Nikita Soussanin[1] (June 2, 1914 – August 6, 2006) was a Russian–American film, television, theatre actor, theatre translator and stage manager.
Nicholas Saunders | |
|---|---|
.gif) Photo: Theatre World 1969-1970 | |
| Born | Nikita Soussanin June 2, 1914 Kyiv, Russian Empire |
| Died | August 6, 2006 (aged 92) Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation(s) | Film and television actor |
| Children | 2 including, Lanna Saunders |
| Parent(s) | Nicholas Soussanin and Olga Baclanova |
Life and career
editSaunders was born in Kyiv, Russian Empire[1] to Russian parents Nicholas, an actor and Olga, an actress.[2] He was raised in Hollywood, California.[1]
Saunders began his career in 1938, appearing in the Broadway play The Bridal Crown, playing the pastor.[3]
Later in his career, Saunders appeared and starred in other Broadway plays, including Lady in the Dark, playing Liza's father;[4] A Highland Fling, playing Sandy MacGill;[5] Happily Ever After, stage-managing and playing Stubbs;[3] Marriage is for Single People, playing Reginald Hecuba;[6] The Magnificent Yankee, playing Mason;[5] The Fifth Season, stage-managing;[3] A Call on Kuprin, playing Mr. Kendall and guard at Yalta;[7] Take Her, She's Mine, playing the principal, Mr. Whitmyer, Frank Michaelson, and Mr. Hibbetts;[5] The Passion of Josef D., language consultant and playing Sukhanov, Orjonikidze, and ensemble;[5][8] Scenes and Revelations, playing Mr. Karonk;[9] and Zoya's Apartment, translating the play with Frank Dwyer.[10][3][5]
Saunders started his television career in 1947, appearing in Kraft Television Theatre.[citation needed] He also was a Russian radio announcer on Voice for America, in the same year.[1] In 1950, Saunders played Sergeant Ross in the television series Martin Kane, Private Eye from 1950 to 1952.[1] He also played Captain J. Barker in The Phil Silvers Show.[2][11]
In 1990, Saunders retired. He won a Los Angeles Drama Critic's Award, which he shared with his writing partner Frank Dwyer, in 2005.[2]
Death
editSaunders died in August 2006 of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 92.[1][2][12]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Bread of Freedom | TV movie | |
| 1959 | Keep in Step | Captain J. Barker | TV movie |
| 1966 | The Journey of the Fifth Horse | TV movie | |
| 1971 | Bananas | Douglas | |
| 1975 | Deadly Hero | ||
| 1978 | The Defection of Simas Kudirka | Soviet chairman | TV movie |
| 1981 | C.O.D. | T.B. Dumore | |
| 1983 | Daniel | Jail Doctor | |
| 1987 | Invisible Thread | General | TV movie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947–1948 | Kraft Television Theatre | 3 episodes | |
| 1949 | The Boris Karloff Mystery Playhouse | 1 episode | |
| 1949–1951 | The Philco Television Playhouse | 4 episodes | |
| 1949 | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre | Leonard Vole | 1 episode |
| 1950 | Lights Out | 1 episode | |
| 1950–1954 | Martin Kane, Private Eye | Sgt. Ross | 16 episodes |
| 1953 | Campbell Summer Soundstage | 1 episode | |
| 1954 | Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers | 1 episode | |
| 1955 | The World of Mr. Sweeney | 1 episode | |
| 1956–1959 | The Phil Silvers Show | Captain J. Barker | 30 episodes |
| 1956 | Chevron Hall of Stars | 1 episode | |
| 1960–1961 | Naked City | Holman/George Herner | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Peter Loves Mary | Captain Morgan | 1 episode |
| 1961 | The Law and Mr. Jones | Hayward | 1 episode |
| 1961 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Suzhinski/Schmidt | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Route 66 | George Slocum | 1 episode |
| 1962 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Lt. Cushman | 2 episodes |
| 1963 | Espionage | Colonel G | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Defenders | Inspector Harding | 1 episode |
| 1965 | For the People | The Foreman | 1 episode |
| 1966–1967 | The Jackie Gleason Show | General Goronsky/Judge John J. Fenton | 2 episodes |
| 1970 | All My Children | Chief Bradley (1080) | 1 episode |
| 1984 | As the World Turns | Justice | 1 episode |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Lentz, Harris (April 24, 2007). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2006. McFarland. p. 327. ISBN 9780786429332 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d "Nicholas Saunders, 92; TV and Stage Actor, Translated Plays From Russian Into English". Los Angeles Times. October 17, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Nicholas Saunders". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Dietz, Dan (February 2, 2015). The Complete Book of 1940s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 153. ISBN 9781442245280 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e "Nicholas Saunders". Playbill. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Leonard, William (1983). Broadway Bound: A Guide to Shows that Died Aborning. Scarecrow Press. p. 297. ISBN 9780810816527 – via Google Books.
- ^ "A Call on Kuprin Broadway Original Cast". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ "The Theater: Chayefsky's 'Passion of Josef D.'; Author Directs Drama at the Barrymore; Stalin Is Portrayed by Peter Falk". The New York Times. February 12, 1964. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Rich, Frank (June 26, 1981). "The Stage: 'Scenes and Revelations'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Rich, Frank (May 11, 1990). "Review/Theater; Marooned in Moscow After the Revolution". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Rosin, Gene (November 1, 2010). Sparks of Liberty: An Insider's Memoir of Radio Liberty. Penn State Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0271038636 – via Google Books.
- ^ Willis, Hodges, John, Ben (June 1, 2009). Theatre World 2006–2007 – The Most Complete Record of the American Theatre. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 417. ISBN 978-1557837288 – via Google Books.
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