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Burt Mustin

 
Actor: Burt Mustin
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  • Born: Feb 08, 1882 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Died: Jan 28, 1977 in Glendale, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '50s-'70s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Drama
  • Career Highlights: All in the Family: Archie's Weighty Problem, Sanford and Son: Home Sweet Home for the Aged, All in the Family: Edith Finds an Old Man
  • First Major Screen Credit: Leave It to Beaver: Beaver Gets 'Spelled (1957)

Biography

Life literally began at 60 for American actor Burt Mustin, who didn't enter show business until that age and didn't make his film debut until Detective Story (1951), at which time he was 68. After a decade of uncredited movie roles as hillbilly patriarchs and Town's Oldest Citizens, Mustin began getting name recognition for numerous TV appearances in the late '50s and early '60s. The actor was a particular favorite of producer/actor Jack Webb, who cast Mustin several times on Dragnet; in one episode Burt was an octogenarian burglar, and in another was a retired detective who solved a murder case - and chewed out a young cop for not knowing the proper way to take fingerprints! Situation comedy producers made good use of Burt Mustin as well, and he was featured in innumerable cameos on such programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Get Smart and The Jack Benny Program, usually stealing most of the laughs from the stars. Mustin had regular TV roles as eccentric neighbor Finley on Date with the Angels, Gus the Fireman on Leave It to Beaver, barber shop patron Jud Crowley on The Andy Griffith Show, the amorous senior-citizen husband of Queenie Smith on The Funny Side, and nursing-home refugee Justin Quigley on All in the Family. Mustin got the biggest press coverage of his career when, in character as Arthur Lanson, he married Mother Dexter - played by 82-year-old Judith Lowry - on the December 13, 1976 episode of Phyllis. It was a hilarious and, in retrospect, poignant moment in TV history: Judith Lowry had died a few days before the program was aired, and Burt Mustin, who was too ill to watch the show, passed away six weeks later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Burt Mustin
Born Burton Hill Mustin
February 8, 1884(1884-02-08)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died January 28, 1977 (aged 92)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Other name(s) Bert Mustin
Occupation Actor
Years active 1951–1977

Burton Hill "Burt" Mustin (February 8, 1884 – January 28, 1977) was an American character actor.

Contents

Early life

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mustin was a 1903 graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College, earning his degree in civil engineering. An automobile salesman, he was also an amateur actor, appearing frequently in productions of the Pittsburgh Savoyards (a Gilbert and Sullivan troupe).

Career

Mustin was involved with early broadcasts on KDKA. His first appearance in film came in 1951 at the age of sixty-seven, and thereafter he established himself as one of the most familiar character actors in the United States. His face was a common appearance on television programs through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, with credits ranging from single appearances on shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show to multiple appearances on shows such as Leave It to Beaver, Dragnet, The Andy Griffith Show, Petticoat Junction, My Three Sons, Bewitched, Adam-12, and All in the Family. Befitting one who began his acting career so late in life, his typical character was a feisty old-timer. His last continuing role was on the television series Phyllis, in which he played the suitor, and later husband, of Sally "Mother" Dexter.

Death

Mustin died from natural causes at the age of ninety-two at Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California. He was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Selected filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1951 Detective Story Willie Uncredited
1952 The Lusty Men Jeremiah Watrus
1953 One Girl's Confession Gardener
1954 Cattle Queen of Montana Dan
1955 The Desperate Hours Carl Uncredited
1956 Great Day in the Morning Doctor Uncredited
1957 Raintree County Old gent with "Flash" Uncredited
1958 Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! Town Moderator
1959 The FBI Story Uncle Fudd Schneider Uncredited
1960 Home from the Hill Gas station attendant Uncredited
1961 Snow White and the Three Stooges Farmer Uncredited
1962 Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man Old Soldier Uncredited
1963 Son of Flubber Bailiff Uncredited
1964 The Killers Elderly Man
1965 Cat Ballou Accuser
1966 The Ghost and Mr. Chicken Mr. Dellagondo Uncredited
1967 The Reluctant Astronaut Ned Uncredited
1968 The Shakiest Gun in the West Old Artimus Uncredited
1969 The Great Bank Robbery Glazier Uncredited
1971 Skin Game Liveryman in Fair Shake Uncredited
1972 Now You See Him, Now You Don't Mr. Reed Uncredited
1974 Mame Uncle Jeff
1975 The Strongest Man in the World Regent Appleby
1976 Baker's Hawk General
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Adventures of Kit Carson Dave Lowery 1 episode
1952 The Abbott and Costello Show Hard-of-hearing old man 1 episode
1954 Father Knows Best Old Eddie Gilbert 1 episode
1955 The Great Gildersleeve Foley 5 episodes
1956 Crusader Gorman 1 episode
1957 State Trooper John Daka 1 episode
1957-1958 Date with the Angels Mr. Finley 5 episodes
1957-1962 Leave It to Beaver Gus the Fireman 15 episodes
1959 Tombstone Territory Lucky Oliver 1 episode
1960 The Dennis O'Keefe Show Grandpa Clayhipple 1 episode
1961 Ichabod and Me Olaf 1 episode
1961-1966 The Andy Griffith Show Jud Crowley 14 episodes
1963 The Dick Van Dyke Show Mr. Parker 1 episode
1964 Wagon Train Max 1 episode
1964-1965 The Beverly Hillbillies Humphrey - Chauffeur 2 episodes
1965 Hank Pete 1 episode
1966 Batman Old MacDonald 1 episode
1967 The Lucy Show Old Uncle Joe 2 episode
1968 Petticoat Junction Grampa Jensen 3 episodes
1969 The Over-the-Hill Gang Old Man Television movie
1970 The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again Best Man Television movie
1971 The New Andy Griffith Show Mr. Ormstead 1 episode
1973 Sanford and Son Mr. Malloy 1 episode
1974 Rhoda Sleeping Man 1 episode
1975 Switch Old man 1 episode
1976 The Moneychangers Jack Henderson Miniseries
1976-1977 Phyllis Arthur Lanson 4 episodes

External links


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