Burt Mustin

Burton Hill Mustin (February 8, 1884 — January 28, 1977) was an American character actor born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Early life

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 The Andy Griffith Show 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.

He had a recurring role as the wise but often sleepy Gus the fireman on Leave It to Beaver and on Dragnet in the 1960s, where his roles ranged from an aged, unrepentant cat burglar to a pitiable victim of a "bank examiner" swindle, as well as a retired deputy police chief from Chicago. He also appeared as Olaf in the 1961-1962 CBS sitcom Ichabod and Me with Robert Sterling, George Chandler, and Reta Shaw. He guest starred in many series, including another short-lived CBS sitcom, Run, Buddy, Run, starring Jack Sheldon, which aired in the fall of 1966.

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

Selected television roles

• The Adventures of Kit Carson - as Dave Lowery in "Fury at Red Gulch" (1951)
• Crusader - as Gorman in "The Girl Across the Hall" with Inger Stevens (CBS, 1956)
• Leave it to Beaver - Gus the Fireman (1957 – 1958)
• State Trooper - John Daka in "Room Service in 321" (1957)
• Tombstone Territory - Lucky Oliver in "The Black Diamond" (1959)
• The Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 47 "The Night of the Meek" (1960) as an old man at a city mission.
• The Andy Griffith Show - Jud Crowley (1961 – 1966)
• The Twilight Zone episode "Kick the Can" (1962) in a role as a bystander watching from the porch rocker.
• Get Smart episode "Dear Diary" (1965) as Agent 8.
• The New Phil Silvers Show - Magruder, the nighwatchman
• Bewitched - as a warlock messenger ("Toys in Babeland") and Mountain Guru ("Return of Darrin the Bold") (1966-71)
• Dragnet-Pensioner (1967)
• Petticoat Junction - Grandpa Jenson (1968)
• The Brady Bunch - Jethroe Collins (Man whose father was killed by Jesse James) (1973)
• All in the Family - Harry Feeney and Justin Quigley (1971 – 1976)
• Phyllis - Arthur Lanson (1976)
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Old man at Police Station (1971)
• Emergency! - Played a grandpa {1974}

External links

• Burt Mustin at the Internet Movie Database
• Burt Mustin at Dead or Alive?
• Burt Mustin at Great Character Actors
• Burt Mustin at Find a Grave
• Photo gallery
• Pennsylvania Military College profile