George Nader(1921-2002)
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Born in Pasadena, California, George Nader became interested in acting
while still in school and appeared in several productions at the
Pasadena Playhouse. This led to several small parts in movies before
earning the lead role in the ridiculous 3-D thriller Robot Monster (1953). The movie
was bad but profitable, and Nader soon had a contract with Universal
Pictures. Unfortunately, the studio already had on its roster such
good-looking and athletic actors as Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis and Jeff Chandler, so
Nader often found himself being cast in their leftovers, usually
playing parts that emphasized his "beefcake" appeal. (At 6' 1" and 180
pounds, Nader had the kind of physique fan magazines drooled over and
unlike many of his colleagues, he frequently appeared with his chest
hair intact.) However, he did enjoy a few good years in the mid-1950s,
turning in a commendable performance in Away All Boats (1956) before his career began
to decline. He tried his hand at three TV series and then relocated to
Europe, where he enjoyed a modest revival in the late 1960s starring as
"Jerry Cotton" in a series of West German films.