Milton Parsons

Ernest Milton Parsons was born on May 19, 1904, in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and died on May 15, 1980. He worked as an American character actor across stage, film, and television for nearly four decades.

Parsons began his performing career in 1927 as a member of The Strolling Players of Boston. His Broadway career spanned from 1930 to 1950 and included four productions. He played James Case in Unto the Third in 1933 and appeared in The Royal Virgin during the same period of his stage work. In 1948 he took on the role of Saul of Tarsus in The Vigil, and in 1950 he portrayed Albert Plaschke in Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

Parsons signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1939 as a character actor. His physical appearance — a bald head, wide eyes, and a soft-spoken voice with a British accent — led to his being cast repeatedly as morticians, coroners, mad doctors, and dangerous eccentrics, despite his Massachusetts origins. He also brought a comedic dimension to many of these roles, drawing on a broad smile and bulging eyes. After one year at M-G-M, he moved into freelance work and found consistent employment across multiple studios. Between 1939 and 1978, Parsons accumulated credits in more than 160 films, television shows, and commercials.