Edward Platt
Known for Acting · 100 credits
- Born
- 1916-02-14
- Died
- 1974-03-19
- Place of birth
- Staten Island, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Ed Platt · Edward C. Platt · Edward Cuthbert Platt
Biography
Forever and fondly remembered as Don Adams' foil on the popular Mel Brooks/Buck Henry spy series Get Smart (1965), character actor Ed Platt (also billed as Edward C. Platt) had been around for two decades prior to copping that rare comedy role. Born in Staten Island, New York, on Valentine's Day, 1916, he inherited an appreciation of music on his mother's side. He spent a part of his childhood in Kentucky and in upstate New York where he attended Northwood, a private school in Lake Placid, and was a member of the ski jump team. He majored in romantic languages at Princeton University but left a year later to study at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati after his thoughts turned to a possible operatic career. He later was accepted into Juilliard.
Instead of opera, however, Ed first became a band vocalist with Paul Whiteman and Orchestra. He then sang bass as part of the Mozart Opera Company in New York. With the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company in 1942, he appeared in the operettas "The Mikado," "The Gondoliers" and "The Pirates of Penzance".
WWII interrupted his early career. Ed served as a radio operator with the army and would find himself on radio again in the post-war years where his deep, resonant voice proved ideal. A number of musical comedy roles also came his way again. In 1947, he made it to Broadway with the musical "Allegro." Star José Ferrer took an interest in Ed while they both were appearing in "The Shrike" on Broadway in 1952.
Around 1953, Edward moved to Texas to be near his brother and began anchoring the local news and kiddie birthday party show called "Uncle Eddie's Kiddie Party." Ferrer remembered Platt and invited him to Hollywood where Ferrer was starring in the film version of The Shrike (1955). Ed recreated his stage role. He also earned fine notices as James Dean's understanding juvenile officer in the classic film Rebel Without a Cause (1955).
This led to a plethora of film and TV support offers where the balding actor made fine use of his dark, rich voice, stern intensity and pragmatic air, portraying a slew of professional and shady types in crime yarns, soap dramas and war pictures -- everything from principals and prosecutors to mobsters and murderers.
Known For
TV Shows (52)
Perry Mason
1957
as Cmdr. Driscoll / Tom Stratton
The Rifleman
1958
Bonanza
1959
as Harvey Buford / Wade Colly / Will Flanders
Wagon Train
1957
as Spinoza de Costa / Cyrus Bolton
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961
as Lou Gregory
Peter Gunn
1958
Love, American Style
1969
Get Smart
1965
as Thaddeus
The Twilight Zone
1959
as Doctor
Petticoat Junction
1963
as General Patterson
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
Burke's Law
1963
as Capt. Frank Metcalfe
Four Star Playhouse
1952
as Freddie / Chief of Police / Dr. Fain
Dr. Kildare
1961
as Dr. Tom Paulson
The Virginian
1962
as Stuart Brynmar
Gunsmoke
1955
as Mr. Burgess
Rawhide
1959
as Jason Clark
Thriller
1960
as James Weeks
Bat Masterson
1958
as Roy Evens
The Outer Limits
1963
as Dean Radcliffe / Mr. Terrence / David Hunt
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Sheriff Galt / Marshall Mays
One Step Beyond
1959
as Will Denning
The Deputy
1959
as Noah Harper
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Mr. Henshaw
77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Mr. Jacobin
State Trooper
1956
as Stanley Andrews / John Wilbur Mason
Hawaiian Eye
1959
as Dr. Wallace Oliver
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964
as Morgan
Surfside 6
1960
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
Studio 57
1954
Alcoa Theatre
1957
as Lieutenant
The Odd Couple
1970
as Bill Donnelly
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
as Caldwell
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Judge (uncredited) / Lease Harris / General Thomas / Ben Tarbell
Arrest and Trial
1963
as Judge Kenneth W. Browne / Judge Phillips / Superior Court Judge
Trackdown
1957
as Adam Madson / George Mason
Cavalcade of America
1952
as Dr. Banner
Bronco
1958
The Lawless Years
1959
Mr. Lucky
1959
as Henry Praiswater
Wire Service
1956
as Palmer
CBS Playhouse
1966
as Judge
Letter to Loretta
1953
as Henry / Sutter
General Electric True
1962
West Point
1956
Temperatures Rising
1972
as Senator Bradley
Saints and Sinners
1962
as Dr. Gates
Temple Houston
1963
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Sparks
General Electric Theater
1953
Movies (48)
North by Northwest
1959
as Victor Larrabee
Rebel Without a Cause
1955
as Ray Fremick
Cape Fear
1962
as Judge
Written on the Wind
1956
as Dr. Paul Cochrane
Bullet for a Badman
1964
as Tucker
The Helen Morgan Story
1957
as Johnny Haggerty
The Female Instinct
1972
as Julius Nero
A Ticklish Affair
1963
as Captain Haven Hitchcock
The Tattered Dress
1957
as Ralph Adams, Reporter
The Proud Ones
1956
as Dr. Barlow
Pollyanna
1960
as Ben Tarbell
Illegal
1955
as Ralph Ford
They Came to Cordura
1959
as Col. DeRose
Designing Woman
1957
as Martin J. Daylor
Atlantis: The Lost Continent
1961
as Azor the High Priest
Backlash
1956
as Sheriff J.C. Marson
The Explosive Generation
1961
as Mr. Morton
Inside the Mafia
1959
as Dan Regent
I Was a Male War Bride
1949
as Lieutenant in Gates' Office (uncredited)
The Gift of Love
1958
as Dr. Jim Miller
The Last of the Fast Guns
1958
as Sam Grypton
The Unguarded Moment
1956
as Attorney Briggs
House of Numbers
1957
as The Warden
Cult of the Cobra
1955
as Lamian Threatening Death (uncredited)
Sincerely Yours
1955
as Dr. Eubank (uncredited)
Serenade
1956
as Everett Carter
The Great Man
1956
as Dr. O'Conner
The Shrike
1955
as Harry Downs
Destination Space
1959
as Dr. Easton
The Further Adventures of Gallegher
1965
as The Judge
The High Cost of Loving
1958
as Eli Cave
The Rebel Set
1959
as Mr. Tucker / Mr. T
Cash McCall
1960
as Harrison Glenn
Damn Citizen
1958
as Joseph Kosta
Omar Khayyam
1957
as Jayhan
The Fiercest Heart
1961
as Madrigo
Black Zoo
1963
as Chief Rivers
Storm Center
1956
as Rev. Wilson
Gunman's Walk
1958
as Purcell Avery
Summer Love
1958
as Dr. Thomas Daley
Who Killed Julie Greer?
1961
as Joe Nolan
Rock, Pretty Baby
1956
as Thomas Daley Sr.
Get Smart: A Man Called Smart
1967
as Chief
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
1956
as Major Dunning - Psychiatrist
The Steel Jungle
1956
as Judge Wahller
Reprisal!
1956
as Neil Shipley
Johnny Shiloh
1965
as Gen. Thomas
Oregon Passage
1957
as Roland Dane
About Edward Platt
Forever and fondly remembered as Don Adams' foil on the popular Mel Brooks/Buck Henry spy series Get Smart (1965), character actor Ed Platt (also billed as Edward C. Platt) had been around for two decades prior to copping that rare comedy role. Born in Staten Island, New York, on Valentine's Day, 1916, he inherited an appreciation of music on his mother's side. He spent a part of his childhood in Kentucky and in upstate New York where he attended Northwood, a private school in Lake Placid, and was a member of the ski jump team. He majored in r… With 100 credits spanning from 1949 to 1972, Edward Platt has appeared in 48 films and 52 TV shows.
Fans searching for Edward Platt movies, Edward Platt filmography, or the latest projects starring Edward Platt can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Edward Platt Movies
- North by Northwest (1959) — as Victor Larrabee
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955) — as Ray Fremick
- Cape Fear (1962) — as Judge
- Written on the Wind (1956) — as Dr. Paul Cochrane
- Bullet for a Badman (1964) — as Tucker
Where to Watch Edward Platt Films
Most Edward Platt movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Edward Platt, check our movies catalogue and browse page.