Harry Landers

Harry Landers (born Harry Sorokin; September 3, 1921 – September 10, 2017)[1][2] was an American character actor. He was born in New York City.

Harry Landers
Landers with Bettye Ackerman in Ben Casey (1961)
Born
Harry Sorokin

(1921-09-03)September 3, 1921
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 2017(2017-09-10) (aged 96)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1947–1991
Spouse(s)Jeanne Vaughn Thompson

Early life and career

Landers was born on September 3, 1921, in New York City, to parents Jacob and Rose (née Landers) Sorokin, Jewish immigrants from Russia. He was the third-oldest out of seven children. Jacob abandoned the family early on in Harry's life. Landers' education came at Public School No. 202 and Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn.[3]

During World War II, Landers served in the United States Merchant Marine.[4]

In the mid-1940s, he began his career as a worker at the Warner Bros. studio in California. An encounter with actress Bette Davis led to a membership of Screen Actors Guild and an acting career.[4] He started out as an extra and was largely uncredited. He studied at the Actors' Laboratory Theatre, known for its left-wing political affiliation.

On Broadway, Landers appeared in A Flag is Born (1948) and Billy Budd. He gained additional theatrical experience in summer stock theatre.[3]

Landers is known for being the spokesman for Taster's Choice coffee in television commercials that aired in the 1970s. He played "Go Go" in the 1953 classic, The Wild One. He had a regular role as Dr. Ted Hoffman on the television series Ben Casey[5] and co-starred in the TV movie The Return of Ben Casey (1988).[6] He had a small role in the Alfred Hitchcock film Rear Window (1954). He played multiple roles in Cecil B. DeMille's epic The Ten Commandments (1956). He also appeared in 1966 on Combat! in the 5th season episode, "The Losers" and later in a supporting role as Dr. Arthur Coleman in the final episode of the original Star Trek television series, "Turnabout Intruder", first screened in 1969.

Death

Landers died September 10, 2017, aged 96.[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1947 Boomerang Uncredited
Kiss of Death Convict Uncredited
1949 C-Man Owney Shor
1950 Guilty Bystander Bert
Undercover Girl Tully Mertz Vista
1951 Mister Universe Henchman
1953 Phantom from Space Lt. Bowers
Jack Slade Danton Son Uncredited
The Wild One GoGo Uncredited
1954 Drive a Crooked Road Ralph
Prisoner of War Lieutenant Uncredited
About Mrs. Leslie Soldier Uncredited
Return from the Sea Quartermaster McGivern
Rear Window Guest of Miss Lonelyhearts Uncredited
1955 The Cobweb Intern Uncredited
The Indian Fighter Grey Wolf / Captain Trask Attaché
1956 The Ten Commandments Architect's assistant / Hebrew at Rameses' gate
The Black Whip Fiddler
1957 Mister Cory Andy
The Walter Winchell File Major Daley TV Series
1959 Up Periscope Adams Uncredited
1960 The Gallant Hours Capt. Joseph Foss
1968 In Enemy Country Pilot
Massacre Harbor Col. 'Spic' Landers USA
1969 Charro! Heff
1990 Ragin' Cajun Lacy
Hollywood Heartbreak Hotel Chuck Starrman
1991 Mom Bartender (final film role)

References
  1. "SAG-AFTRA - Summer 2018". digital.copcomm.com.
  2. Haring, Bruce (January 4, 2018). "Harry Landers Dies: 'Ben Casey' Co-Star Appeared On Many TV Classics, Was 96". Deadline. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  3. Johnson, Erskine (January 3, 1965). "Did Cathleen Throw Tomato?". The Tennessean. Tennessee, Nashville. p. 105. Retrieved February 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Harry Landers, 96". Classic Images (513): 42. March 2018.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. "Movies". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. January 16, 1988. p. 17. Retrieved February 9, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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