EDWARD PLATT FILE (BIO)
14 February 1916
Staten Island, New York, USA
Date of death (details):
19 March 1974
Santa Monica, California, USA. (heart attack)
Background:
Forever remembered as Don Adams' "Chief" foil on the
popular Mel Brooks/Buck Henry spy series of the
60s "Get Smart", character actor Ed Platt (also billed
as Edward C. Platt) had been around for decades prior
to copping that rare comedy role. Born in Staten
Island, New York, he achieved an appreciation for
music on his mother's side. He majored in romantic
languages at Princeton University but eventually
switched to music at Juilliard after deciding on a
career in opera. Instead, however, he became a band
vocalist with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, then
performed in a few stage musicals including "The
Mikado" and "The Pirates of Penzance" before WWII
interrupted things. He served as a radio operator with
the Army, his deep, resonant voice quite suitable to
the medium, then would find himself on radio again in
post war years. A number of musical comedy roles also
came his way. In 1947, he made it to Broadway in the
musical "Allegro." Star Jose Ferrer took an interest
in him while they were appearing in "The Shrike" on
Broadway in 1952 and took him to Hollywood to reprise
his role in the 1955 film version. This led to a
plethora of film and TV offers where his rich voice,
balding maturity, stern intensity, and pragmatic air
served him quite well over the years, booking a slew
of professional or shady types in crime drama and war
pictures. In the late 60s he focused on his secret
agent role on the Maxwell Smart series, then found
occasional guest spots in its aftermath. Married twice
and the father of four, Platt died suddenly of a heart
attack in 1974.
Trivia:
Had one daughter by his first wife; two sons and a
daughter by second wife Suzanne.
Filmography:
Snoop Sisters, The (1972) (TV) .... Julius Nero ... aka Female Instinct (1972) (TV) (USA: reissue title)
"Get Smart" (1965) TV Series .... The Chief (Thaddeus)
Man from Button Willow, The (1965) (voice)
Shock Treatment (1964) (uncredited) .... Prosecutor
Bullet for a Badman (1964) .... Tucker ... aka Renegade Posse (1964) (USA)
"General Hospital" (1963) TV Series .... Dr. Miller (1963)
Ticklish Affair, A (1963) .... Captain Hitchcock
Black Zoo (1963) .... Detective Rivers
Johnny Shiloh (1963) (TV) .... Gen. Thomas
Cape Fear (1962) .... Judge
Explosive Generation, The (1961) .... Mr. Morton
Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1961) .... Azor the High Priest
Fiercest Heart, The (1961) .... Madrigo
Pollyanna (1960) .... Ben Tarbell
Cash McCall (1960) (as Edward C. Platt) .... Harrison Glenn
Destination Space (1959) (TV) (as Edward C. Platt)
Inside the Mafia (1959) .... Dan Regent
North by Northwest (1959) .... Victor Larrabee (Thornhill's attorney)
They Came to Cordura (1959) .... Col. DeRose
Rebel Set, The (1959) .... Mr. Tucker ... aka Beatsville (1959)
"Texas John Slaughter" (1958) TV Series .... Lease Harris
Gunman's Walk (1958) .... Purcell Avery
Last of the Fast Guns, The (1958) .... Sam Grypton
High Cost of Loving, The (1958) .... Eli Cave
Summer Love (1958) .... Dr. Thomas Daley
Damn Citizen (1958) .... Joseph Kosta
Gift of Love, The (1958) .... Dr. Jim Miller
Oregon Passage (1957) .... Roland Dane
Helen Morgan Story, The (1957) .... Haggerty ... aka Both Ends of the Candle (1957) (UK) ... aka Why Was I Born? (1957) (USA)
House of Numbers (1957) .... The Warden
Omar Khayyam (1957) .... Jayhan ... aka Life, Loves and Adventures of Omar Khayyam,
The (1957) ... aka Loves of Omar Khayyam, The (1957) (USA)
Designing Woman (1957) .... Martin J. Daylor
Tattered Dress, The (1957) (as Edward C. Platt) .... Ralph Adams
Great Man, The (1957) (as Edward C. Platt) .... Dr. O'Connor
Rock, Pretty Baby (1956) .... Dr. Daley
Written on the Wind (1956) (as Edward C. Platt) .... Dr. Paul Cochrane
Reprisal! (1956) .... Neil Shipley
Unguarded Moment, The (1956) (as Edward C. Platt) .... Attorney Briggs ... aka Gentle Web, The (1956) (USA)
Storm Center (1956) .... Rev. Wilson
Proud Ones, The (1956) .... Dr. Barlow
Backlash (1956) .... Sheriff J.C. Marson
Serenade (1956) .... Carter
Steel Jungle, The (1956) .... Judge Wahller
Lieutenant Wore Skirts, The (1956) .... Maj. Dunning
Sincerely Yours (1955) .... Dr. Eubank
Illegal (1955) .... Ralph Ford
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) .... Ray Fremick
McConnell Story, The (1955) .... Medical Corps instructor ... aka Tiger in the Sky (1955) (UK)
Cult of the Cobra (1955) (uncredited) .... Lamian threatening death.
Shrike, The (1955) .... Harry Downs
Quicksand (1950) (uncredited) .... Radio announcer
I Was a Male War Bride (1949) (uncredited) ... aka Howard Hawks' I Was a Male War Bride (1949) (USA: complete title) ... aka You Can't Sleep Here (1949) (UK)
Producer:
Santee (1973) (producer)
As Himself Filmography:
Inside TV Land: Get Smart (2001) (TV) (archive footage) .... Himself
"Odd Couple, The" (1970) playing "Bill Donnelly" in episode: "Oscar's New Life" (episode # 1.21) 5 March 1971
"Love, American Style" (1969) (as Ed Platt) in episode: "Love and the Man Next Door" (episode # 2.13a) 18 December 1970
"Governor & J.J., The" (1969) playing "Orrin Hacker" in episode: "P.S. I Don't Love You" (episode # 2.12) 16 December 1970
"Bewitched" (1964) playing "Mr. Booker" in episode: "Samantha's Old Man" (episode # 7.10) 3 December 1970
"Governor & J.J., The" (1969) playing "Orrin Hacker" in episode: "A Day in the Life" (episode # 2.36) 2 December 1970
"Governor & J.J., The" (1969) playing "Orrin Hacker" in episode: "The Making of the Governor" (episode # 2.35) 18 November 1970
"Governor & J.J., The" (1969) playing "Orrin Hacker" in episode: "Fawcett Is Running" (episode # 2.32) 12 October 1970
"Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1968) playing "Cameo Appearance" in episode: "Episode #6" (episode # 1.6) 26 February 1968
"Further Adventures of Gallegher, The" (1965) playing "Judge" (uncredited) in episode: "The Daily Press Vs. City Hall" (episode # 1.3) 1965
"Petticoat Junction" (1963) playing "General Patterson" (as Ed Platt) in episode: "The Lost Patrol" (episode # 2.12) 29 December 1964
"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" (1964) playing "Morgan" in episode: "Hail to the Chief" (episode # 1.16) 28 December 1964
"Outer Limits, The" (1963) playing "David Hunt" in episode: "Keeper of the Purple Twilight" (episode # 2.12) 5 December 1964
"Burke's Law" (1963) playing "Capt. Frank Metcalfe" in episode: "Who Killed the Horne of Plenty?" (episode # 2.4) 7 October 1964
"Arrest and Trial" (1963) playing "Judge" in episode: "Birds of a Feather" (episode # 1.30) 19 April 1964
"Outer Limits, The" (1963) playing "Mr. Terrence" in episode: "The Special One" (episode # 1.28) 6 April 1964
"Virginian, The" (1962) playing "Stuart Brynmar" in episode: "The Secret of Brynmar Hall" (episode # 2.26) 1 April 1964
"Arrest and Trial" (1963) playing "Judge" in episode: "The Revenge of the Worm" (episode # 1.27) 29 March 1964
"Breaking Point" (1963) playing "Pat Callahan" in episode: "Tide of Darkness" (episode # 1.23) 2 March 1964
"Dick Van Dyke Show, The" (1961) playing "Lou Gregory" in episode: "A Nice Friendly Game of Cards" (episode # 3.18) 29 January 1964
"Outer Limits, The" (1963) playing "Dean Radcliffe" in episode: "The Man with the Power" (episode # 1.4) 7 October 1963
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Will Flanders" in episode: "The Colonel" (episode # 4.15) 6 January 1963
"Rifleman, The" (1958) playing "Senator Borden" in episode: "The Assailants" (episode # 5.7) 12 November 1962
"Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957) playing "Doc Bell" in episode: "Vignette of a Sinner" (episode # 6.34) 2 June 1962
"Wagon Train" (1957) in episode: "The Frank Carter Story" (episode # 5.34) 23 May 1962
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Wade" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "The Guilty" (episode # 3.23) 25 February 1962
"Bronco" (1958) playing "Sheriff Ben Lockwood" in episode: "Ride the Whirlwind" (episode # 4.7) 15 January 1962
"Dr. Kildare" (1961) playing "Dr. Tom Paulson" in episode: "Hit and Run" (episode # 1.12) 14 December 1961
"Dick Powell Show, The" (1961) playing "Joe Nolan" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Who Killed Julie Greer?" (episode # 1.1) 26 September 1961
"Whispering Smith" (1961) playing "Sheriff Aiken" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "The Hemp Reeger Case" (episode # 1.11) 17 July 1961
"Surfside 6" (1960) playing "Phil Molloy" in episode: "An Overdose of Justice" (episode # 1.34) 22 May 1961
"Twilight Zone, The" (1959) playing "Doctor" in episode: "A Hundred Yards over the Rim" (episode # 2.23) 7 April 1961
"Thriller" (1960) playing "Jim Weeks" in episode: "Late Date" (episode # 1.27) 4 April 1961
"Deputy, The" (1959) playing "Noah Harper" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Cherchez La Femme" (episode # 2.27) 1 April 1961
"Dante" (1960) playing "Paul" in episode: "The Jolly Roger Cocktail" (episode # 1.10) 19 December 1960
"Death Valley Days" (1952) in episode: "A Girl Named Virginia" (episode # 9.12) 18 December 1960
"Perry Mason" (1957) playing "Tom Stratton" in episode: "The Case of the Larcenous Lady" (episode # 4.12) 17 December 1960
"Zane Grey Theater" (1956) playing "Marshall Mays" in episode: "The Ox" (episode # 5.4) 3 November 1960
"77 Sunset Strip" (1958/I) playing "Steve Jennings" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Sierra" (episode # 2.34) 27 May 1960
"Perry Mason" (1957) playing "Cmdr. Driscoll" in episode: "The Case of the Slandered Submarine" (episode # 3.23) 14 May 1960
"Men Into Space" (1959) playing "Dr. Luraski" in episode: "From Another World" (episode # 1.29) 27 April 1960
"Overland Trail" (1960) playing "Dr. John Mandaley, aka Jacob Bronson" in episode: "Westbound Stage" (episode # 1.5) 6 March 1960
"Wagon Train" (1957) playing "Orbio de Costa" in episode: "The Marie Brant Story" (episode # 3.16) 20 January 1960
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Harvey Bufford" in episode: "The Outcast" (episode # 1.17) 9 January 1960
"Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957) playing "Doc Bell" in episode: "Return of Doc Bell" (episode # 4.12) 30 November 1959
"Lawless Years, The" (1959) playing "Nick Sarecki" in episode: "The Joe Angelo Story" (episode # 2.6) 19 November 1959
"Mr. Lucky" (1959) playing "Henry Praiswater" in episode: "Bugsy" (episode # 1.3) 7 November 1959
"Rawhide" (1959) playing "Jason Clark" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Incident of the Thirteenth Man" (episode # 2.5) 23 October 1959
"Hawaiian Eye" (1959) playing "Dr. Wallace Oliver" in episode: "Second Day of Infamy" (episode # 1.3) 21 October 1959
"Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond" (1959) playing "Will Denning" in episode: "The Burning Girl" (episode # 1.16) 5 May 1959
"Wagon Train" (1957) playing "Matthew Sinclair" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "The Duke LeMay Story" (episode # 2.30) 29 April 1959
"Trackdown" (1957) playing "Adam Madson" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "The Eyes of Jerry Kelson" (episode # 2.31) 22 April 1959
"77 Sunset Strip" (1958/I) playing "Mr. Jacobin" in episode: "A Check Will Do Nicely" (episode # 1.25) 27 March 1959
"Bat Masterson" (1958) playing "Roy Evans" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Incident in Leadville" (episode # 1.21) 18 March 1959
"Letter to Loretta" (1953) playing "Sutter" in episode: "This Is the Moment" (episode # 6.16) 18 January 1959
"Have Gun - Will Travel" (1957) playing "Arnold Oaklin" in episode: "The Taffeta Mayor" (episode # 2.17) 10 January 1959
"Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse" (1958) playing "Colonel Simmons" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Trial at Devil's Canyon" (episode # 1.10) 5 January 1959
"Police Station" (1959) playing "Desk Sgt." in episode: "All Episodes" 1959
"Trackdown" (1957) playing "George Mason" (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "Every Man a Witness" (episode # 2.17) 26 December 1958
"Trackdown" (1957) playing "Sheriff Harper" in episode: "Right of Way" (episode # 1.15) 17 January 1958
"Zane Grey Theater" (1956) playing "Sheriff Galt" (as Ed Platt) in episode: "Trial by Fear" (episode # 2.14) 10 January 1958
"Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957) playing "Doc Ballon" in episode: "Doc Bell" (episode # 2.18) 7 January 1958
"Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1955) playing "Larkin" (as Ed Platt) in episode: "Death Rides the 12:15" (episode # 3.7) 5 December 1957
"Letter to Loretta" (1953) playing "Henry" in episode: "Royal Partners: Part 2" (episode # 4.34) 26 May 1957
"Letter to Loretta" (1953) playing "Henry" in episode: "Royal Partners: Part 1" (episode # 4.33) 19 May 1957
"On Trial" (1956) playing "Bascomb" in episode: "The Ghost of Devil's Island" (episode # 1.21) 29 March 1957
"State Trooper" (1956) (as Ed Platt) in episode: "Who Killed Doc Robbins?" (episode # 1.23) 27 February 1957
"West Point" (1956) (as Edward C. Platt) in episode: "The Command" (episode # 1.21) 22 February 1957
"Soldiers of Fortune" (1955) in episode: "Pipeline to Danger" (episode # 2.18) 3 February 1957
"State Trooper" (1956) (as Ed Platt) in episode: "One Way to Tahoe" (episode # 1.14) 25 December 1956
"Crusader" (1955) playing "Chief Harmon" in episode: "Rookie Cop" (episode # 1.29) 20 April 1956
"Cavalcade of America" (1952) in episode: "The Secret Life of Joe Swedie" (episode # 4.15) 7 February 1956
"Cavalcade of America" (1952) playing "Dr. Victor Banner" in episode: "The Prison Within" (episode # 4.13) 17 January 1956
"Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal" (1956) playing "Doctor" in episode: "Molly McGuire"
"Gunsmoke" (1955) playing "Mr. Burgess" (as Ed Platt) in episode: "Smoking Out the Nolans" (episode # 1.7) 5 November 1955
"Four Star Playhouse" (1952) playing "Dr. Max Fine" in episode: "With All My Heart" (episode # 3.30) 21 April 1955
"Four Star Playhouse" (1952) playing "Chief of Police" in episode: "Fair Trial" (episode # 3.20) 10 February 1955
"Four Star Playhouse" (1952) playing "Freddie" (as Ed Platt) in episode: "Bourbon Street" (episode # 3.11) 9 December 1954