Frank Overton

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Frank Overton
Frank Overton.jpg
Overton (1960s)
Born
Frank Emmons Overton

(1918-03-12)March 12, 1918
Babylon, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 24, 1967(1967-04-24) (aged 49)
Pacific Palisades, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
OccupationActor
Spouse(s)
  • Olga Knotek
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1946; div. 1952)​
  • ​
    (m. 1962)​
Children1

Frank Emmons Overton (March 12, 1918 – April 24, 1967)[1] was an American actor. Best known for Maj. Harvey Stovall in Twelve O'Clock High (1964-1967) and Sherriff Heck Tate in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and General Bogan in Fail Safe (1964).

Early life[]

Overton was born in Babylon, New York on March 12, 1918.[2]

Career[]

Overton's acting career began on the stage in New York City.[2] His Broadway credits include The Desperate Hours (1954), The Trip to Bountiful (1953), Truckline Cafe (1945) and Jacobowsky and the Colonel (1943).[3]

Overton appeared in numerous television programs during the early 1950s and through the late 1960s. In 1959, he appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone with Gig Young, called "Walking Distance".In an episode aired on January 31, 1963 Frank appeared in a Twilight Zone episode titled MUTE as sheriff Harry Wheeler in which actress Ann Jillian played a telepathic child. Other TV work included The Fugitive in 1963. He played Sheriff Heck Tate in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird. In 1964, he played General Bogan in the film Fail Safe. [1]

Overton appeared in an episode of the 1961 ABC series The Asphalt Jungle. He made two guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason in diverse roles. In 1961 he played a priest, Father Paul, in "The Case of the Renegade Refugee," and in 1963 he played Deputy D.A. Nelson Taylor in "The Case of the Bluffing Blast."

Overton played Major Harvey Stovall in the TV series Twelve O'Clock High, and also played a significant role in the movie Wild River, where he appeared as the jilted fiancé of Lee Remick. His last TV role was that of Elias Sandoval in Star Trek's "This Side of Paradise", which originally aired in March 1967, just one month before his death at age 49.

Personal life[]

In 1962, Overton married actress Phyllis Hill in Los Angeles.[4]

Death[]

Overton died after a heart attack in 1967 in Pacific Palisades, California. He was survived by his wife, Phyllis Hill, and a daughter.[5] He is interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, in the Garden of Memory (formerly Section 6), L-44, with his wife, who died in 1993.

Filmography[]

Film
Title Year Role Notes
Boomerang 1947 Man in Mob Behind Jail Uncredited
Mystery Street 1950 Guard Uncredited
No Way Out 1950 Intern Uncredited
The True Story of Jesse James 1957 Maj. Rufus Cobb
Lonelyhearts 1958 Mr. Sargeant
Desire Under the Elms 1958 Simeon Cabot
The Last Mile 1959 Father O'Connors
Wild River 1960 Walter Clark
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs 1960 Morris Lacey
Posse from Hell 1961 Burt Hogan
Claudelle Inglish 1961 Harley Peasley
To Kill a Mockingbird 1962 Sheriff Heck Tate
Fail Safe 1964 General Bogan
Television
Title Year Role Notes
The Trip to Bountiful 1953 Sheriff TV movie
Studio One 1954 Mr. McGinnis Episode: "The Remarkable Incident at Carson Corners"
The Twilight Zone 1959-1963 Robert Sloan / Harry Wheeler Episodes: Walking Distance, Mute
Thriller 1960 Bart Hattering Episode: "Child's Play"
Perry Mason 1961 Father Paul Episode: "The Case of the Renegade Refugee"
Bonanza 1962-1967 Amos Crenshaw / Capt. Matthew White Episodes: "The Wormwood Cup", "The Storm"
The Virginian 1962-1967 Sam Atkins / Mr. Umber / Sam Cafferty Episodes: "A Welcoming Town", "Smile of a Dragon", "50 Days to Moose Jaw"
The Fugitive 1963 Sheriff Al Springer Episode: "Nightmare at Northoak"
Twelve O'Clock High 1964–1967 Maj. Harvey Stovall 61 episodes
The Invaders 1967 Dr. Grayson Episode: "Genesis"
Star Trek 1967 Elias Sandoval Episode: ”This Side of Paradise”

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 143. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Death Takes Two Actors". The Deseret News. Associated Press. April 25, 1967. p. A7. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  3. ^ "("Frank Overton" search results)". Playbill Vault. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  4. ^ Scott, Tony (2001). The Stars of Hollywood Forever. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781312916975. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  5. ^ "Actor Frank Overton, 49, Dies Suddenly". Lebanon Daily News. Pennsylvania, Lebanon. United Press International. April 25, 1967. p. 2.

External links[]

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