Stephen Elliott (actor)

Elliott Pershing Stitzel (November 27, 1918 – May 21, 2005), better known by his stage name Stephen Elliott, was an American actor. His best known roles were that of the prospective father-in-law, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film Arthur and as Chief Hubbard in the 1984 blockbuster Beverly Hills Cop.

Stephen Elliott
Stephen Elliott appearing in Columbo, 1974
Born
Elliott Pershing Stitzel

(1918-11-27)November 27, 1918
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 2005(2005-05-21) (aged 86)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesStephen Elliot
Steve Elliott
OccupationActor
Years active1946–1999
Spouse(s)
Nancy Chase
​
​
(m. 1947; div. 1960)​

​
(m. 1980)​
Children2
This article is about the American actor. For others, see Stephen Elliott (disambiguation).

Career

Theatre

From 1940 to 1942, Elliott studied acting with Sanford Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse.[1] After serving in World War II with the United States Merchant Marine, he started a successful career on Broadway with his debut in Shakespeare's The Tempest; two years later, Elliott was selected by Robert Lewis to be one of The Actors Studio's founding members.[2]

In 1967, Elliott was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Marat/Sade. Two years later, he won the Drama Desk Award for A Whistle in the Dark. Additional Broadway credits include A Cry for Players, King Lear, The Miser, Georgy, The Crucible, and The Creation of the World and Other Business.

Television

Elliott's television credits include the role of Jane Wyman's first husband in Falcon Crest, General Padget in Columbo, Harold W. Smith in the 1988 television adaptation of Remo Williams, Texan millionaire attorney Scotty Demarest in Dallas, and Judge Harold Aldrich in Chicago Hope. He also appeared in the "Murder! Murder!" episode of The Eddie Capra Mysteries. In 1981 he had a small role as the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the TV serial Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years. Highway To Heaven "Thoroughbreds" Episodes 1 and 2 with Helen Hunt and Micheal Landon 1985.

Radio

In 1981, Elliott played the role of Bail Organa, father of Princess Leia, in the radio drama adaptation of Star Wars.

Personal life

Elliott was born Elliott Pershing Stitzel in New York City. His marriage to Barbara Blaise was terminated by divorce in February 1947, according to The Kingston Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY), 4 October 1947, page 3. He married stage actress Nancy Chase on 9 October 1947 (Billboard, 18 October 1947, p. 47) and divorced in 1960. They had two children, Jency and Jon. He married his third wife, actress Alice Hirson, whom he met on Broadway in 1964; they were not married until 1980. He died in 2005 in Woodland Hills, California as result of congestive heart failure. Both Elliott and Hirson appeared in recurring roles on the television series Dallas.

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Stephen Elliott, 86; Veteran Stage, Film and TV Actor Known for Role in 'Arthur'". The Los Angeles Times. May 24, 2005.
  2. Garfield, David (1980). "Birth of The Actors Studio: 1947-1950". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 52. ISBN 0-02-542650-8. Also [in Lewis' class were] Henry Barnard, Jay Barney, John Becher, Philip Bourneuf, Joan Chandler, Peter Cookson, Stephen Elliott, Robert Emhardt, Joy Geffen, William Hansen, Will Hare, Jane Hoffman, George Keane, Don Keefer, George Matthews, Peggy Meredith, Ty Perry, Margaret Phillips, David Pressman, William Prince, Elliot Reid, Frances Reid, Kurt Richards, Elizabeth Ross, Thelma Schnee, Joshua Shelley, Fed Stewart, John Straub, Michael Strong, John Sylvester, Julie Warren, Mary Welch, Lois Wheeler and William Woodson.
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