EP
Edward Platt
Actor, Producer
Born February 14, 1916Died March 19, 1974 (58 years)
Forever and fondly remembered as Don Adams' foil on the popular Mel Brooks/Buck Henry spy series Get Smart (1965), character actor Ed Platt (also billed as Edward C. Platt) had been around for two decades prior to copping that rare comedy role. Born in Staten Island, New York, on Valentine's Day, 1916, he inherited an appreciation of music on his mother's side. He spent a part of his childhood in Kentucky and in upstate New York where he attended Northwood, a private school in Lake Placid, and was a member of the ski jump team. He majored in romantic languages at Princeton University but left a year later to study at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati after his thoughts turned to a possible operatic career. He later was accepted into Juilliard.
Instead of opera, however, Ed first became a band vocalist with Paul Whiteman and Orchestra. He then sang bass as part of the Mozart Opera Company in New York. With the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company in 1942, he appeared in the operettas "The Mikado," "The Gondoliers" and "The Pirates of Penzance".
WWII interrupted his early career. Ed served as a radio operator with the army and would find himself on radio again in the post-war years where his deep, resonant voice proved ideal. A number of musical comedy roles also came his way again. In 1947, he made it to Broadway with the musical "Allegro." Star José Ferrer took an interest in Ed while they both were appearing in "The Shrike" on Broadway in 1952.
Around 1953, Edward moved to Texas to be near his brother and began anchoring the local news and kiddie birthday party show called "Uncle Eddie's Kiddie Party." Ferrer remembered Platt and invited him to Hollywood where Ferrer was starring in the film version of The Shrike (1955). Ed recreated his stage role. He also earned fine notices as James Dean's understanding juvenile officer in the classic film Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
This led to a plethora of film and TV support offers where the balding actor made fine use of his dark, rich voice, stern intensity and pragmatic air, portraying a slew of professional and shady types in crime yarns, soap dramas and war pictures -- everything from principals and prosecutors to mobsters and murderers.
After years of playing it serious, which included stints on the daytime drama General Hospital (1963), Ed finally was able to focus on comedy as "The Chief" to Don Adams klutzy secret agent on Get Smart (1965), a show that inevitably found a cult audience. Picking up a few occasional guest spots in its aftermath, he later tried producing.
Twice married and the father of four, Platt died on March 19, 1974. Death was attributed to a massive heart attack at the time. Years later his son revealed that his father, suffering from acute depression and undergoing severe financial pressures, committed suicide at his Santa Monica, California apartment.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]
Instead of opera, however, Ed first became a band vocalist with Paul Whiteman and Orchestra. He then sang bass as part of the Mozart Opera Company in New York. With the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company in 1942, he appeared in the operettas "The Mikado," "The Gondoliers" and "The Pirates of Penzance".
WWII interrupted his early career. Ed served as a radio operator with the army and would find himself on radio again in the post-war years where his deep, resonant voice proved ideal. A number of musical comedy roles also came his way again. In 1947, he made it to Broadway with the musical "Allegro." Star José Ferrer took an interest in Ed while they both were appearing in "The Shrike" on Broadway in 1952.
Around 1953, Edward moved to Texas to be near his brother and began anchoring the local news and kiddie birthday party show called "Uncle Eddie's Kiddie Party." Ferrer remembered Platt and invited him to Hollywood where Ferrer was starring in the film version of The Shrike (1955). Ed recreated his stage role. He also earned fine notices as James Dean's understanding juvenile officer in the classic film Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
This led to a plethora of film and TV support offers where the balding actor made fine use of his dark, rich voice, stern intensity and pragmatic air, portraying a slew of professional and shady types in crime yarns, soap dramas and war pictures -- everything from principals and prosecutors to mobsters and murderers.
After years of playing it serious, which included stints on the daytime drama General Hospital (1963), Ed finally was able to focus on comedy as "The Chief" to Don Adams klutzy secret agent on Get Smart (1965), a show that inevitably found a cult audience. Picking up a few occasional guest spots in its aftermath, he later tried producing.
Twice married and the father of four, Platt died on March 19, 1974. Death was attributed to a massive heart attack at the time. Years later his son revealed that his father, suffering from acute depression and undergoing severe financial pressures, committed suicide at his Santa Monica, California apartment.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 2017 | The Disaster Artist · as Ray Fremick |
| 1972 | The Snoop Sisters (TV Series) · as Julius Nero |
| 1972 | Temperatures Rising (TV Series) · as Senator Bradley |
| 1971 | Owen Marshall, Counselor At Law (TV Series) · as Caldwell |
| 1970 | The Odd Couple (TV Series) · as Bill Donnelly |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) |
| 1969 | The Governor & J.J. (TV Series) · as Orrin Hacker |
| 1967 | Get Smart: A Man Called Smart · as Chief |
| 1967 | CBS Playhouse (TV Series) · as Judge |
| 1965 | Get Smart (TV Series) · as Thaddeus |
| 1965 | The Man from Button Willow · as The Man In The Black Cape |
| 1964 | Bewitched (TV Series) · as Jennings Booker |
| 1964 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV Series) · as Morgan |
| 1964 | Bullet for a Badman · as Tucker |
| 1964 | Shock Treatment · as District Attorney |
| 1963 | Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series) · as Sam, 2nd Patient |
| 1963 | Mr. Novak (TV Series) · as Bernard Perry |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junction (TV Series) · as General Patterson |
| 1963 | Burke's Law (TV Series) · as Capt. Frank Metcalfe |
| 1963 | Temple Houston (TV Series) |
| 1963 | The Outer Limits (TV Series) · as Dean Radcliffe |
| 1963 | Breaking Point (TV Series) · as Pat Callahan |
| 1963 | Arrest and Trial (TV Series) · as Judge |
| 1963 | A Ticklish Affair · as Captain Haven Hitchcock |
| 1963 | Black Zoo · as Chief Rivers |
| 1963 | General Hospital (TV Series) · as Dr. Miller |
| 1963 | Johnny Shiloh · as Gen. Thomas |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Stuart Brynmar |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners (TV Series) · as Dr. Gates |
| 1962 | The Lloyd Bridges Show (TV Series) · as Al |
| 1962 | Cape Fear · as Judge |
| 1961 | The Explosive Generation · as Mr. Morton |
| 1961 | The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series) · as Lou Gregory |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Dr. Tom Paulson |
| 1961 | Ripcord (TV Series) · as Jake Miller |
| 1961 | The Dick Powell Show (TV Series) · as Joe Nolan |
| 1961 | Snow White and the Three Stooges · as Villager |
| 1961 | Whispering Smith (TV Series) · as Sheriff Sam Aikens |
| 1961 | Atlantis: The Lost Continent · as Azor The High Priest |
| 1961 | The Fiercest Heart · as Madrigo |
| 1960 | The Jim Backus Show (TV Series) · as Clayton Jacobs |
| 1960 | Dante (TV Series) · as Paul Horgan |
| 1960 | SurfSide 6 (TV Series) |
| 1960 | My Three Sons (TV Series) · as Thorne Masterson |
| 1960 | Thriller (TV Series) · as James Weeks |
| 1960 | Pollyanna · as Ben Tarbell |
| 1960 | Overland Trail (TV Series) · as Jacob Bronson |
| 1960 | Cash McCall · as Harrison Glenn |
| 1959 | Mr. Lucky (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Hawaiian Eye (TV Series) |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Doctor |
| 1959 | Men into Space (TV Series) · as Dr. Luraski |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) · as Judge Orin Chase |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | The Deputy (TV Series) · as Noah Harper |
| 1959 | North by Northwest · as Victor Larrabee |
| 1959 | Inside the Mafia · as Dan Regent |
| 1959 | They Came to Cordura · as Col. Derose |
| 1959 | The Rebel Set · as Mr. Tucker / Mr. T |
| 1959 | The Lawless Years (TV Series) |
| 1959 | One Step Beyond (TV Series) · as Will Denning |
| 1959 | Rawhide (TV Series) · as Jason Clark |
| 1959 | Destination Space · as Dr. Easton (as Edward C. Platt) |
| 1958 | Flight (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) · as Mr. Jacobin |
| 1958 | Bat Masterson (TV Series) · as Roy Evens |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1958 | The Rifleman (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Bronco (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Gunman's Walk · as Purcell Avery |
| 1958 | The Last of the Fast Guns · as Sam Grypton |
| 1958 | Summer Love · as Dr. Thomas Daley |
| 1958 | The High Cost of Loving · as Eli Cave |
| 1958 | The Gift of Love · as Dr. Jim Miller |
| 1957 | Damn Citizen · as Joseph Kosta (as Edward C. Platt) |
| 1957 | Oregon Passage · as Roland Dane |
| 1957 | Alcoa Theatre (TV Series) · as Lieutenant |
| 1957 | The Helen Morgan Story · as Johnny Haggerty |
| 1957 | Trackdown (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) · as Lieutenant |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Cmdr. Driscoll |
| 1957 | Wagon Train (TV Series) · as Spinoza De Costa |
| 1957 | Have Gun, Will Travel (TV Series) |
| 1957 | House of Numbers · as The Warden |
| 1957 | Omar Khayyam · as Jayhan |
| 1957 | Designing Woman · as Martin J. Daylor |
| 1957 | The Silent Service (TV Series) · as Lt. Cmdr. Benitez |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Doc Bell |
| 1957 | The Tattered Dress · as Ralph Adams, Reporter (as Edward C. Platt) |
| 1957 | Whirlybirds (TV Series) · as Warden Horner |
| 1956 | Written on the Wind · as Dr. Paul Cochrane |
| 1956 | The Great Man · as Dr. O'conner (as Edward C. Platt) |
| 1956 | Rock, Pretty Baby! · as Thomas Daley Sr. |
| 1956 | The Unguarded Moment · as Attorney Briggs (as Edward C. Platt) |
| 1956 | Reprisal! · as Neil Shipley |
| 1956 | West Point (TV Series) |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Marshall Mays |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Doctor |
| 1956 | The Sheriff of Cochise (TV Series) · as Harry Conlon |
| 1956 | Storm Center · as Rev. Wilson |
| 1956 | The Proud Ones · as Dr. Barlow |
| 1956 | Telephone Time (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1956 | Serenade · as Everett Carter |
| 1956 | The Steel Jungle · as Judge Wahller |
| 1956 | Backlash · as Sheriff J.c. Marson |
| 1956 | State Trooper (TV Series) |
| 1956 | The Lieutenant Wore Skirts · as Major Dunning - Psychiatrist |
| 1955 | The McConnell Story · as Medical Corps Instructor |
| 1955 | |
| 1955 | Sincerely Yours · as Dr. Eubank (uncredited) |
| 1955 | Rebel Without a Cause · as Ray Fremick |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Mr. Henshaw |
| 1955 | The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV Series) · as Bascomb |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Mr. Burgess |
| 1955 | The Jane Wyman Show (TV Series) · as Larkin |
| 1955 | Cult of the Cobra · as Lamian Threatening Death (uncredited) |
| 1955 | The Shrike · as Harry Downs (as Edward C. Platt) |
| 1955 | The Millionaire (TV Series) · as Inspector Vince Bradley |
| 1955 | Soldiers of Fortune (TV Series) · as Yusef |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as General Thomas |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Henry |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) |
| 1952 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as Dr. Banner |
| 1952 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Freddie |
| 1952 | Death Valley Days (TV Series) · as Frank Graves |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Sparks |
| 1950 | Ashley Banjo’s Big Town Dance (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1949 | I Was a Male War Bride · as Lieutenant In Gates' Office (uncredited) |