Abel, Walter (1898–1987), character actor. Equally effective in both Eugene O'Neill dramas and drawing‐room comedies, Abel appeared on Broadway for more than five decades. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and studied acting at New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts before making his professional debut as a lieutenant in Forbidden (1919). Although he later became a much‐recognized screen character actor, Abel returned to the New York stage often, most memorably as the befuddled stepfather in The Pleasure of His Company and the grumpy old stuffed shirt Sir William in the 1975 Lincoln Center revival of Trelawny of the Wells.
Walter Abel
| American Theater Guide: Walter Abel |
| Actor: Walter Abel |
- Born: Jun 06, 1898 in St. Paul, Minnesota
- Died: Apr 24, 1987 in Essex, Connecticut
- Occupation: Actor
- Active: '30s-'50s
- Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Career Highlights: The Indian Fighter, Star Spangled Rhythm, So This Is Love
- First Major Screen Credit: The Three Musketeers (1935)
Biography
A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, American actor Walter Abel began his stage career in 1919, and made his first film in 1920. Tall and quietly dignified, Abel was well cast in several of the plays of Eugene O'Neill. His first talking picture role was as the industrious young bridegroom Wolf in Liliom (1930). Abel had a go at a romantic lead when he replaced Francis Lederer as D'Artagnan in the 1935 version of The Three Musketeers; but the film was dull and Abel's performance mannered, so, thereafter, he was more effectively cast in top supporting roles. With his performance as the prosecuting attorney in Fury, Abel established his standard screen image: the well-groomed, mustachioed professional man, within whom lurked a streak of barely controlled hysteria. In this guise, Abel was excellent as the dyspeptic newspaper editor in Arise My Love (1940) and as Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire's long-suffering agent in Holiday Inn (1942). Busier on stage and television than in films during the 1950s, Abel received extensive critical and public attention for his role as a doomed industrialist in the 1966 melodrama Mirage. Sent out by Universal to promote the film, Abel regaled talk-show hosts with the story of how his fatal plunge from a skyscraper was actually filmed. Also during this period, Abel was appointed president of the American National Theatre and Academy. His last screen performance was opposite Katharine Hepburn in The Ultimate Solution of Grace Quigley (1984). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide| Filmography: Walter Abel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wikipedia: Walter Abel |
| Walter Abel | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 6, 1898 St. Paul, Minnesota, USA |
| Died | March 26, 1987 (aged 88) Essex, USA |
| Years active | 1918–1984 |
| Spouse(s) | Marietta Bitter (1926-1979) (her death) 2 children |
Walter Abel (June 6, 1898 – March 26, 1987) was an American stage and film character actor.
Abel was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Christine (née Becker) and Richard Michael Abel.[1] Abel graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his Broadway debut in Forbidden in 1919. His many theatre credits include As You Like It, Desire Under the Elms, Mourning Becomes Electra, Merrily We Roll Along, and Trelawny of the 'Wells'.
Abel was married to concert harpist Marietta Bitter. He died of a myocardial infarction in Essex, Connecticut.
Filmography
- The Three Musketeers (1935) as D'Artagnan
- The Lady Consents (1936) as Stanley Ashton
- Two in the Dark (1936) as Ford 'Jitney' Adams
- The Witness Chair (1936) as James 'Jim' Trent
- Fury (1936) as Adams, the district attorney
- We Went to College (1936) as Philip Talbot
- Second Wife (1936) as Kenneth Carpenter
- Portia on Trial (1937) as Dan Foster
- Wise Girl (1937) as Karl Stevens
- Law of the Underworld (1938) as Rogers
- Men with Wings (1938) as Nick Ranson
- King of the Turf (1939) as Robert Barnes
- Miracle on Main Street (1940)
- Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) as the Judge
- Arise, My Love (1940) as Mr Phillips
- Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1940) as Elliott Thomas
- Who Killed Aunt Maggie (1940) as Dr George Benedict
- Hold Back the Dawn (1941) as Inspector Hammock
- Skylark (1941) as George Gore
- Glamour Boy (1941) as A. J. Colder
- Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942) as Professor Thornton
- Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) as B.G. DeSoto
- Holiday Inn (1942) as Danny Reed, Ted Hanover's manic manager
- Wake Island (1942) as Cmdr. Roberts
- So Proudly We Hail! (1943) as the Chaplain
- Fired Wife (1943) as Chris McClelland
- An American Romance (1944) as Howard Clinton
- Mr. Skeffington (1944) as George Trellis
- The Affairs of Susan (1945) as Richard Aiken
- Duffy's Tavern (1945) (Director)
- Kiss and Tell (1945) as Harry Archer
- The Kid From Brooklyn (1946) as Gabby Sloan
- 13 Rue Madeleine (1946) as Charles Gibson
- Dream Girl (1948) as George Allerton
- That Lady in Ermine (1948) as Maj. Horvath
- So This Is Love (1953) as Col. James Moore
Island in the Sky (1953) as Col. Fuller- Night People (1954) as Maj. Foster, MD
- The Indian Fighter (1955) as Capt. Trask
- The Steel Jungle (1956) as Warden Keller
- Bernardine (1957) as Mr. Beaumont
- Raintree County (1957) as T.D. Shawnessy
- Handle With Care (1958) as Prof. Bowdin
- Mirage (1965) as Charles Stewart Calvin
- Quick Let's Get Married (1966) as The Thief
- The Man without a Country (1974) (TV) as Col. A.B. Morgan
- Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974) (TV) as Mayor Adams
- Grace Quigley (1984) as Homer Morrison
References
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Learn More
 | The Fabulous Joe (1947 Comedy Film) |
| Two in the Dark (1936 Mystery Film) |
| The Wingless Victory (American Theater) |
 | What does abel mean? Read answer... |
| In the Bible who is Abel? Read answer... |
| Who are abel's sons? Read answer... |
Help us answer these
 | Who was abels son? |
| Who is abel acosta? |
| What is ABEL in ASIC? |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | American Theater Guide. The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. Copyright © 2004 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Walter Abel". Read more |
Related answers
- Why is abel called abel?
- Who is the abel corporation?
- Who is Abel from the Bible?
- Who are Abel's siblings?
- Who were Cain and Abel?
ADVERTISEMENT
Answer these
- What is an abel?
- Who was Abel's killer?
- Who is Neils Abel?
- Where is Adeline Abel?
- Who is abel navarrete?
- Where is abel padro?
- Who is abel ortega?
Mentioned in
- The Fabulous Joe (1947 Comedy Film)
- Two in the Dark (1936 Mystery Film)
- The Wingless Victory (American Theater)
- First Offenders (1939 Drama Film)
- Portia on Trial (1937 Drama Film)
- The Pleasure of His Company (American Theater)
- The Three Musketeers (1935 Adventure Film)
- The Affairs of Susan (1945 Comedy Film)
- Second Wife (1930 Drama Film)
- Second Wife (1936 Drama Film)
- We Went to College (1936 Comedy Film)
- The Witness Chair (1936 Drama Film)
- The Kid from Brooklyn (1946 Comedy Film)
- Mirage (1966 Mystery Film)
