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Norman Burton

Highest Rated: 86% Save the Tiger (1973)

Lowest Rated: 29% The Gumball Rally (1976)

Birthday: Dec 5, 1923

Birthplace: New York, New York, USA

A devotee of method acting made popular by The Actor's Studio in New York, Norman Burton had a long and storied career but never received much recognition. He began in the theater, appearing in the musical comedy "A Sound of Hunting" and Eugene O'Neill's four-act play "Anna Christie." His first film role came in 1956, with a bit part as a reporter in the B-grade horror film "Fright." This led to a series of TV guest appearances and small film roles. In addition to appearing on TV shows such as the fantasy sitcom "Bewitched/b and the Mel Brooks spy spoof "Get Smart," Burton had many small films roles and was one of the few actors in both "Planet of the Apes" and its sequel "Escape from the Planet of the Apes." One of his more memorable roles and a minor career highlight occurred in 1971 when he played the role of Felix Leiter in the James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever." He also had a memorable turn as a man who saves a maintenance worker's life but is himself killed in the blockbuster "The Towering Inferno" in 1974. Subsequently, he appeared almost exclusively on TV and had one of his few recurring roles as Joe Atkinson, an IADC agent in "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman." He continued acting until 1993 and was killed in a car accident in 2003, just short of his 80th birthday.

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Highest rated movies

86% 74% Save the Tiger
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75% 53% Escape From the Planet of the Apes
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68% 72% The Towering Inferno
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48% 74% Bloodsport
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42% 43% Fade to Black
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29% 65% The Gumball Rally
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0% Bad Guys
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Conspiracy of Terror
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53% Pray for Death
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50% Hand of Death
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
48% 74% Bloodsport Helmer (Character) $10.8M 1988
No Score Yet 21% Deep Space General Randolph (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet 0% Bad Guys Captain Watkins (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 53% Pray for Death Lt. Anderson (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet 32% Mausoleum Dr. Simon Andrews (Character) - 1983
42% 43% Fade to Black Marty Berger (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Murder in Peyton Place Jay Kamens (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet 38% Scorchy Chief Frank O'Brien (Character) - 1976
29% 65% The Gumball Rally Lieutenant Roscoe (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Conspiracy of Terror Lt. Rossos (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Force Five Arthur Haberman (Character) - 1975
68% 72% The Towering Inferno Giddings (Character) - 1974
86% 74% Save the Tiger Fred Mirrell (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet 43% They Call It Murder Movie Director (Character) - 1971
75% 53% Escape From the Planet of the Apes Army Officer (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet 50% Hand of Death Chief Homicide Investigator (Character) - 1962

TV

Credit
83% No Score Yet thirtysomething Charley Sayers (Guest Star) 1990
No Score Yet 64% Highway to Heaven Captain Friend (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet 80% Knight Rider Barnswell (Guest Star) 1983 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Simon & Simon Carl Emory (Guest Star) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Facts of Life Dr. Green (Guest Star) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet CHiPs Unknown (Guest Star) 1982
100% 82% Wonder Woman Unknown (Character) 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rockford Files Markell (Guest Star) 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rhoda Unknown (Guest Star) 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Harry O Unknown (Guest Star) 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kojak 'Fish' Fisher (Guest Star) 1974
55% 89% Planet of the Apes Unknown (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Felony Squad Sully Hirt (Guest Star) 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet I Spy Unknown (Guest Star) 1968
No Score Yet 58% I Dream of Jeannie Mr. Asher (Guest Star) 1966
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Farmer's Daughter Mr. Hilmer (Guest Star) 1965
No Score Yet 48% Bewitched Moving Man (Guest Star) 1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fugitive Car Salesman (Guest Star) 1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Untouchables Unknown (Guest Star) 1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Three Sons Unknown (Guest Star) 1962