Ernest Graves (May 5, 1919 – June 1, 1983) was an American film, theatre, and television actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the original Victor Lord on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1968 to 1974.
Early life Born in Chicago, Graves graduated from the Goodman Theatre of the Chicago Art Institute in 1940.
Career Theatre Graves starred in eleven broadway productions in his career. In the 1940s, he starred in Macbeth, The Russian People, Men in Shadow, Cyrano de Bergerac with José Ferrer, and Eastward in Eden. In the 1950s, Graves starred in As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and Tiger at the Gates. In the 1960s, he starred in Dylan, Venus Is which never opened. In the 1970s, he starred in Poor Murderer. and Golda with Anne Bancroft. Before his death in the 1980s, Graves was on a national tour with Yul Brynner in The King and I.
Film Graves starred in Walk East on Beacon (1952), the cult film Hercules in New York (1970), and The Dogs of War (1980).
Television Graves was a regular on the NBC drama Today Is Ours (1958). He also was featured on several daytime soap operas, including The Brighter Day, Guiding Light, The Edge of Night, As the World Turns, and Another World. He was on three episodes of Search for Tomorrow. Graves starred the made-for-TV movie adaptation of the play The Ceremony of Innocence for NET Playhouse. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the original Victor Lord on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live from 1968 to 1974.
Personal life and death Graves was married Helen Grant on December 12, 1963. Together, they had one daughter, Leslie. On June 1, 1983, he died of cancer at age 64 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Theatre Start date End date Title Role Venue Notes Macbeth Menteith National Theatre 131 performances The Russian People Wounded Man Guild Theatre 39 performances Men in Shadow Enshaw Morosco Theatre 21 performances Cyrano de Bergerac Christian De Neuvillette Alvin Theatre / Ethel Barrymore Theatre 193 performances Eastward in Eden Ben Newton Royale Theatre 15 performances As You Like It Oliver de Boys Cort Theatre 145 performances Much Ado About Nothing Don Pedro Music Box Theatre 4 performances Tiger at the Gates MessengerAjax Plymouth Theatre / Helen Hayes Theatre 217 performances Dylan Jay Henry Antone Plymouth Theatre 273 performances Venus Is Vincent Martin Billy Rose Theatre Never opened Poor Murderer Various Ethel Barrymore Theatre 87 performances Golda Various Morosco Theatre 93 performances The King and I Sir Edward Ramsay National tour 18 performances
Filmography Film Year Title Role Director(s) Notes 1952 Walk East on Beacon Robert Martin Alfred L. Werker Noir Drama film 1961 One Plus One John Bradley - 'Homecoming' segment Arch Oboler Drama film 1970 Hercules in New York Zeus Arthur Allan Seidelman Fantasy action comedy film 1980 The Dogs of War Warner John Irvin Action-thriller war filmBased on the 1974 novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth 1981 The Frog King Father Tom Davenport Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes 1949–50 The Philco Television Playhouse Episodes: 1950–57 Studio One Various 4 episodes 1951 Armstrong Circle Theatre Episode: "By the Book" 1950–52 Lux Video Theatre Various 4 episodes 1952 Out There Episode: "The Castaway" Suspense Aide Episode: "Betrayal in Vienna" The Hunter Episode: "Bucharest Express" 1952–53 Broadway Television Theatre Various 3 episodes 1953 Robert Montgomery Presents Episode: "Ricochet" Tales of Tomorrow The Voice Episode: "Read to Me, Herr Doktor" 1954 Martin Kane, Private Eye Doctor Esker Episode: "The Shoeshine Murder" Ponds Theater Episode: "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" 1957 The Edge of Night Ed Parmalee 2 episodesCredit only 1957–58 Men of Annapolis Episodes: 1958 Today Is Ours Glenn Turner Main role 1960 The Brighter Day Eliot Clark #2 As the World Turns Dr. David Stewart 2 episodes 1961 Naked City Lawyer Episode: "A Wednesday Night Story" 1962–66 Guiding Light Alex Bowden 5 episodes 1967 Another World Dr. Francis X. McCurdy Episode: "#1.759" Search for Tomorrow Walter Haskins 3 episodes 1968–74 One Life to Live Victor Lord #1 138 episodes 1970 NET Playhouse King Sweyn Episode: "The Ceremony of Innocence"
Notes
References
Sources
External links