Joe Silver (September 28, 1922 – February 27, 1989) was an American stage, television, film and radio actor. His distinctive deep voice was once described as "the lowest voice in show business; so low that when he speaks, he unties your shoelaces."
Biography He was born on September 28, 1922, in Chicago. He was raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and attended Green Bay East High School and the University of Wisconsin.
Silver made his Broadway debut in 1942 in a revival of Tobacco Road. He was in the original production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable (1959) and was nominated for a Tony Award as a supporting actor for playing nine different roles in Lenny (1971).
In 1947, he made the first of more than 1,000 appearances on television, as a panelist on What's It Worth. Two years later, he became a member of the cast of the CBS educational children's television show Mr. I. Magination. In 1950, he appeared on the short-lived variety show Joey Faye's Frolics. He was featured on The Red Buttons Show in the 1950s, and was the second Captain Jet, host of the children's show Space Funnies in the late 1950s. He played the husband of star Lee Grant's character on Fay in the 1975-1976 season.
His film credits include Diary of a Bachelor (1964), Move (1970), Rhinoceros (1974), The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), Shivers (1975), Rabid (1977), You Light Up My Life (1977), Crash (1978), Boardwalk (1979), Deathtrap (1982), Almost You (1985) and Switching Channels (1988). He also provided the voice of the ox in the 1970 Christmas special The Night the Animals Talked and as The Creep in the horror anthology film Creepshow 2 (1987). He also provided the speaking and singing voices of the Greedy in Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977).
Silver's last performance was in the musical Legs Diamond.
While suffering from liver cancer, Silver died in Manhattan after suffering a heart attack at the age of 66 on February 27, 1989. He was survived by his actress wife Chevi Colton, their son Christopher, their daughter Jennifer, and three grandchildren.
Filmography Film + Year Title Role Notes1964 Diary of a Bachelor Charlie Barrett 1970 Move Oscar 1971 Klute Dr. Spangler Uncredited1974 Rhinoceros Norman The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz Farber 1975 Shivers Rollo Linsky 1977 Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure The Greedy Voice Rabid Murray Cypher You Light Up My Life Si Robinson 1979 Boardwalk Leo Rosen 1982 Deathtrap Seymour Starger 1985 Almost You Uncle Stu The Gig Abe Mitgang 1987 Creepshow 2 The Creep Voice Magic Sticks Pawnbroker Mr. Nice Guy Leser Tish 1988 Switching Channels Mordsini
Television
+ Year Title Role Notes 1950 Joey Faye's Frolics (regular cast) Mr. I. Magination Servant 1 episode 1952-1955 The Red Buttons Show (regular cast) 1 episode 1972 Gunsmoke Beal Brown Episode "The Brothers" 1975-1976 Fay Jack Steward 8 episodes 1976 Kojak Chief Wilson Episode "An Unfair Trade" 1978 Crash Alvin Jessop TV movie 1980-1983 Sesame Street Arnold Hooper 5 episodes 1985 The Equalizer Felix Dzershinsky Episode: "The Defector"
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