Neville Brand

Neville Brand (born August 13, 1920 in Griswald, Iowa; died April 16, 1992 in Sacramento, California) was an American television and movie actor.

Related Topics:
August 13 - 1920 - Griswald, Iowa - April 16 - 1992 - Sacramento, California - American - Television - Movie - Actor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gravel-voiced Neville Brand was born in Griswold, Iowa. He started his big screen career in D.O.A. (1950) as a henchman named Chester. The worst career move of his life was to kill the Elvis Presley character in Love Me Tender. He played the villain in so many movies, his self-image became affected, culminating in a television interview on Entertainment Tonight with the actor moving about in agitation repeating, "I'm a loser. I'm a loser."

Related Topics:
Griswold, Iowa - D.O.A. - Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender - Entertainment Tonight

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, he played a very romantic lead in the movie Return From the Sea with Jan Sterling and a heartwarming character who was brain damaged and misunderstood in an episode of the TV show Daniel Boone. He played Hoss Cartwright's (Dan Blocker) Uncle Guntur on Bonanza.

Related Topics:
Jan Sterling - Brain damage - Daniel Boone - Dan Blocker - Bonanza

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Of the hundreds of roles he has played, he is probably most well known as Al Capone in the TV show The Untouchables.

Related Topics:
Al Capone - The Untouchables

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The characterization caused an outcry from the Italian American community over stereotypes.

Related Topics:
Italian American - Stereotype

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many will remember him as Bull Hansom, the prison guard of The Birdman of Alcatraz, and as the antagonistic prisoner in Stalag 17.

Related Topics:
The Birdman of Alcatraz - Stalag 17

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Known also for his cowboy roles, he starred in his own TV series, Laredo, with William Smith, Peter Brown, and Claude Akins.

Related Topics:
Laredo - William Smith - Peter Brown - Claude Akins

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of the most heart wrenching scenes on TV showed Brand's character, Reese Bennet, waiting in torment when he realizes he has been stood up by the love of his life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One of the funnier moments was the twin episode in which gruff and dusty Reese has an immaculate and proper lookalike that confounds the other Texas Rangers.

Related Topics:
Lookalike - Texas Rangers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It should also be pointed out that Brand was a real life hero. He served in the US Army during World War II and was the fourth most decorated soldier of the war (Actor Audie Murphy being the first). It should

Related Topics:
Hero - World War II - Audie Murphy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

also be pointed out that, according to the imdb, the claim that he was the fourth most decorated soldier

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

is often repeated but is incorrect, though that same imdb article does list a lot of decorations that

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

he did receive.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~