Seamon Glass (September 26, 1925 – July 12, 2016) was an American actor and author. He acted in film and television from the early 1960s to the early 1990s. He appeared in the films This Is Not a Test (1962), Deliverance (1972), Bootleggers (1974), and Winterhawk (1975).
Background He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 26, 1925,Aveleyman Seamon Glass the son of Kadysh Glass ( 1870–1937) and Anna Glass. He died in Los Angeles on July 12, 2016. His family's name was originally "Altglas" but changed to "Glass". His father died when he was 11 years old,"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WT7-QBD : Thu Mar 27 02:31:03 UTC 2025), Entry for Kadysh Glass and Seamon Glass, 20 Apr 1937. and the family moved to California.
World War II
With his mother's permission, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 during World War II,Seamon Glass, Tough Guy Character Actor, Dies at 90 The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2016. serving in British Samoa and the Marshall Islands. He received a disability pension after suffering a hearing loss during a Japanese bombing raid. Glass was sent to the brig four times, His novel of his service in a Marine aviation unit entitled The Half Ass Marines was published in 2010.
Postwar career Following the war Glass attended Santa Monica Junior College on the G.I. Bill where he became heavyweight boxing champion of the college; the experience leading him into amateur and professional boxing.
He held a variety of jobs including being a seaman with the U.S. Merchant Marine, a school teacher of English and Social Studies as well as guidance counselor at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, a bartender, a newspaper columnist for the Santa Monica Independence and a bodyguard for Darryl F. Zanuck's daughter Darrylin.
Glass had a brief professional boxing career in 1960 in Los Angeles, compiling a record of 1–2. where he was sponsored by actress Anna Maria Alberghetti.
Hollywood career When acting as a boxing instructor and sparring partner, Glass met many actors and Hollywood film people who wanted to box but did not want any damage to their faces or to be hurt. One of his clients was producer and director Fred Gadette who found him several acting roles and stunt work experiences.
1960s He was the lead actor in This Is Not a Test (1962), a film about a lawman who sets up a roadblock to catch a criminal then hears on the radio that there is going to be a nuclear attack.The Gettysburg Times September 12, 1970 Page Five This Week's Television Movie Guide, Sunday, 12:30 (15-21)Pittsburgh Post Gazette May 2, 1965 Friday, May 7, 5:00 P.M. 2-Early Show He also appeared in Star Trek, in the episode "Mudd's Women" as Benton (1966).
Glass turned down extra work requirements in films such as Kid Galahad (1962) and Captain Newman, M.D. leading to his appearances in the films to be reduced with Glass preferring the rewards and financial security of teaching and seaman jobs to the non reliability of an acting career. His agent, the former actor Hugh French dropped him when Glass's taking a merchant voyage led him to lose a role that was requested by John Wayne, possibly the Sons of Katie Elder.
1970s Glass was the menacing 'First Griner' in John Boorman's film Deliverance (1972). He played staff member Tim Donahue in the film The Other Side of Hell (1978), about a mental inmate played by Alan Arkin who regains his sanity and wants to leave the hospital.Boca Raton News Friday, August 1, 1980 Page 15 freedom flight"Page 6 Shows to Watch By Paul Henniger", The Milwaukee Journal Tuesday, January 17, 1978
Glass returned to teaching by leaving America and working in China.
1970s–1980s Seamon Glass worked as a Santa Monica Harbor patrolman, preferring the night shift. This provided a few quiet hours to continue writing his books and a regular newspaper column for the Santa Monica Independent.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1960 Spartacus Pirate Uncredited1961 The George Raft Story Jack McGurk aka McGurn Uncredited1962 Kid Galahad Boxer Uncredited1962 This Is Not a Test Deputy Sheriff Dan Colter 1963 For Love or Money Seaman Uncredited1963 Captain Newman, M.D. Patient Uncredited1967 Chubasco Emile Uncredited1969 Childish Things Ex-Fighter 1972 Deliverance First Griner 1973 Slither Farmer in Truck 1973 Sleeper Guard Uncredited1974 Blazing Saddles Cowboy Uncredited1974 Bootleggers Rufus Woodall 1975 Johnny Firecloud Grissom 1975 Winterhawk Big Smith 1976 Harry and Walter Go to New York Guard 1977 Damnation Alley Mountain Man #2 1978 An Enemy of the People 1978 The Norseman Stargazer 1979 The Rose Trucker #3 1981 Amy Mr. Watkins 1982 Partners Gillis 1987 Hawken's Breed Pa Hickman
Television Year Title Role Notes1966 Star Trek: The Original Series Benton S1:E6, "Mudd's Women"
Publication Half-Assed Marines. . 2010Seamon Glass Half-Assed Marines
References
External links
The Classic TV History Blog: An Interview With Seamon Glass, June 26, 2014