Biografia
Malachi Throne, a character actor widely recognized on television from the 1950s through the early 21st century, was born in New York City on December 1, 1928. He was the son of Samuel and Rebecca (née Chaikin) Throne, immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Throne began performing at a young age.
During World War II, he left school to work in theater but later returned to earn his high school diploma. He pursued a career as a "wandering player," performing in summer and winter stock companies while attending Brooklyn College and Long Island University. Although passionate about acting, he initially believed he would become an English teacher, which motivated him to continue his education between engagements.
At 21, Throne served in the infantry attached to an armored unit during the Korean War. Upon returning to New York's theater scene, he found that Marlon Brando's groundbreaking 1947 portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire had become the new norm. With a deep, classically trained voice, Throne was often cast in roles of characters older than himself. His clear enunciation suited live television, leading to work on the now-defunct DuMont TV network. He further honed his craft in New York under the guidance of notable teachers such as Uta Hagen and William Hickey.
Alongside television, Throne maintained a strong stage presence, performing in the landmark Off-Broadway production of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh alongside Jason Robards. He also appeared in acclaimed Off-Broadway revivals of The Threepenny Opera and Clifford Odets' Rocket to the Moon, as well as Broadway productions like Jean Anouilh's Becket with Laurence Olivier.
In 1958-59, Throne spent a season at San Diego's Old Globe Theater before relocating to Hollywood. Throughout the 1960s, he established himself as a prominent character actor in guest roles on television. Notable appearances include playing "Falseface" on Batman (1966) and the "Thief of Outer Space" on Lost in Space (1965). He also voiced "The Keeper" in The Cage (1966), the original pilot episode of Star Trek. Throne declined the role of Dr. McCoy on Star Trek, preferring not to play a secondary part to William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.
Producer Gene Roddenberry, who had offered him the role of Dr. McCoy, was unoffended and later cast Throne as Commodore José Mendez in the two-part episode "The Menagerie," which incorporated footage from the original pilot. Although The Keeper's voice was later re-dubbed by Meg Wyllie, Throne returned years later to portray Senator Pardac in the Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) two-part episode "Unification," acting alongside Leonard Nimoy. In 1968, two years after Star Trek's debut, Throne played Robert Wagner's boss on It Takes a Thief while continuing to guest star on various other television shows.
Throne remained dedicated to theater, serving as a resident actor with several regional companies, including the San Francisco Actors' Workshop, the Los Angeles Inner City Repertory Company, the Mark Taper Forum, and the Louisville Free Theatre.
He passed away from lung cancer on March 13, 2013, in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, where he continued to perform in local theater. Throne was also an author of historical novels. His two sons are involved in the entertainment industry: Zachary Throne is an actor and musician, while Joshua Throne works as a producer and unit production manager.
