Dean Harens

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

Universal Studios publicity still for Christmas Holiday (1944)

Early years

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

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..[5] Among the television series in which Harens guest starred was the 1958-1959 docudrama about the Cold War, Behind Closed Doors, hosted and occasionally starring Bruce Gordon.[6] 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."[7] Harens also appeared in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "Doomed Alibi"(03/11/1975). 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

Harens died in Van Nuys, in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, at the age of 75.[3][8]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1944Christmas HolidayLt. Charles Mason
1944The SuspectJohn Marshall
1946Crack-UpReynolds
1964The Outer LimitsMedicineEpisode: "Cold Hands, Warm Heart"
with William Shatner
1967The InvadersDr. MacLeuen
1967Rosie!Willetts
1969Murder OneJudge SkinnerTV movie
1969TopazState Department Official #3Uncredited
1970Double JeopardyThomas HowardTV movie
1971Paper ManBureaucratTV movie

References

 
9. Demetria Fulton previewed Harens appearance in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "Doomed Alibi"(03/11/1975).
  1. "Dean Harens". BFI.
  2. "Drama". The Atlanta Constitution. Georgia, Atlanta. September 13, 1940. p. 35.
  3. Hill Place. "Hill Place".
  4. "Overview for Dean Harens". Turner Classic Movies.
  5. "The F.B.I." TV.com. CBS Interactive.
  6. "Behind Closed Doors'". ctva.biz. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  7. "Dean Harens - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  8. The Broadway League. "Dean Harens - IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information".


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