Donald Buka (August 17, 1920 – July 21, 2009) was an American supporting actor in radio, films, and television from 1943 to 1971.
Early years Buka was born on August 17, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio. When he was age 17, he went to Pittsburgh to study at Carnegie Tech.
Career While he was at Carnegie Tech, aged 17, Buka read a scene for Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in an otherwise-empty theater. They invited him to join their company immediately, and he accepted. He toured with them for three years.
Buka had worked on a film for Howard Hughes for three days when Hughes offered him a seven-year contract and told the screenwriter to expand Buka's part for the scenes that had not yet been filmed. Buka agreed to the contract with the stipulation that he be allowed to act on stage during the nine months of the traditional theatrical season each year.
After some early experience in the theater, he got his start in mass media by appearing on the CBS radio program Let's Pretend.
He appeared in episodes of Dragnet, Ironside, Perry Mason, and The High Chaparral.
Buka's Broadway debut came in Twelfth Night (1940). He concluded his Broadway career in Design for Living (1984).
Death Buka died on July 21, 2009 in Reading, Massachusetts.Donald Buka, Veteran Stage and Film Actor, Dies at 88
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes1943 Watch on the Rhine Joshua 1948 The Street with No Name Shivvy 1950 Between Midnight and Dawn Ritchie Garris Vendetta Padrino, the Bandit 1951 New Mexico Private Van Vechton 1953 Stolen Identity Toni Sponer 1961 Operation Eichmann David 1964 Shock Treatment Psychologist 1970 The Great White Hope Reporter uncredited Television
+ Year Title Role Notes1960 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Man at the door Episode: "The Cuckoo Clock" 1964 Perry Mason Clark 1 episode 1967 Ironside Vincent Longo 1 episode1971A Memory of Two MondaysMr. EagleTV play1986The EqualizerBen Carrigan Episode: "The Line"
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