramatic Club, and he had the lead in the school's senior play.[2]

An agent discovered Osterloh while he was acting in stock theater.[3] He had a supporting role in The Dark Past. Osterloh continued his career for 20 years, mainly in the 1950s, playing roles in films such as Illegal Entry (1949), White Heat (1949) (as a gangster killed by gang boss James Cagney), One Minute to Zero (1952), Star in the Dust (1956) and I Bury the Living (1958). In the 1960s, however, he appeared in only a few films such as Young Dillinger (1965) and his last film, Coogan's Bluff (1968).

Osterloh was featured in the pilots for two notable television series: Perry Mason and The Untouchables. Filmed in 1956, "The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink" aired in 1957 as the 13th episode of the legal drama series starring Raymond Burr; Osterloh played a central role as restaurant proprietor Morey Allen.[4]: 10023  In "The Scarface Mob", the pilot for The Untouchables that aired on Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse in 1959, Osterloh was a member of the Federal squad led by Eliot Ness (Robert Stack). Osterloh also played roles in TV series including Wagon Train, The FBI, Ironside and Hec Ramsey.

Osterloh was married to Harriet Hughes, whom he met when they served in the Army in England.[3]

Osterloh died at 82 years of age in Los Osos, California.[5]

Filmography

TV

  • 1955-57: Hour of Stars: Deadline Decision - Robinson
    • Season 1, Episode 8 - Casey
    • Season 1, Episode 29 - Foreman
    • Season 2, Episode 25 - Benny
  • 1958: Wagon Train: The Juan Ortega Story
  • 1958: Gunsmoke: Hanging Man
    • Chester's Hanging
  • 1959: Bonanza: The Diedesheimer Story
    • Season 2, Episode 2 - Jarvis
    • Season 3, Episode 32 - Dresslar
    • Season 3, Episode 36 - Dressler
  • The Untouchables:
    • Pilot episode (1959) - Agent Tom Kopke
    • Episode in 1961 - Mr. Moon
  • 1964: The Outer Limits
  • 1967: The Felony Squad: The Savage Streets
  • U.S. Marshal: The Man Who Lived - Twice Episode, Actor - Baker
  • Perry Mason: S1 Ep13 The Case of the Moth Eaten Mink as Morey Allen

References

  1. ^ "Dr. Osterloh, North Side Physician, Dies". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. June 22, 1947. p. 31. Retrieved December 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Robert Osterloh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. February 26, 1936. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Doing His Ninth Film". The Record. New Jersey, Hackensack. May 25, 1949. p. 39. Retrieved December 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Davidson, Jim (2014). "The First TV Series (1957–1966); Season 1 (1957–1958)". The Perry Mason Book: A Comprehensive Guide to America's Favorite Defender of Justice (e-book). ASIN B00OOELV1K.
  5. ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2001: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. pp. 227–228. ISBN 9780786452064. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
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