Dean Arthur Harens (June 30, 1920 – May 20, 1996) was an American actor. He appeared in movies, plays and many TV programs over four decades.[1]

Dean Harens
Born
Dean Arthur Harens

(1920-06-30)June 30, 1920
DiedMay 20, 1996(1996-05-20) (aged 75)
Resting placeSan Fernando Mission Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1941–1977
Spouse
(m. 1947; died 1994)

Early years edit

Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1920, Harens studied at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Harens was a protege of actress Alison Skipworth, who discovered him when he was acting in Michigan.[2]

Career edit

Harens acted summer stock before debuting on Broadway in The Talley Method in 1941.[3] His first film appearance came at the age of 24, in 1944's Christmas Holiday.[4] He appeared in seven movies throughout his career, although never in a starring role. He was a cast member on three TV series, and played a recurring character on the ABC series The F.B.I.. He also made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of murderer Frank Fettridge in the 1959 episode, "The Case of the Calendar Girl," the 1959 episode of “The Case of Paul Drake’s Dilemma” as the brother-in-law of the victim, and in 1960 the role of double murderer Riley Morgan in "The Case of the Wandering Widow."[5] Harens also guest starred twice in the western TV series Bonanza: he played Jim Poole in the 1965 episode "Jonah" and he portrayed rancher Morgan Tanner in the 1966 episode "Credit for a Kill".

Harens's wife, actress June Dayton, whom he met while acting on Broadway in 1947, died in 1994 at the age of 70.

Death edit

Harens died in Van Nuys, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, at the age of 75.[3][6] He was interred in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in San Fernando, California.[7]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1944 Christmas Holiday Lt. Charles Mason
1944 The Suspect John Marshall
1946 Crack-Up Reynolds
1959 Black Saddle Tom Brandon Ep.Change of Venue
1964 The Outer Limits Medicine Episode: "Cold Hands, Warm Heart"
with William Shatner
1967 The Invaders Dr. MacLeuen
1967 Rosie! Willetts
1969 Murder One Judge Skinner TV movie
1969 Topaz State Department Official #3 Uncredited
1970 Double Jeopardy Thomas Howard TV movie
1971 Paper Man Bureaucrat TV movie
1972 Mission Impossible Larkin TV Episode: "Committed"

References edit

  1. ^ "Dean Harens". BFI. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.
  2. ^ "Drama". The Atlanta Constitution. Georgia, Atlanta. September 13, 1940. p. 35.
  3. ^ a b Hill Place (April 12, 2013). "Hill Place".
  4. ^ "Overview for Dean Harens". Turner Classic Movies.
  5. ^ "Dean Harens - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  6. ^ The Broadway League. "Dean Harens - IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information".
  7. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 195. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved January 10, 2018.

External links edit