Mike Kellin

Mike Kellin (April 26, 1922 - August 26, 1983) was an American actor.

Biography

Early life

Kellin was born Myron Kellin in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Sophia and Samuel Kellin, Russian Jewish immigrants. He was educated at Boston University and Trinity College. He served with the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander during World War II and after the war studied acting and playwriting at the Yale School of Drama.

Career

Kellin's coarse-featured face, tired eyes and flat, monotone voice suggested that he had lived hard and fast. He was most often cast as tough guys, both good and evil. His portrayals were fascinating and memorable. He worked in some 50 plays and won an Obie Award for his work in American Buffalo. He made his Broadway debut in 1949 in At War with the Army and eventually earned a Tony nomination in 1956 for his acting in the Musical Pipe Dream.

Personal life/Death

Kellin was married to actress Sally Moffat, daughter of actress Sylvia Field Truex by an earlier marriage. He was also active in the Fortune Society, a prisoner's rights group. He died on August 26, 1983 from cancer in Nyack, New York, aged 61.

Play credits (partial)

• Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (1979) as Lionel Stander
• The Ritz (play) (1975) as Carmine Vespucci
• The Odd Couple (1966) as Oscar Madison
• Mother Courage and Her Children (1963) as Cook
• Rhinoceros (play) (1961) as Dribble
• God and Kate Murphy (1959) as Sean Murphy
• Pipe Dream (musical) (1955) as Hazel
• Ankles Aweigh (1955) as Joe Mancinni
• The Emperor's Clothes (1953) as Second Rottenbiller Brother
• Stalag 17 (1951) as Stosh
• The Bird Cage (1950) as Frank
• At War With the Army (1949) as Staff Sergeant McVay

Film credits

• At War With The Army (1950) as Sgt. McVey
• Hurricane Smith (1952) as Dicer
• Lonelyhearts (1959) as Frank Goldsmith
• Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960) as Chief Mate MacCarthy
• The Great Impostor (1960) with Tony Curtis, as Thompson
• Hell Is for Heroes (1962) as Pvt. Kolinsky
• The Boston Strangler (1968) as Julian Soshnick
• Riot (1969) as Bugsy
• The People Next Door (1970) as Dr. Margolin
• Fools Parade (1971) as Steve Mystic
• Freebie and the Bean (1974) as Lt. Rosen
• On The Yard (1978) as Red
• Midnight Express (1978) as Mr. Hayes
• The Jazz Singer (1980) as Leo
• Just Before Dawn (1981) as Ty
• So Fine (1981) as Sam Schlotzman
• Paternity (1981) as Tour Guide
• Sleepaway Camp (1983) as Mel, his final film.

Television credits

He was very active in television and was a regular on:

• Bonino (1953) as Rusty
• Honestly, Celeste! (1954) as Marty Gordon
• The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965-66) as C.P.O. Willie Miller
• Seventh Avenue a mini-series (1977) as Morris Blackman
• Fitz and Bones (1981) as Robert Whitmore

He also appeared in made-for-TV movies including:

• Assignment: Munich (1972)
• The Connection (1973)
• F.D.R.: the Last Year (1980) as Andre Gromyko

He guest starred on the following:

• Naked City
• The Untouchables
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents
• The Twilight Zone
• Lost in Space
• Barney Miller

External links

• Mike Kellin at the Internet Movie Database
• Mike Kellin at Find a Grave