Val Avery
Val Avery | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Avery in an episode of Bonanza (1960). | |
| Born | Sebouh Der Abrahamian July 14, 1924 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 2009 (aged 85) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1953–2004 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
Branch | |
Conflicts | World War II |
Sebouh Der Abrahamian (July 14, 1924 – December 12, 2009), known professionally as Val Avery, was an American character actor. In a career that spanned 50 years, he appeared in over 100 films and had appearances in over 300 television episodes.[1] He was known as a frequent collaborator of John Cassavetes.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Avery was born in Philadelphia to Armenian parents Megerdich and Arousiag Der Abrahamian. His father was from Sebastia and moved to the United States in 1907. His paternal grandfather, Bedros Der Abrahamian, a priest at the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Sebastia, was killed during the Armenian genocide.[1]
In his early years, Avery acted in plays with the Armenian Youth Federation. After serving in the United States Army Air Forces as a flight instructor during World War II, he attended the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia.[3]
Career
[edit]Avery was frequently cast as tough or low-class types, such as policemen, thugs, mobsters, bartenders, and blue-collar workers.[2]
He had television roles in The Twilight Zone episode "The Night of the Meek" (1960),[4] and in four Columbo episodes: "A Friend in Deed" (1974), "Dead Weight" (1971), "The Most Crucial Game" (1972), and "Identity Crisis" (1975).[2] Avery's other television appearances include The Untouchables; The Fugitive; Gunsmoke (“The Lure”, 1967); The Asphalt Jungle; The Investigators; Mission: Impossible; Daniel Boone; The Munsters; Mannix; The Odd Couple; Kojak; Quincy, M.E.; Friday the 13th: The Series; Cannon and Law & Order.[1]
Avery made his film debut with an uncredited role in The Harder They Fall (1956), the last film of Humphrey Bogart. Avery appeared in five John Cassavetes films: Too Late Blues (1961), Faces (1968), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976), and Gloria (1980).[2] His many film credits also include The Long, Hot Summer (1958), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), Hud (1963), Papillon (1973), The Wanderers (1979), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), Cobra (1986), and Donnie Brasco (1997).[2]
On Broadway, Avery appeared in a successful 1969–70 revival of The Front Page.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Avery and actress Margot Stevenson were married from 1953 until his death. Their daughter, Margot Avery, is also an actress.[1]
Death
[edit]Avery died on December 12, 2009, at age 85 in his home in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Lux Video Theatre | Hank | Episode: "One for the Road" |
| 1954–56 | The Big Story | Informer | 2 episodes |
| 1955 | Robert Montgomery Presents | Philip Reilly | Episode: "The Tall Dark Man" |
| 1956–58 | Kraft Television Theatre | John Hardy / Mauck | 2 episodes |
| Playhouse 90 | The Bartender | 2 episodes | |
| 1956–61 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Various roles | 9 episodes |
| 1957 | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre | Carson | Episode: "Proud Woman" |
| 1957–69 | Gunsmoke | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1958 | The Investigator | 2 episodes | |
| 1959 | The Lineup | Episode: "The Frederick Freemont Case" | |
| Border Patrol | "Waxey" Walters | Episode: "In a Deadly Fashion" | |
| Peter Gunn | Hoodlum | Episode: "Protection" | |
| Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Sheriff Jenkins | Episode: "Goodbye, Al" | |
| Johnny Staccato | Corky Lewis | Episode: "Viva, Paco!" | |
| The Lawless Years | "Bobo" Koening | Episode: "The Billy Boy 'Rockabye' Creel Story" | |
| The Play of the Week | Police Chief | Episode: "The Power and the Glory" | |
| 1960 | The Untouchables | Frank Salinas, Johnny | 2 episodes |
| Bonanza | Sheriff Trev Kincaid | Episode: "Breed of Violence" | |
| Hong Kong | Michael Fortune | Episode: "The Turncoat" | |
| The Twilight Zone | The Bartender | Episode: "The Night of the Meek" | |
| 1961 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Frank "Bully" Armstrong | Episode: "Town Against a Man" |
| Have Gun – Will Travel | B.J. Throckton | Episode: "The Gold Bar" | |
| Rawhide | Sheriff | S3:E28, "Incident of the Blackstorms" | |
| The Asphalt Jungle | The Big Fellow | Episode: "The Dark Night" | |
| The Investigators | Phil Bledsoe | Episode: "Something for Charity" | |
| 1961–63 | The Defenders | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1962 | The Everglades | Pops, Harry Conlin | 2 episodes |
| 1963 | Naked City | Franko | Episode: "Beyond This Place There Be Dragons" |
| The Doctors and the Nurses | Charman Tompkins | Episode: "Strike" | |
| 1963–64 | East Side/West Side | Lieutenant Al Costello | 5 episodes |
| 1964 | The Reporter | Pete Krenek | Episode: "How Much for a Prince?" |
| Mr. Broadway | Detective | Episode: "Smelling Like a Rose" | |
| 1964–65 | The Munsters | The Commissar, Marty | 2 episodes |
| 1965 | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| Slattery's People | Lou Teller | Episode: "Question: Does Nero Still at Ringside Sit?" | |
| Peyton Place | Boudreau | Episode: #1.81 | |
| Daniel Boone | Watowah | Episode: "The Old Man and the Cave" | |
| Get Smart | KAOS Agent #1 | Episode: "Now You See Him, Now You Don't" | |
| Honey West | Roger | Episode: "A Neat Little Package" | |
| 1965–67 | The Fugitive | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1966 | The Virginian | Jim Sunderland | Episode: "Harvest of Strangers" |
| Run for Your Life | 2nd Man | Episode: "Night Train from Chicago" | |
| Felony Squad | Gene Hardy | Episode: "Strike Out" | |
| I Spy | Josef | Episode: "Will the Real Good Guys Please Stand Up?" | |
| Laredo | Sheriff Jonathan Daniels | Episode: "Road to San Remo" | |
| 1966–67 | The Wild Wild West | Brad Logan, John Crane | 2 episodes |
| 1966–74 | The F.B.I. | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1967 | Dragnet 1967 | Phil Masturian | Episode: "The Big Explosion" |
| The Invaders | Manager | Episode: "The Mutation" | |
| Iron Horse | Grimes | Episode: "The Passenger" | |
| Mr. Terrific | Leo | Episode: "Stanley the Track Star" | |
| CBS Playhouse | McDermott | Episode: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" | |
| 1968 | Lancer | Wade Hackett | Episode: "Julie" |
| Judd, for the Defense | John Rowan | Episode: "A Swim with Sharks" | |
| N.Y.P.D. | Walter Carney | Episode: "The Love Hustle" | |
| 1968–71 | The Mod Squad | Briggs, "Turk" | 2 episodes |
| 1968–72 | Mission: Impossible | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1969 | My Friend Tony | Episode: "Let George Do It" | |
| 1970 | Dan August | Russ Carter | Episode: "The Murder of a Small Town" |
| The Name of the Game | Mike | Episode: "Cynthia Is Alive and Living in Avalon" | |
| The Bold Ones: The Lawyers | Lieutenant Aram Makarian | Episode: "Panther in a Cage" | |
| 1970–74 | Mannix | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1971 | Monty Nash | Luis Perez / Man | 2 episodes |
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Victor Corso | Episode: "The Convicts" | |
| 1971–72 | McCloud | Walter McKay, Gruber | 2 episodes |
| 1971–75 | Columbo | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1972 | Nichols | Jasper | 2 episodes |
| 1972–73 | Ironside | McKay, Arnie Hummel | 2 episodes |
| 1972–74 | Cannon | Leo Crothers, Pawnshop Owner | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Madigan | Augie | Episode: "The Park Avenue Beat" |
| Shaft | Captain Rigano | Episode: "The Killing" | |
| The Odd Couple | Elmo | Episode: "A Barnacle Adventure" | |
| 1973–74 | Barnaby Jones | Andy Burns | 4 episodes |
| Police Story | Sergeant Mahler, Steve | 2 episodes | |
| 1974 | Kojak | George Janis | Episode: "Marker to a Dead Bookie" |
| 1975 | Archer | Joe Mengers | Episode: "Blood Money" |
| McCoy | "Turk" | Episode: "Double Take" | |
| 1976–77 | Baretta | Ray Carmona, Pogo | 2 episodes |
| 1976–78 | Switch | Rosie Finniston, Irving Munn | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Starsky & Hutch | Captain Ryan | Episode: "Starsky and Hutch Are Guilty" |
| The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Tracy, Skipper | 2 episodes | |
| Man from Atlantis | Lew | Episode: "C.W. Hyde" | |
| 1977–81 | Quincy, M.E. | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 1981 | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | Bearded Man In Suit | Episode: "What're Girls Like You Doing in a Bank Like This?" |
| 1984 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Willie Lerner | Episode: "It Coulda Been Worse, She Coulda Been a Welder" |
| 1987 | Cagney & Lacey | Rekubian | Episode: "Favors" |
| 1988 | Friday the 13th: The Series | Russ Sharko | Episode: "Badge of Honor" |
| 1989 | Men | Burt | Episode: "Cupid Ms...Takes" |
| Moonlighting | Mr. Viola | Episode: "In 'N Outlaws" | |
| Hunter | Ray Sullivan | Episode: "Ring of Honor" | |
| 1991–96 | Law & Order | Max Schaeffer, Dan Magadan Sr. | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Counterstrike | Morey Lempke | Episode: "No Honour Among Thieves" |
| Secret Service | Moe | Episode: "It's in the Mail/Counterfeit Murder" | |
| Civil Wars | Sol Lobell | Episode: "The Old Man and the 'C'" | |
| 2001 | 100 Centre Street | Sal Gentle | Episode: "Queenie and Joe" |
Television films, miniseries, and specials
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | There Shall Be No Night | Gus Shuman | |
| 1960 | Cradle Song | The Driver | |
| 1961 | The Power and the Glory | ||
| 1966 | The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones | Morgan | |
| 1971 | A Tattered Web | Sergeant Harry Barnes | |
| 1973 | Firehouse | Sonny Caputo | |
| 1973 | Blood Sport | Frank Dorsdale | |
| 1975 | The Law | Ouspensky | |
| 1977 | Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? | Chuck Voit | |
| 1984 | The Streets | Whitcomb | |
| 1985 | Out of the Darkness | Guido Pressano | |
| 1986 | Courage | Pete Solto | |
| 1992 | Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story | Salerno | |
| 1994 | Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker | General William T. Sherman | |
| 1997 | Gold Coast | Jimmy Capp |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Vartabedian, Tom (January 15, 2010). "Val Avery Remembered As Actor Personified". Asbarez. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Vallance, Tom (February 11, 2010). "Val Avery: Character actor best known for his work with John Cassavetes". The Independent. London. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- 1 2 Grimes, William (December 15, 2009). "Val Avery, Tough-Guy Actor in Movies, Is Dead at 85". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
- ↑ Rubin, Steve (July 14, 2018). "July 14 in Twilight Zone History: Remembering actor Val Avery ('Night of the Meek') on the anniversary of his birth". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ↑ "Val Avery". Playbill. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Val Avery at IMDb
- Val Avery at the Internet Broadway Database
- Val Avery at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1924 births
- 2009 deaths
- Male actors from Philadelphia
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American people of Armenian descent
- Male actors from Manhattan
- People from Greenwich Village
- 20th-century American male actors
- United States Army Air Forces soldiers
- Western (genre) television actors
- Male Western (genre) film actors
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
- American male stage actors