Mike Kellin

Mike Kellin (April 26, 1922 – August 26, 1983) was an American actor.

Early life

Kellin was born Myron Kellin in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Sophia and Samuel Kellin, Russian Jewish immigrants. His younger sister, Shirley Ann Kellin (born August 14, 1927), died in the 1944 Hartford circus fire. He was educated at Boston University and Trinity College in Hartford. He served with the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander during World War II and after the war studied acting and playwriting at the Yale School of Drama.

Career

Kellin's coarse-featured face, tired eyes and flat, monotone voice suggested that he had lived hard and fast. He was most often cast as tough guys, both good and evil. His portrayals were memorable. He made his Broadway debut in 1949 in At War with the Army and repeated his role in the film version with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. He worked in some 50 plays and won an Obie Award for his work in American Buffalo and earned a Tony nomination in 1956 for his acting in the Musical Pipe Dream.

Kellin appeared in both the film version of The Wackiest Ship in the Army and the television series based on the film, in the same role.

Kellin appeared in an episode on Lost in Space, "The Deadly Games Of Gamma 6," as Myko.

Personal life and death

Kellin was married to actress Sally Moffat, daughter of actress Sylvia Field, who is probably best known for her role as Martha Wilson on Dennis the Menace. He was also active in the Fortune Society, a prisoner's rights group. He died on August 26, 1983 from lung cancer in Nyack, New York, at the age of sixty-one. His interment was at Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Stage credits (partial)

• Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (1979) as Lionel Stander
• The Ritz (1975) as Carmine Vespucci
• The Odd Couple (1966) as Oscar Madison
• Mother Courage and Her Children (1963) as Cook
• Rhinoceros (1961) as Dribble
• God and Kate Murphy (1959) as Sean Murphy
• Pipe Dream (1955) as Hazel
• Ankles Aweigh (1955) as Joe Mancinni
• The Emperor's Clothes (1953) as Second Rottenbiller Brother
• Stalag 17 (1951) as Stosh
• The Bird Cage (1950) as Frank
• At War With the Army (1949) as Staff Sergeant McVay

Film credits

• So Young So Bad (1950) as Carousel Operator (uncredited)
• At War With The Army (1950) as Sgt. McVey
• Hurricane Smith (1952) as Dicer
• Lonelyhearts (1958) as Frank Goldsmith
• The Wonderful Country (1959) as Pancho Gil
• The Mountain Road (1960) as Prince
• The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960) as Chief Mate MacCarthy
• The Great Imposter (1961, with Tony Curtis) as Clifford Thompson
• Hell Is for Heroes (1962) as Pvt. Kolinsky
• Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964) as Blind Union Vet
• Banning (1967) as Harry Kalielle
• The Incident (1967) as Harry Purvis
• The Boston Strangler (1968) as Julian Soshnick
• Riot (1969) as Bugsy
• The Maltese Bippy (1969) (uncredited)
• The Phynx (1970) as Bogey
• The People Next Door (1970) as Dr. Margolin
• Cover Me Babe (1970) as The Derelict
• Fools' Parade (1971) as Steve Mystic
• The Last Porno Flick (1974) as Boris
• Freebie and the Bean (1974) as Lt. Rosen
• Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976) as Ben Lapinsky
• God Told Me To (1976) as Deputy Commissioner
• Midnight Express (1978) as Mr. Hayes
• Girlfriends (1978) as Abe
• On the Yard (1978) as Red
• The Jazz Singer (1980) as Leo
• So Fine (1981) as Sam Schlotzman
• Just Before Dawn (1981) as Ty
• Paternity (1981) as Tour Guide
• Echoes (1982) as Sid Berman
• Sleepaway Camp (1983) as Mel (final film role)

Television credits

He was very active in television and was a regular on:

• Mister Peepers (TV series) (1952) as Edward Barnes
• Bonino (1953) as Rusty
• Honestly, Celeste! (1954) as Marty Gordon
• The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965–66) as C.P.O. Willie Miller
• Seventh Avenue a mini-series (1977) as Morris Blackman
• Fitz and Bones (1981) as Robert Whitmore

He also appeared in made-for-TV movies including:

• Assignment: Munich (1972)
• The Connection (1973)
• F.D.R.: the Last Year (1980) as Andre Gromyko

He guest starred on the following:

• Naked City
• The Rifleman (1959) "Surveyors"
• The Untouchables
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents
• The Twilight Zone (1963) "The Thirty-Fathom Grave"
• Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (1960) "The Trap"
• Have Gun, Will Travel (1961) "Drop of Blood"
• Have Gun, Will Travel (1958) "The Solid Gold Patrol"
• Route 66 (1961) "Birdcage on my foot"
• Route 66 (1962) "Hey Moth, Come Eat The Flame"
• Lost in Space "The Deadly Games Of Gamma 6"
• Combat! (1965) "Losers Cry Deal"
• Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea
• Starsky and Hutch
• Gunsmoke (1966) "The Moonstone"
• Barney Miller (1976) "Non-Involvement"
• Galactica 1980 (1980) "The Super Scouts"

Discography

• And The Testimony's Still Coming Verve-Forecast FTS 3028 (1967)

External links

• Mike Kellin on IMDb
• Mike Kellin at the Internet Broadway Database
• Mike Kellin at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Mike Kellin papers, 1946-1983, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
• Mike Kellin at Find a Grave