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- The possessor of one of stage, screen, radio, TV and audio cassette's most distinguished vocal instruments, actor Alexander Scourby received his training via Shakespearean roles in the 1930s and perfected his vocal versatility on dramatic radio serials in the 1940's.
The noted actor/narrator was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 13, 1913 to Greek immigrants and attended public and private schools in Brooklyn. Father Constantine was a restaurateur and baker Interested in writing, he was a co-editor of his high school magazine and yearbook and studied journalism briefly at University of West Virginia at Morgantown. A passion for acting was sparked after joining a campus theater group. He apprenticed at Eva Le Gallienne's Civic Repertory Theatre and made his professional debut in a walk-on in "Liliom.".
"Hamlet" would become a favorite Shakespearean play for Scourby. His very first role on Broadway was as the Player King in a 1936 production starring Leslie Howard and went on to play the same role for Eva Le Gallienne's company later that year. He then played Rosencrantz in Maurice Evans' presentation and went on to appear with Evans in "Henry IV, Part I" and "Richard II" (borth 1940). He played Claudius in still another production (Phoenix) in 1961. Other Broadway plays would include post-WWII presentations of "A Flag Is Born", "Crime and Punishment", "Detective Story", "Darkness at Noon", "Saint Joan" with Uta Hagen, "A Month in the County," "Tovarich" with Vivien Leigh, in which he ably displayed a flair for urbane villainy, and "Old World." He played also played the title role in "Galileo," performed as John Knox in "Vivat! Vivat Regina!" and played Walt Whitman in "A Whitman Portrait."
Scourby first began to develop his speaking prowess in 1937 when he started narrating for the American Foundation for the Blind's Talking Book program. He would wind up recording nearly 500 books for the blind, and, for his long-term contribution, receive the Certificate of Merit from the foundation. His deep, crisp tones suited him well as he moved into radio in 1939. By the early 1940's, he was playing running parts in five of the serial dramas. Included was the voice of Superman's father on that popular radio show.
Scourby made a dashing villainous entry into films rather late in his career (age 39). He received third billing behind "Gilda" stars Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford in the film noir Affair in Trinidad (1952) in which he plays suave, nefarious Max Fabian. He continued in dramatic support with Because of You (1952), Older Brother, Younger Sister (1953) The Glory Brigade (1953) and probably made his next best impression in another film noir again starring Ford and as another villain (crime boss Mike Lagana) in the classic The Big Heat (1953). Later Scourby-featured 50's movies would include The Silver Chalice (1954), Sign of the Pagan (1954), Ransom! (1956) (a third film noir starring Ford), Giant (1956), Me and the Colonel (1958), The Big Fisherman (1959), and the Disney comedy The Shaggy Dog (1959)
As a TV/audio cassette narrator, Scourby had few peers. He would be heard narrating many popular Bible stories for time and has been credited for giving voice of the entire Bible at one point. Classical novel audio cassettes such as "Ship of Fools" and "War and Peace." On TV, he was critically lauded for his distinctive narration on the documentary classic Victory at Sea (1954) and the 70's The Body Human (1977) TV movie documentaries. Scourby also made a host of guest appearances on the popular TV programs from the late 50s throughout the 70's including "The Phil Silvers Show" ("Bilko"), "Shirley Temple's Storybook," "Ellery Queen," "Rawhide," "Bonanza," "The Rifleman," "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Defenders, "The Rogues," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Daniel Boone" and "Mannix." "as well as the daytime soapers "Another World" and "General Hospital."
Long married to stage, screen and daytime soap opera actress Lori March, they had a daughter, Alexandra, born in 1944. Scourby died at age 71 of a heart attack on February 22, 1985. - Actor
- Soundtrack
Composer, violinist and educator, educated at first by his father and then the Imperial School at St. Petersburg with Auer. He made his violin debut at Berlin in 1907, followed by a tour of Europe. His American debut was with the Boston Symphony in 1911. Thereafter, he joined the faculty at the Curtis Institute in 1929 and became a director there in 1941. Conflicting sources give his date of birth as April 9th or April 21st, but because he was born in Russia prior to the 1917 Revolution, both dates can be considered as correct; one date is in the Old Style Calendar (pre-1917) while the other is within the New Style Calendar adopted with the revolution in 1917. His first wife was famed soprano Alma Gluck, one of the first sopranos to make best-selling recordings. He was the half-brother of author Marcia Davenport, the grandfather of Stephanie Zimbalist, and the father of Efrem Zimbalist Jr..- Vincent Perry was born on 7 January 1898 in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for Perry Mason (1957), Highway Patrol (1955) and Adventures of Superman (1952). He was married to Evelyn Jessie Perry. He died on 22 February 1985 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Writer
- Actor
Enzo Ungari was born on 13 July 1948 in La Spezia, Liguria, Italy. He was a writer and actor, known for The Last Emperor (1987), Art of Love (1983) and Oggetti smarriti (1980). He died on 22 February 1985 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Vincent G. Perry was born on 7 January 1898 in Canada. He was an actor, known for Hart to Hart (1979). He died on 22 February 1985 in Encino, California, USA.
- Daniel Jacob was born on 18 August 1963. He was an actor, known for Ich heirate eine Familie... (1983), Woman Doctors (1984) and Polizeiinspektion 1 (1977). He died on 22 February 1985.
- Tom De Graffenreid was born on 14 November 1892 in Looney, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Science Fiction Theatre (1955), Harbor Command (1957) and The Lineup (1954). He died on 22 February 1985 in Ventura, California, USA.
- John Borich was born on 31 December 1920 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Margaret Anne Churley. He died on 22 February 1985 in San Bernardino, California, USA.
- Zika Petrovic was born on 31 December 1912 in Kragujevac, Serbia. He was an actor, known for Saturday Night (1957), Mrtvacima ulaz zabranjen (1965) and Ljubav na seoski nacin (1970). He died on 22 February 1985 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia.
- Composer
- Writer
- Sound Department
Masao Yoneyama was born on 3 October 1912. He was a composer and writer, known for Little Tengu (1961), Wasurenai yo (1955) and Dorai fujin to teishu kanpaku (1957). He died on 22 February 1985.- Writer
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Salvador Espriu was born on 10 July 1913 in Santa Coloma de Farners, Girona, Catalonia, Spain. He was a writer and actor, known for Laia (1972), Teatro de siempre (1966) and Lletres catalanes (1974). He died on 22 February 1985 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.- Walter Holbrook was born on 28 August 1912 in Portland, Oregon, USA. He was an actor, known for The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936). He died on 22 February 1985 in Riverside, California, USA.