Warren Stevens

Warren Albert Stevens (November 2, 1919 – March 27, 2012) was an American actor who worked across stage, film, and television. Born in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Clarks Summit High School before attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School and entering the United States Naval Academy in 1937. A medical discharge in 1940 ended his time at the Academy. In January 1942, Stevens enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, trained as an aviation cadet, and served as a pilot during World War II.

Following the war, Stevens became a founding member of the Actors Studio in New York. His Broadway career ran from 1947 to 1949 and included five productions: The Life of Galileo, Sundown Beach, The Smile of the World, Detective Story, and Afternoon Storm. His debut in The Life of Galileo in 1947 brought him sufficient notice that he was subsequently offered a Hollywood contract with 20th Century Fox.

His first film role came in The Frogmen in 1951. As a contract player at Fox, Stevens had limited control over his assignments and appeared in Phone Call from a Stranger and Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie, both in 1952, followed by Gorilla at Large in 1954. He took supporting roles in larger productions as well, including The Barefoot Contessa alongside Humphrey Bogart in 1954 and Intent to Kill in 1958. His most recognized film performance came in the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet, in which he played "Doc" Ostrow. His appearance in the 1955 film Robbers' Roost led to a connection with actor Richard Boone, who later cast him in a continuing role on The Richard Boone Show, an NBC anthology series that ran during the 1963–1964 season.

Unable to establish a consistent presence in feature films, Stevens built a substantial television career spanning from the 1950s into the early 1980s, accumulating appearances in more than 150 prime time programs. He co-starred as Lieutenant William Storm in the NBC adventure series Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers from 1956 to 1957. He voiced the character John Bracken in the first season of Bracken's World on NBC, which ran from 1968 to 1970, and played Elliot Carson in the daytime serial Return to Peyton Place throughout its two-year run from 1972 to 1974.

His television work spanned multiple genres. In drama and mystery, he appeared in Golden Age anthology programs including Studio One, The Philco Television Playhouse, The United States Steel Hour, and Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, as well as series such as Perry Mason, The Untouchables, I Spy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, and Mannix. In science fiction and horror, he appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "Dead Man's Shoes," The Outer Limits episode "Keeper of the Purple Twilight," and the Star Trek episode "By Any Other Name," along with multiple episodes of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Land of the Giants. His western credits included recurring appearances on Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, Daniel Boone, and Have Gun, Will Travel, among others. He also appeared in a single episode of M*A*S*H, Season 4, episode 13, "The Gun," which aired December 2, 1975, and later provided audio commentary for that episode on the Combat! DVD release. He had a supporting role in the 1978 Irwin Allen production The Return of Captain Nemo.

Stevens was a close friend of actor Richard Basehart and supported him through a difficult divorce in the early 1960s. He guest-starred in several episodes of Basehart's ABC series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. In his later years his appearances became infrequent; he guest-starred in ER in March 2006 and took two roles in 2007. Stevens died on March 27, 2012, from complications of lung disease at his home in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. He was survived by three children.