Karl Weber (actor)

Karl Weber (March 17, 1916 – July 30, 1990) was an actor in the era of old-time radio.

Karl Weber
Weber as Gary Bennett in 1945
BornMarch 17, 1916
Columbus Junction, Iowa
DiedJuly 30, 1990
Boston, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCornell College
University of Iowa
OccupationActor
Home townColumbus Junction, Iowa
Spouse(s)Marjorie
Children1 daughter
2 sons

Early years

A native of Columbus Junction, Iowa,[1] Weber attended Cornell College[2] and was a graduate of the University of Iowa.[3] He had three brothers and two sisters.[4]

Stage

Before going into radio, Weber acted with Shakespearean troupes in the Midwest. In the late 1940s, he helped to found the New Stages off-Broadway group in New York City.[3] His Broadway credits include The Land of Fame and Lady Behave.[5]

Radio

Weber's roles in radio programs included those shown in the table below.

ProgramRole
Alias John FreedomJohn Freedom[6]
The Doctor's WifeDr. Dan Palmer[4]
Dr. SixgunDr. Ray Matson [7]
Girl AloneJohn Knight[7]:131
Inspector ThorneInspector Thorne[7]:164
Lorenzo JonesVerne Massey[8]
Nona from NowhereVernon Dutell[7]:257
The Romance of Helen TrentBrett Chapman[9]
The Second Mrs. BurtonBrad Burton[7]:299
The Strange Romance of Evelyn WintersGary Bennett[7]:319
When a Girl MarriesPhil Stanley[7]:351-352
Woman in WhiteDr. Kirk Harding[7]:258

Television

Weber played Arthur Tate in Search for Tomorrow.[4]

Film

Weber portrayed FBI agent Charlie Reynolds in Walk East on Beacon (1952).[10]

Commercials

In the mid-1960s, Weber was featured in commercials for Avis Rent a Car. The company spent $6 million on the campaign in its first year.[1] He also made commercials for Lyndon B. Johnson's and Nelson A. Rockefeller's campaigns for president.[3]

Other activities

In 1968-1969, Weber was president of New York's chapter of the Screen Actors Guild. He also used his talent to record more than 200 books for the American Foundation for the Blind.[3]

Personal life

Weber met his wife, Marjorie, when they were students at Cornell College. They had a daughter, Lynn, and two sons, Christopher and Mark.[2]

Death

Weber died of congestive heart failure in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 30, 1990. He was 74. His survivors included a daughter, two sons, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two brothers and a sister.[3]

References
  1. Lowry, Cynthi (March 12, 1967). "Ex-Actor Revolutionizes TV Commercials". The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah, Salt Lake City. Associated Press. p. 97. Retrieved September 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. Kish, Frances (September 1953). "Man About the House". Radio-TV Mirror. 40 (4): 54–55, 78. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  3. "Karl Weber; Longtime Radio Actor". Los Angeles Times. August 6, 1990. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  4. Hall, Gladys (July 1956). "Karl Weber -- Family Man". TV Radio Mirror. 45 (2): 50–51, 71–73. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  5. "Late Train Launched Acting Career For Karl Weber Leading In CBS "Nona From Nowhere" Drama". The Sherbrooke Telegram. February 2, 1950. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  6. Green, Nat (February 20, 1943). "Takes on Talent: Chicago". Billboard. p. 7. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  7. Terrace, Vincent (1999).Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 101.
  8. Jones, Belle (August 1953). "Somewhere I'll Find Him". Radio-TV Mirror. 40 (3): 84. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  9. "The Romance of Helen Trent". Radio-TV Mirror. 41 (6): 43. May 1954. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  10. Herzberg, Bob (2006). The FBI and the Movies: A History of the Bureau on Screen and Behind the Scenes in Hollywood. McFarland. p. 165. ISBN 9780786427550. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
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