Truman Bradley (February 8, 1905 – July 28, 1974) was an actor and narrator in radio, television and film.

Early years Bradley was born February 8, 1905, in Sheldon, Missouri. Although he wanted to be an actor, he followed his parents' desires and studied law.

Career

Radio Bradley began his career in the 1930s as a radio broadcaster. Working at WBBM in Chicago, Illinois, some considered him "the Mid-West's leading news commentator." He was selected by Henry Ford to be the announcer for the Ford Sunday Evening Hour, for which he flew to Detroit, Michigan, each weekend. With his distinctive, authoritative voice, he soon became a radio actor as well as a narrator in numerous movies. In the mid-1940s, Bradley was a newscaster with KERN in Bakersfield, California.

Bradley was the announcer for Red Skelton's program, Burns and Allen Easy Aces, the Frank Sinatra Show and Screen Guild Players.

Film A newspaper columnist wrote in 1942 that representatives of the film industry "had stalked him [Bradley] in Chicago, pouncing on him with such enthusiasm and rich offers that he could not, in honesty to himself, refuse." He received critical praise for his work in The Night Before the Divorce in 1942. He was also in Northwest Passage (1940), Millionaires in Prison (1940) and Murder Among Friends (1941).

Television Bradley was the host of the 1950s syndicated TV series Science Fiction Theatre.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 39. He occasionally worked as an actor in films (including two Charlie Chan mysteries in the 1930s) and live theater. He made his final acting appearance in a 1960 episode of the American legal drama Perry Mason entitled "The Case of the Madcap Modiste" playing a grey-haired television interviewer and the episode's narrator. He then retired.

Other business activities In 1937, Bradley and his sister bought the Chicago-based Mme. Huntingford Cosmetic Company. He was the company's president, and Elene Bradley was general manager, "active in the sales end of the business."

Family Bradley married Evelyn Jane Esenther of Oak Park, Illinois, September 8, 1937.

He married actress Myra Bratton January 12, 1940, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bratton filed for divorce in Los Angeles, California, March 17, 1941. The divorce was granted November 17, 1941.

He later had a complex relationship with actress Phyllis Ruth, whom he married in 1942. Three years later, she announced plans to file for divorce. Early in 1946, however, a newspaper columnist reported: "The judge who ruled that Starlet Phyllis Ruth and Radio Announcer Truman Bradley could live in the same house, though separated, did a smart thing. They are reconciled now and are going to have a baby in June." A July 14, 1946, column by Jimmie Fidler reported, "The Truman Bradleys ... got a six-pound baby girl."

Death Bradley died July 28, 1974, in Hollywood, California, at the Motion Picture Home.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1932 Are You Listening? Radio Announcer Uncredited1938 Vacation from Love Mark Shelby 1938 Young Dr. Kildare Jack Hamilton 1938 Spring Madness Walter Beckett 1939 The Ice Follies of 1939 Paul Rodney Voice, Uncredited1939 The Hardys Ride High Clerk 1939 6,000 Enemies Reporter Uncredited1939 Stronger Than Desire Man in Courtroom Uncredited1939 On Borrowed Time James Northrup 1939 Miracles for Sale Nightclub Master of Ceremonies Uncredited1940 Northwest Passage Captain Ogden 1940 Millionaires in Prison Dr. William 'Bill' Collins 1940 We Who Are Young Commentator Voice, Uncredited1940 A Night at Earl Carroll's Radio Announcer 1941 Murder Among Friends McAndrews 1941 Dead Men Tell Capt. Kane 1941 The Goose Goes South Narrator Voice, Uncredited short1941 Last of the Duanes Texas Ranger Capt. Laramie 1941 Mob Town Officer Cutler 1941 Burma Convoy Victor Harrison 1941 Keep 'Em Flying Butch 1941 They Died with Their Boots On 7th Michigan officer Uncredited1942 Bombay Clipper Dr. Gregory Landers 1942 Treat 'Em Rough Jordan Perkins 1942 The Night Before the Divorce Inspector Bruce Campbell 1942 Lone Star Ranger Phil Lawson 1945 Objective, Burma! Narrator - Opening Sequence Voice, Uncredited1945 The Horn Blows at Midnight Radio Announcer 1946 Mr. Ace Radio Forum Moderator Uncredited1947 I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now Martin Webb 1948 Call Northside 777 Narrator Voice, Uncredited1948 Fighter Squadron Narrator Voice, Uncredited1949 Special Agent Narrator Voice1952 Macao Narrator Voice, Uncredited1952 Confidence Girl Narrator Voice, Uncredited1953 Never Wave at a WAC Narrator Voice, Uncredited1955-1957 Science Fiction Theatre Narrator 1960Perry Mason (1957 TV series) Grey-Haired Television Interviewer/Narrator (Episode: The Case of the Madcap Modiste) (final appearance)

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