Tod Andrews
Encyclopedia
Tod Andrews was an American
actor
on the stage, screen, and television. Born in New York
, he was raised in California
. He studied acting and journalism
at Washington State College.
and moved to New York City
to appear onstage. After being discovered there by Jack L. Warner, head of Warner Brothers Studios, Andrews was offered a screen test, which led to a movie career.
Andrews acted with the Margo Jones
Company in New York City
from 1944 to 1948, when he was spotted by Joshua Logan
. When Henry Fonda
left the title role in the Broadway
play Mister Roberts
, Logan gave Andrews the part.
His television performances included a starring role in CBS's Gray Ghost
during the 1957-1958 season. It was based on the true story of Confederate
Colonel
John Singleton Mosby.
In 1961, Andrews attempted suicide
, just days before the opening of a new play titled A Whiff of Melancholy. After recovering, he returned to films in 1965, appearing as Captain Tuthill in Otto Preminger
's World War II
action blockbuster In Harm's Way
. Also during the 1960s, he appeared in two episodes of the television situation comedy The Andy Griffith Show
.
In 1968, Andrews appeared on film in Ted Post
's Hang 'Em High
as a defense attorney. Two years later, he worked again with Post in
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
, as James Franciscus
's dying commanding officer, Colonel 'Skipper' Maddox
. In 1973, Andrews played the President of the United States
in the made-for-TV political thriller The President's Plane Is Missing. His final screen appearance was as a doctor in the chiller The Baby
, which was also released in 1973.
in 1972, three days before his 58th birthday. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
on the stage, screen, and television. Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he was raised in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He studied acting and journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at Washington State College.
Career
Andrews began his career at the Pasadena PlayhousePasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to appear onstage. After being discovered there by Jack L. Warner, head of Warner Brothers Studios, Andrews was offered a screen test, which led to a movie career.
Andrews acted with the Margo Jones
Margo Jones
Margo Jones was an influential American stage director and producer best known for launching the American regional theater movement and for introducing the theater-in-the-round concept in Dallas, Texas. In 1947, she established the first regional professional company when she opened Theatre ’47 in...
Company in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1944 to 1948, when he was spotted by Joshua Logan
Joshua Logan
Joshua Lockwood Logan III was an American stage and film director and writer.-Early years:Logan was born in Texarkana, Texas, the son of Susan and Joshua Lockwood Logan. When he was three years old his father committed suicide...
. When Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
left the title role in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
play Mister Roberts
Mister Roberts (play)
Mister Roberts is a 1948 play based on the 1946 Thomas Heggen novel of the same name.The novel began as a collection of short stories about Heggen's experiences aboard the USS Virgo in the South Pacific during World War II...
, Logan gave Andrews the part.
His television performances included a starring role in CBS's Gray Ghost
Gray Ghost (TV series)
The Gray Ghost is an American historical series which aired in syndication from October 10, 1957, to July 3, 1958. It depicts the true story of Major John Singleton Mosby, a Virginia officer in the Confederate Army, whose cunning and stealth earned him the nickname "Gray Ghost".-Synopsis:The Gray...
during the 1957-1958 season. It was based on the true story of Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John Singleton Mosby.
In 1961, Andrews attempted suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, just days before the opening of a new play titled A Whiff of Melancholy. After recovering, he returned to films in 1965, appearing as Captain Tuthill in Otto Preminger
Otto Preminger
Otto Ludwig Preminger was an Austro–Hungarian-American theatre and film director.After moving from the theatre to Hollywood, he directed over 35 feature films in a five-decade career. He rose to prominence for stylish film noir mysteries such as Laura and Fallen Angel...
's World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
action blockbuster In Harm's Way
In Harm's Way
In Harm's Way is a 1965 American epic war film produced and directed by Otto Preminger and starring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon, Paula Prentiss, Stanley Holloway, Burgess Meredith, Brandon De Wilde, Jill Haworth, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda.It was the last black-and-white...
. Also during the 1960s, he appeared in two episodes of the television situation comedy The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
.
In 1968, Andrews appeared on film in Ted Post
Ted Post
Ted Post is an American TV and film director.Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started his career in show business in 1938 working as an usher at Loew's Pitkin Theater. He abandoned plans to become an actor after training with Tamara Daykarhanova, and turned to directing summer theater...
's Hang 'Em High
Hang 'Em High
Hang 'Em High is a 1968 American Western film directed by Ted Post and produced and co-written by Leonard Freeman. It stars Clint Eastwood as Jed Cooper, an innocent man who survives a lynching, Inger Stevens as a widow who helps him, Ed Begley as the leader of the gang that lynched him, and Pat...
as a defense attorney. Two years later, he worked again with Post in
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a 1970 American science fiction film directed by Ted Post and written by Paul Dehn. It is the second of five films in the original Planet of the Apes series produced by Arthur P. Jacobs...
, as James Franciscus
James Franciscus
James Grover Franciscus was an American actor, known for his roles in the series The Naked City and The Investigators, and in feature films.-Life and career:...
's dying commanding officer, Colonel 'Skipper' Maddox
Maddox (Planet of the Apes)
Colonel Donovan Andrew Maddox is an American astronaut, in the second Planet of the Apes movie, 1970's Beneath the Planet of the Apes. He was portrayed by actor Tod Andrews....
. In 1973, Andrews played the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the made-for-TV political thriller The President's Plane Is Missing. His final screen appearance was as a doctor in the chiller The Baby
The Baby
"The Baby" is a song sung by country music singer-songwriter Blake Shelton. The song became Blake's second number-one hit, where it remained for three weeks in early 2003. It was the lead-off single to his second album, 2003's The Dreamer.-Content:...
, which was also released in 1973.
Death
Tod Andrews died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1972, three days before his 58th birthday. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.
External links
- Tod Andrews at the Internet Movie Database
- Tod Andrews at Find-A-Grave
- Tod Andrews at Answers.com
- Tod Andrews at MovieTome.com