Arthur O'Connell
Citybred actor Arthur O'Connell had the corn-fed look of a born and bred farm boy. His looks and good-natured demeanor garnered him a stage debut in the '30s with the acclaimed Mercury Theatre, founded by Orson Welles. His work there led to a bit part in Welles's drama "Citizen Kane" in 1941. Despite a number of small roles, O'Connell grew frustrated with film, and returned to theater, appearing on Broadway as Polonius in "Hamlet." In 1953, his performance as Howard Bevans in "Picnic" earned him attention from theater-goers and Hollywood alike. In 1955, he reprised his role in the film adaptation, and earned his first Oscar nomination. His second would come five years later for his work in Otto Preminger's legal drama "Anatomy of a Murder." With his acclaimed status, O'Connell had more opportunities, and could be selective about the roles he'd take. By the '70s, O'Connell had become a popular guest star on television. However, the progression of Alzheimer's caused him to take on less and less work. By the time of his death at age 73, he was only appearing in the occasional commercial. Having appeared in over 130 films and television shows, O'Connell left behind a legacy few could surpass.
Photos
Arthur O'Connell
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet |
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The Hiding Place | Casper ten Boom, "Papa" (Character) | - | 1975 |
No Score Yet |
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Huckleberry Finn | Col. Grangerford (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shootout in a One-Dog Town | Henry Gills (Character) | - | 1974 |
60% |
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Ben | Billy Hatfield (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet |
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They Only Kill Their Masters | Ernie (Character) | - | 1972 |
81% |
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The Poseidon Adventure | Chaplain John (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Taste of Evil | John (Character) | - | 1971 |
82% |
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There Was a Crooked Man | Mr. Lomax (Character) | - | 1970 |
No Score Yet |
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Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? | Mr. Kruft (Character) | - | 1970 |
No Score Yet |
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The Last Valley | Hoffman (Character) | - | 1970 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Seven in Darkness | Larry Wise (Character) | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | If He Hollers, Let Him Go | Prosecutor (Character) | - | 1968 |
No Score Yet |
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The Power | Professor Henry Hallson (Character) | - | 1968 |
No Score Yet |
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A Covenant With Death | Judge Hockstadter (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet |
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The Reluctant Astronaut | Buck Fleming (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Birds Do It | Prof. Wald (Character) | - | 1966 |
92% |
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Fantastic Voyage | Colonel Donald Reid (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet |
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The Silencers | Joe Wigman (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet |
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The Third Day | Dr. Wheeler (Character) | - | 1965 |
69% |
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The Great Race | Henry Goodbody (Character) | - | 1965 |
No Score Yet |
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The Monkey's Uncle | Darius Green III (Character) | - | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nightmare in the Sun | Sam Wilson (Character) | - | 1965 |
86% |
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7 Faces of Dr. Lao | Clint Stark (Character) | - | 1964 |
No Score Yet |
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Your Cheatin' Heart | Fred Rose (Character) | - | 1964 |
No Score Yet |
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Kissin' Cousins | Pappy Tatum (Character) | - | 1964 |
No Score Yet |
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Follow That Dream | Pop Kwimper (Character) | - | 1962 |
No Score Yet |
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A Thunder of Drums | Sgt. Karl Rodermill (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet |
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Misty | Grandpa Beebe (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet |
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The Great Impostor | Warden J.B. Chandler (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet |
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Cimarron | Tom Wyatt (Character) | - | 1960 |
81% |
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Operation Petticoat | Chief Mechinist's Mate Sam Tostin (Character) | - | 1959 |
100% |
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Anatomy of a Murder | Parnell Emmett McCarthy (Character) | - | 1959 |
55% |
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Gidget | Russell Lawrence (Character) | - | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hound-Dog Man | Aaron McKinney (Character) | - | 1959 |
95% |
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Man of the West | Sam Beasley (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Voice in the Mirror | William R. "Bill" Tobin (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet |
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The Monte Carlo Story | Mr. Homer Hinkley (Character) | - | 1957 |
No Score Yet |
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April Love | Jed Bruce (Character) | - | 1957 |
No Score Yet |
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Operation Mad Ball | Col. Rousch (Character) | - | 1957 |
No Score Yet |
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The Proud Ones | Jim Dexter (Character) | - | 1956 |
100% |
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The Solid Gold Cadillac | Mark Jenkins (Character) | - | 1956 |
71% |
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The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit | Gordon Walker (Character) | - | 1956 |
80% |
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Bus Stop | Virgil Blessing (Character) | - | 1956 |
50% |
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Picnic | Howard Bevans (Character) | $24.0K | 1955 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Open Secret | Carter (Character) | - | 1948 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Law of the Jungle | Simmons (Character) | - | 1942 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 'Taint Legal | Book Salesman (Character) | - | 1940 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Murder in the Night | Lefty (Character) | - | 1939 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shaft | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Adam's Rib | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alias Smith and Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Room 222 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | McCloud | Sid Nylan (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | 100% | Night Gallery | Unknown (Character) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cannon | Judge Matt Garvey (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bonanza | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Virginian | Emmitt (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Name of the Game | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | My Three Sons | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Second Hundred Years | Edwin Carpenter (Character) | 1967-1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lassie | Luther Jennings (Guest Star) | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Man Called Shenandoah | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1966 |
No Score Yet | 100% | The Wild, Wild West | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Petticoat Junction | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fugitive | Samuel Cole (Guest Star) | 1964-1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Big Valley | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wagon Train | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Route 66 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Stagecoach West | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zane Grey Theatre | Unknown (Character) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Startime | Unknown (Character) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Father Knows Best | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Studio One | Conners (Character) | 1955 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Suspense | Unknown (Character) | 1950 |