Henry Beckman (26 November 1921some sources cite 1920, others 1925 – 17 June 2008) was a Canadian stage, film and television actor.
Career Beckman appeared in well over 100 productions in the United States and Canada, including recurring roles as Commander Paul Richards in the 1954 Flash Gordon space opera television series, Bob Mulligan in the ABC sitcom I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, George Anderson in the television adaptation of Peyton Place, Captain Clancey in the Western comedy-drama Here Come the Brides, Harry Mark on Bronk, conniving United States Army Colonel Douglas Harrigan in McHale's Navy, Colonel Platt in the 1965 movie McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force, and as a sheriff in an episode of Rango.
He made four guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason, including the role of David in the 1960 episode "The Case of the Flighty Father", as Sydney L. Garth in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Captain's Coins", as Albert King in the 1965 episode "The Case of the Wrongful Writ" and as William March in the 1966 episode "The Case of the Dead Ringer". He made a guest appearance as Cody on Honey West "A Matter of Wife and Death" (episode 4) in 1965.
In the 1980s he appeared in Kane & Abel, played the security guard Alf on the Don Adams sitcom Check It Out!, and was also a non-celebrity contestant on the TV game show Scrabble. He continued to act through his late seventies on shows like The Commish and MacGyver, and a handful of appearances on The X-Files, most notably with "Squeeze".
Awards/legacy Beckman won two Canadian Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor, in 1975 for Why Rock the Boat? and in 1978 for Blood and Guts. With his first wife, actress Cheryl Maxwell, Beckman founded the Dukes Oak Theater in Cooperstown, New York, and served as the theater company's producer.
War service He served with the Canadian Army during World War II, including the D-Day Landings at Juno Beach, Normandy, on 6 June 1944.
Family He is the father of astrophysicist and software engineer Brian Beckman.
Death Beckman died in Barcelona, Spain on 17 June 2008 with his second wife Hillary at his side.
Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1953 Niagara Motorcycle Cop (uncredited) 1953 The Glory Brigade Soldier (uncredited) 1956 The Wrong Man Prisoner at Arraignment Hearing (uncredited) 1957 So Lovely... So Deadly Steve Clark 1960 The Bramble Bush Bill Watts (uncredited) 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's Narcotics Detective Cronberger (uncredited) 1962 13 West Street Joe Bradford 1963 The Man from the Diners' Club Policeman (uncredited) 1963 Twilight of Honor Man Stirring Up Crowd (uncredited) 1964 Dead Ringer Prosecutor (uncredited) 1964 Marnie First Detective 1964 A House Is Not a Home Croupier (uncredited) 1964 Kiss Me, Stupid Truck Driver 1965 The Satan Bug Dr. Baxter 1965 The Glory Guys Salesman 1965 McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force Col. Platt 1967 The Caper of the Golden Bulls Bendell 1968 Madigan Philip Downes 1968 The Stalking Moon Sgt. Rudabaugh 1969 Sweet Charity Policeman (uncredited) 1969 The Undefeated Thad Benedict 1972 The Merry Wives of Tobias Rouke Tobias Rouke 1973 Between Friends Will 1974 Peopletoys Dr. Brown 1974 Why Rock the Boat? Philip Butcher 1976 Silver Streak Conventioneer 1978 Blood and Guts Red Henkel 1979 The Brood Barton Kelly 1981 Death Hunt Bill Luce 1986 Every Dog's Guide to Complete Home Safety The Boss 1990 I Love You to Death Wendel Carter 2000 Epicenter Pat 2000 Lion of Oz Narrator (voice)
Television Year Title Role Notes 1959 Police Station Detective Stan Abramson 2 episodes: s01:e01 and S1:E04 1962 Gunsmoke Duff 1 episode: s08:e03 "Quint Asper Comes Home" 1965 The Munsters “Leadfoot“ Baylor / Ralph, the Husband 2 episodes: s01:e36 "Hot Rod Herman", s2:e05 "Herman, Coach of the Year" 1967 The Monkees D.A. / Manager 2 episodes: s02:e02 "The Picture Frame", s2e19 "The Monkee's Paw"1968-1970Here Come the BridesCaptain ClanceyRecurring (Season 1) Main Cast (Season 2)1985Check it Out!Alf ScullySeason 11988Family ReunionLeoTelevision film
References
External links
How to Sell your Film Project at Google Books Brian Beckman: On Analog Computing, Some Beckman History, and Life in the Universe at Channel 9