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Richard Basehart

Richard Basehart

Actor, Director, Other Crew

Born August 31, 1914 in Zanesville, Ohio, USA

Died September 17, 1984

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Biography

John Richard Basehart (August 31, 1914 – September 17, 1984) was an American actor. He starred in the 1960s television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, in the role of Admiral Harriman Nelson.

One of his most notable film roles was the acrobat known as "the Fool" in the acclaimed Italian film La strada directed by Federico Fellini. He also appeared as the killer in the film noir classic He Walked by Night (1948), as a psychotic member of the Hatfield clan in Roseanna McCoy (1949), as Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956), and in the drama Decision Before Dawn (1951). He was married to Italian Academy Award-nominated actress Valentina Cortese, with whom he had one son before their divorce in 1960. Cortese and Basehart also costarred in Robert Wise's The House on Telegraph Hill (1951).

Basehart was also noted for his deep, distinctive voice and was prolific as a narrator of many television and movie projects ranging from features to documentaries. In 1980, Basehart narrated the mini-series written by Peter Arnett called Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War that covered Vietnam and its battles from the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945 to the final American embassy evacuation on April 30, 1975. He appeared in the pilot episode of the television series Knight Rider as billionaire Wilton Knight. He is the narrator at the beginning of the show's credits.

In 1971, Basehart played "Captain Sligo", a comical Irishman with a pet buffalo who negotiates a flawed but legal cattle purchase and unconventionally courts a widow with two children, played by Salome Jens, in CBS's western series, Gunsmoke, with James Arness. Basehart appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone, Hawaii Five-O, and as Hannibal Applewood, an abusive schoolteacher in Little House on the Prairie in 1976.

In 1972, he appeared in the Columbo episode Dagger of the Mind in which he and Honor Blackman played a husband-and-wife theatrical team who were loose parodies of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. In the feature realm, he played a supporting role as a doctor in Rage (1972), a theatrical feature starring and directed by George C. Scott. He made a few TV movies including Sole Survivor (1970) and The Birdmen (1971). Both were based on true stories during World War II.

He died at age 70 following a series of strokes. One month before his death, Basehart was an announcer for the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

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Knight Rider - Show Trailer | NBC Classics

Knight Rider - Original Show Intro | NBC Classics

Knight Rider - Kitt vs. Karr | NBC Classics

Mansion Of The Doomed - 1976 - trailer

David DeCoteau on Mansion Of The Doomed

The Satan Bug (1965) Trailer

The Satan Bug (1965) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

The Satan Bug ≣ 1965 ≣ Trailer

ABC Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea promo 1960s

Hitler (1962) Theatrical Trailer - 35mm - HD

Savage Guns (1962) Trailer

Portrait in Black (1960) ORIGINAL TRAILER

Visa to Canton (1960) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

Moby Dick (1956) - Theatrical Trailer

Ernest Dickerson on MOBY DICK

Moby Dick (1956) Original Trailer [FHD]

Il Bidone (1955) ORIGINAL TRAILER

il bidone-bande annonce

The Good Die Young (1954) clip - on BFI Blu-ray from 20 July | BFI

The Good Die Young (1954) - Stanley Baker Scene

La Strada (1954) Original Trailer [FHD]

John Landis on LA STRADA

LA STRADA - Official Trailer - Remastered and in cinemas May 19th

LA STRADA Trailer [1954]

Decision Before Dawn - Trailer

Fixed Bayonets! (1951) ORIGINAL TRAILER

The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) Trailer

The Black Book / Reign of Terror (1949) Official Trailer

He Walked by Night (1948) - ClassicFlix Trailer

Filmography

Actor

158

Type

Year

Fellini of the Spirits Poster

Fellini of the Spirits Documentary2020Raul detto Picasso

The Green Fog Poster

The Green Fog Feature Film2017Howard Mason

The Challenge of Change Poster

The Challenge of Change Documentary2011Narrator

The Making of the President: The 1960s Documentary2011Self - Narrator

Knight Rider: Under the Hood - 'Knight Rider' Season 1 DVD Documentary2004

Los Angeles Plays Itself Poster

Los Angeles Plays Itself Documentary2003Roy Morgan

The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller Poster

The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller Documentary2002Cpl. Denno

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen Poster

The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen Documentary1995Self

Knight Rider 2000 Poster

Knight Rider 2000 TV Movie1991Wilton Knight - Flashback sequence

Save the Panda Poster

Save the Panda Documentary1983Self - Narrator

The Crowded Life TV Movie1983Narrator

Knight Rider Poster

Knight Rider TV Series1982Narrator - Opening Titles

Bix: 'Ain't None of Them Play Like Him Yet' Poster

Bix: 'Ain't None of Them Play Like Him Yet' Documentary1981Narrator

Masada Mini-Series1981Narrator, Modern Day Scene

Mr. Merlin Poster

Mr. Merlin TV Series1981Herbert Montrose

Marilyn: The Untold Story Poster

Marilyn: The Untold Story TV Movie1980Johnny Hyde

The Ten Thousand Day War Poster

The Ten Thousand Day War Mini-Series1980Narrator

Being There Poster

Being There Feature Film1979Vladimir Skrapinov

Land of Celtic Ghosts Poster

Land of Celtic Ghosts Feature Film1979Narrator

National Geographic: The Invisible World Poster

National Geographic: The Invisible World Documentary1979Narrator

Tales of the Unexpected Poster

Tales of the Unexpected TV Series1979Slade

The Christmas Songs TV Movie1979

The Rebels Poster

The Rebels TV Series1979Duke of Kentland

Greatest Heroes of the Bible Poster

Greatest Heroes of the Bible TV Series1978Johtan

The Critical List Poster

The Critical List TV Movie1978Matt Kinsella

Vega$ TV Series1978J. Terrance Wainwright

W.E.B. TV Series1978Gus Dunlap

Where Jesus Walked Poster

Where Jesus Walked Short Film1978Narrator

Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? Poster

Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? TV Movie1977Elliott Osborn

The Great Bank Hoax Poster

The Great Bank Hoax Feature Film1977Manny Benchly

The Island of Dr. Moreau Poster

The Island of Dr. Moreau Feature Film1977Sayer of the Law

The Love Boat Poster

The Love Boat TV Series1977Stan Ellis

21 Hours at Munich Poster

21 Hours at Munich TV Movie1976Bundeskanzler Willy Brandt

Flood TV Movie1976John Cutler

How the West Was Won Poster

How the West Was Won TV Series1976Colonel Flint

Mansion of the Doomed Poster

Mansion of the Doomed Feature Film1976Dr. Leonard Chaney

Once Upon a Classic Poster

Once Upon a Classic TV Series1976King Arthur

Time Travelers Poster

Time Travelers TV Movie1976Dr. Joshua Henderson

Joe Forrester Poster

Joe Forrester TV Series1975Al Morgan

Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley Poster

Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley TV Movie1975George Latimer

Medical Story Poster

Medical Story TV Series1975Dr. Charles Galpin

Valley Forge Poster

Valley Forge TV Movie1975Gen. George Washington

Bicentennial Minutes Poster

Bicentennial Minutes TV Series1974Self - Narrator

Little House on the Prairie Poster

Little House on the Prairie TV Series1974Hannibal Applewood

Oklahoma Oasis Short Film1974Self - Narrator

The American Parade Poster

The American Parade Mini-Series1974Lambdin Milligan

The First Woman President Poster

The First Woman President TV Movie1974Woodrow Wilson

...and Millions Die! Poster

...and Millions Die! TV Movie1973Dr. Douglas Pruitt

Maneater Poster

Maneater TV Movie1973Carl Brenner

Pieces of Eight Feature Film1973Narrator

Assignment: Munich Poster

Assignment: Munich TV Movie1972Maj. Barney Caldwell

Chato's Land Poster

Chato's Land Feature Film1972Nye Buell

Rage Feature Film1972Dr. Roy Caldwell

The Bounty Man Poster

The Bounty Man TV Movie1972Angus Keough

The Streets of San Francisco Poster

The Streets of San Francisco TV Series1972Bishop Tim Farrow

City Beneath the Sea Poster

City Beneath the Sea TV Movie1971The President

Columbo TV Series1971Nicholas Frame

The Birdmen Poster

The Birdmen TV Movie1971Schiller

The Death of Me Yet Poster

The Death of Me Yet TV Movie1971Robert Barnes

They've Killed President Lincoln! Poster

They've Killed President Lincoln! TV Movie1971Host

Dan August Poster

Dan August TV Series1970Prof. Theodore Rye

Sole Survivor Poster

Sole Survivor TV Movie1970Brig. Gen. Russell Hamner

The Andersonville Trial Poster

The Andersonville Trial TV Movie1970Henry Wirz

Giotto Documentary1969Narrator

Hans Brinker Poster

Hans Brinker TV Movie1969Dr. Boekman

Love Is a Funny Thing Poster

Love Is a Funny Thing Feature Film1969Acteur - cameo appearance

Marcus Welby, M.D. Poster

Marcus Welby, M.D. TV Series1969Professor Andrew Kirkcastle

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Poster

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors TV Series1969Dr. Stephen McLayne

The Natural History of Our World: The Time of Man Documentary1969Narrator

Hawaii Five-O Poster

Hawaii Five-O TV Series1968Murdock

Jacqueline Susann and the Valley of the Dolls Poster

Jacqueline Susann and the Valley of the Dolls Documentary1968Self

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Poster

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Documentary1968Narrator

A Nation of Immigrants Documentary1967

Ironside Poster

Ironside TV Series1967Noel Seymour

France: Conquest to Liberation Documentary1965Narrator

Japan: A New Dawn Over Asia - Japan in the 20th Century Documentary1965Narrator

Korea: The 38th Parallel Documentary1965Narrator

Let My People Go Poster

Let My People Go Documentary1965Narrator

Lost in Space Poster

Lost in Space TV Series1965Shakespeare-Reading Tape Recorder Voice

National Geographic Specials Poster

National Geographic Specials TV Series1965Narrator

Prelude to War: Beginning of World War II Documentary1965Narrator

The Satan Bug Poster

The Satan Bug Feature Film1965Dr. Gregor Hoffman

A Thousand Days: A Tribute to John Fitzgerald Kennedy Documentary1964Narrator

ABC's Wide World of Entertainment TV Movie1964Self

Four Days in November Poster

Four Days in November Documentary1964Self - Narrator

Specials for United Artists: Berlin - Kaiser to Khrushchev Documentary1964Narrator

Specials for United Artists: The Battle of Britain Documentary1964Narrator

Specials for United Artists: The Rise and Fall of American Communism Documentary1964Narrator

Specials for United Artists: Trial at Nuremberg Poster

Specials for United Artists: Trial at Nuremberg Documentary1964Narrator

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Poster

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea TV Series1964Adm. Harriman Nelson

Arrest and Trial Poster

Arrest and Trial TV Series1963Alexander Safford

Escape to Freedom Documentary1963Narrator

Kings of the Sun Poster

Kings of the Sun Feature Film1963Ah Min

Specials for United Artists: December 7th - The Day of Infamy Poster

Specials for United Artists: December 7th - The Day of Infamy Documentary1963Narrator

Specials for United Artists: Ten Seconds That Shook the World Poster

Specials for United Artists: Ten Seconds That Shook the World Documentary1963Narrator

Specials for United Artists: The American Woman in the 20th Century Documentary1963Narrator

Specials for United Artists: The Yanks Are Coming Documentary1963Narrator

The Yanks Are Coming Poster

The Yanks Are Coming Documentary1963Self - Narrator

Combat! TV Series1962Capt. Steiner

D-Day June 6, 1944 Poster

D-Day June 6, 1944 Documentary1962Narrator

Hitler Feature Film1962Adolf Hitler

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Poster

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour TV Series1962Miles Crawford

The Paradine Case Poster

The Paradine Case TV Movie1962Anthony Keane

Ben Casey Poster

Ben Casey TV Series1961Mark Cassidy

The Dick Powell Theatre Poster

The Dick Powell Theatre TV Series1961Judge Zachary

The DuPont Show of the Week Poster

The DuPont Show of the Week TV Series1961Narrator

The Light That Failed Poster

The Light That Failed TV Movie1961Dick Heldar

The Savage Guns Poster

The Savage Guns Feature Film1961Steve Fallon

Theatre '62 Poster

Theatre '62 TV Series1961Anthony Keane

5 Branded Women Poster

5 Branded Women Feature Film1960Il capitano Eric Reinhardt

For the Love of Mike Poster

For the Love of Mike Feature Film1960Father Francis Phelan

Here's Hollywood Poster

Here's Hollywood TV Series1960Self

Passport to China Poster

Passport to China Feature Film1960Don Benton

Portrait in Black Poster

Portrait in Black Feature Film1960Howard Mason

Route 66 Poster

Route 66 TV Series1960Julian Roebuck

Shangri-La Poster

Shangri-La TV Movie1960Hugh Conway

Jons und Erdme Poster

Jons und Erdme Feature Film1959Wittkuhn, der Schmied

Play of the Week Poster

Play of the Week TV Series1959Stranger

Rawhide TV Series1959Tod Stone

The Restless and the Damned Poster

The Restless and the Damned Feature Film1959George Rancourt

The Twilight Zone Poster

The Twilight Zone TV Series1959Adam Cook

Love and Troubles Poster

Love and Troubles Feature Film1958Paolo Martelli

Naked City Poster

Naked City TV Series1958Lester Bergson

The Brothers Karamazov Poster

The Brothers Karamazov Feature Film1958Ivan Karamazov

Miracles of Thursday Poster

Miracles of Thursday Feature Film1957Martino

The DuPont Show of the Month Poster

The DuPont Show of the Month TV Series1957Dr. George Ferguson

Time Limit Poster

Time Limit Feature Film1957Maj. Harry Cargill

Finger of Guilt Poster

Finger of Guilt Feature Film1956Reggie Wilson

Moby Dick Poster

Moby Dick Feature Film1956Ishmael

Playhouse 90 Poster

Playhouse 90 TV Series1956David Connelly

The Extra Day Poster

The Extra Day Feature Film1956Joe Blake

The Steve Allen Plymouth Show Poster

The Steve Allen Plymouth Show TV Series1956Self - Receiving Award

Zane Grey Theatre Poster

Zane Grey Theatre TV Series1956David Manning

Canyon Crossroads Poster

Canyon Crossroads Feature Film1955Larry Kendall

Cartouche Poster

Cartouche Feature Film1955Il conte Jacques de Maudy

Gunsmoke Poster

Gunsmoke TV Series1955Captain Aron Sligo

Il Bidone Poster

Il Bidone Feature Film1955Carlo

La vena d'oro Poster

La vena d'oro Feature Film1955Ing. Stefano Manfredi

Angels of Darkness Poster

Angels of Darkness Feature Film1954Bit Part

Jailbirds Poster

Jailbirds Feature Film1954Dottor Stefano Luprandi

La strada Poster

La strada Feature Film1954The Fool

The Good Die Young Poster

The Good Die Young Feature Film1954Joe

The Stranger's Hand Poster

The Stranger's Hand Feature Film1954Joe Hamstringer

Titanic Feature Film1953George Healey

Decision Before Dawn Poster

Decision Before Dawn Feature Film1951Lt. Dick Rennick

Fixed Bayonets! Poster

Fixed Bayonets! Feature Film1951Cpl. Denno

Fourteen Hours Poster

Fourteen Hours Feature Film1951Robert Cosick

The House on Telegraph Hill Poster

The House on Telegraph Hill Feature Film1951Alan Spender

What's My Line Poster

What's My Line TV Series1951Self - Celebrity Challenger

Outside the Wall Poster

Outside the Wall Feature Film1950Larry Nelson

Side Street Poster

Side Street Feature Film1950Bank Teller

Reign of Terror Poster

Reign of Terror Feature Film1949Maximilian Robespierre

Roseanna McCoy Poster

Roseanna McCoy Feature Film1949Mounts Hatfield

Tension Feature Film1949Warren Quimby

He Walked by Night Poster

He Walked by Night Feature Film1948Roy Martin

Studio One Poster

Studio One TV Series1948Matt Donovan

Cry Wolf Poster

Cry Wolf Feature Film1947James Demarest

Repeat Performance Poster

Repeat Performance Feature Film1947William Williams, the Poet

Director

1

Treasure Galleons Documentary1973

Other Crew

1

The Turning Point Poster

The Turning Point Feature Film1977

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