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Bert Remsen 1925 - 1999

Herbert Birchell Remsen Jr. of Sherman Oaks,, Los Angeles County, CA was born on February 25, 1925 at Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, USA, and died at age 74 years old on April 22, 1999 at Sherman Oaks, California, USA in Los Angeles. Herbert Remsen was buried in 1999 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Herbert Birchell Remsen Jr.

Herbert Birchell Remsen Jr., Herbert B. Remsen (Navy)

Sherman Oaks,, Los Angeles County, CA

February 25, 1925

Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, USA

April 22, 1999

Sherman Oaks, California, USA in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States

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Bert Remsen Herbert Remsen (1925 - 1999)

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Herbert Birchell Remsen Jr.'s History: 1925 - 1999

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Introduction

Bert Remsen - Biography Born February 25, 1925 in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, USA Died April 22, 1999 in Sherman Oaks, California, USA (heart failure) Birth Name Herbert Birchell Remsen Jr. Height 5' 8" (1.73 m) American character actor who became a casting director following an accident, then returned to acting years later. The son of a New York policeman, Remsen lived a colorful life before turning to acting. He made his film debut in 1959 and was busy before the cameras in both film and television. Five years later, however, a collapsing crane on the set of the TV series No Time for Sergeants (1964) broke his back and nearly killed him. He recuperated for months and was able to walk again with crutches, but he believed his acting career was ended. He became a casting director, eventually heading the casting department of Lorimar Productions. While casting the film Brewster McCloud (1970), he was given a role by director Robert Altman. Though he continued to work in casting with his wife and partner Barbara Dodd, he resumed his acting career, working in scores of films and television episodes, most of the time requiring only a cane to walk. He appeared in many of Altman's films and was a popular figure in the film industry for his generosity and his vivid story-telling. He died in his sleep at age 74 in 1999. Family (2) Spouse Barbara Dodd (2 May 1959 - 22 April 1999) (his death) (2 children) Katherine MacGregor (1954 - ?) (divorced) Children Ann Remsen Manners Kerry Remsen Remsen broke his back in 1964 when an 84-foot crane toppled on the television set of "No Time for Sergeants". Went to Ithaca College and was a member of Kappa Gamma Psi Fraternity Older brother of actor Guy Remsen. Began his acting career by performing in summer stock theater for ten years. World War II veteran who served as a coxswain on a destroyer. He was awarded the Purple Heart during his tour of duty. Father of Ann Remsen Man
02/25

1925

Birthday

February 25, 1925

Birthdate

Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, USA

Birthplace

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Early Life & Education

Went to Ithaca College and was a member of Kappa Gamma Psi Fraternity
Military Service

World War II veteran who served as a coxswain on a destroyer. He was awarded the Purple Heart during his tour of duty. Seaman First Class Herbert B. Remsen was a crew member on the destroyer USS Laffey during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. On April 16, 1945, the USS Laffey was attacked by 22 Japanese kamikaze planes during an 80-minute period. Remsen suffered burns during the battle but was able to return to duty and survive what the US Navy called, "one of the great sea epics of war".
Professional Career

Film Pork Chop Hill (1959) - Lieutenant Cummings Tess of the Storm Country (1960) - Mike Foley Moon Pilot (1962) - Agent Brown Kid Galahad (1962) - Max (uncredited) Dead Ringer (1964) - Dan Lister The Lollipop Cover (1965) - Salesman The Strawberry Statement (1970) - Policeman at Gate Brewster McCloud (1970) - Officer Douglas Breen McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) - Bart Coyle Fuzz (1972) - Sergeant Murchison Thieves Like Us (1974) - 'T-Dub' California Split (1974) - Helen Brown Nashville (1975) - Star Baby Blue Marine (1976) - Mr. Hudkins Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) - Guard O'Meara Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) - The Bartender (Crutch) Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977, TV Movie) - Mayor Douglas A Wedding (1978) - William Williamson Uncle Joe Shannon (1978) - Braddock Fast Break (1979) - Bo Winnegar Joni (1979) - John Eareckson Carny (1980) - Delno Baptiste Borderline (1980) - Carl J. Richards Inside Moves (1980) - 'Stinky' Second-Hand Hearts (1981) - Voyd Lookin' to Get Out (1982) - 'Smitty' Independence Day (1983) - 'Red' Malone The Sting II (1983) - 'Kid Colors' Lies (1983) - Murrey Haliday Policewoman Centerfold - Captain Buckman Places in the Heart (1984) - 'Tee Tot' Hightower Code of Silence (1985) - Commander Kates Stand Alone (1985) - Paddie TerrorVision (1986) - Grampa Tai-Pan (1986) Eye of the Tiger (1986) - Father Healey P.K. and the Kid (1987) - Al Three for the Road (1987) - Stu Remote Control (1988) - Bill Denver South of Reno (1988) - Howard Stone Miss Firecracker (1989) - Mr. Morton Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989) - Milt Curfew (1989) - Gentleman with Cane Vietnam, Texas (1990) - Monsignor Sheehan Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will? (1990) - Daddy Peacemaker (1990) - 'Doc' Dick Tracy (1990) - Bartender Jezebel's Kiss (1990) - Dr. Samuel Whatley Evil Spirits (1990) - John Wilson Payback (1991) - Burt Only the Lonely (1991) - 'Spats' The Player (1992) - Bert Remsen Loving Lulu (1992) The Bodyguard (1992) - Rotary Club President Joshua Tree (1993) - Woody Engstrom Jack the Bear (1993) - Mitchell In the Shadows, Someone's Watching (1993, TV movie) - Oliver London Maverick (1994) - Riverboat Poker Player #7 White Man's Burden (1995) - Hot Dog Vendor Conspiracy Theory (1997) - Mr. Sutton Road Ends (1997) - Arliss Hugo Pool (1997) - Sad Old Man The Sky Is Falling (1999) - Mr. Finch Forces of Nature (1999) - Ned A Walk in the Park (1999) - Ken Sherry (final film role) Columbo - Fade In to Murder with William Shatner
Personal Life & Family

Spouse: Barbara Dodd (2 May 1959 - 22 April 1999) (his death) (2 children) Katherine MacGregor (divorced) Children: Ann Remsen Manners and Kerry Remsen Remsen was born in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island, the son of Helen (née Birchell) and Winfred Herbert Remsen. After suffering an injury on the set of a television show, Remsen had moved away from acting, working in casting from 1966 to 1974. Other than one voice credit over the next few years (an announcer's voice in a 1969 episode of The F.B.I.), he did not return to acting until 1970, when he was hired as the casting director on Brewster McCloud, where director Altman talked him into taking a small role in the film instead. During his nine years as a casting director and casting supervisor, in addition to a slowly increasing workload on screen, Remsen was casting director for 31 different television series or television movies, including 25 episodes each of The F.B.I. and The Rookies.
04/22

1999

Death

April 22, 1999

Death date

(heart failure)

Cause of death

Sherman Oaks, California, USA in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
Death location

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1999

Gravesite & Burial

1999

Funeral date
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Burial location
Obituary

Stage, TV and Film Character Actor Bert Remsen, 74, is Dead Bert Remsen, the character actor who started on the New York stage before moving west to roles on TV and film, died April 22 in southern California, the New York Times reported. He was 74. MAY 03, 1999 Bert Remsen, the character actor who started on the New York stage before moving west to roles on TV and film, died April 22 in southern California, the New York Times reported. He was 74. Mr. Remsen was born in Glen Cole, NY., and studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He performed in stock and on Broadway, appearing in Diamond Lil and The Rainmaker. Mr. Remsen played television roles and, in the 1960s, became a casting director before Robert Altman encouraged him to come back to acting. After 1970, he appeared in "Brewster McCloud," "Thieves Like Us," "Maverick," "Lookin' to Get Out," "Independence Day" and more. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, two daughters, a brother and two grandchildren. BERT REMSEN, 74, CHARACTER ACTOR By MYRNA OLIVER Los Angeles Times South Florida Sun-Sentinel Apr 27, 1999 at 12:00 am LOS ANGELES — Bert Remsen, veteran and prolific character actor who was undeterred by severe back injuries suffered on a sound stage and amassed half a century of stage, television and film credits from Pork Chop Hill to the current Forces of Nature, has died. He was 74. Mr. Remsen died Thursday in his sleep of natural causes at his Los Angeles home, his family said Monday. The versatile performer thought his acting days were over in 1964 when an 84-foot crane toppled over on the television set of No Time for Sergeants. Struck by the crane, Mr. Remsen suffered a broken back and multiple fractures of his left leg. Through months of surgeries and chronic pain, the pragmatic Mr. Remsen decided to alter his career, becoming a casting director. He was beginning to establish himself, casting for the television series The FBI and for a number of early 1970s television movies. His work moved forward, although Carl Reiner and other friends kept finding roles for an actor on crutches. Mr. Remsen was casting the film Brewster McCloud for Robert Altman in 1970, and while searching for just the right actor to portray a psychotic cop, the director suddenly looked at him and said, "You." The actor went on to work for Altman in other motion pictures -- McCabe & Mrs. Miller, California Split and Nashville -- and soon found himself so busy acting again that he abandoned the casting business. Mr. Remsen was especially memorable as T-Dub in Altman's Thieves Like Us and as guest William Williamson in A Wedding, toddling about on the actor's favorite cane. Monroe Sheriff reports seizure of 25 bricks of suspected cocaine found off Key West For other directors, Mr. Remsen was notable as the choleric coach Bo Winnegar in Fast Break; Kid Colors in The Sting II; a riverboat gambler in Maverick; and Ned in Forces of Nature, now in theaters. A native of Glen Cove, N.Y., Mr. Remsen served in the Navy during World War II and earned a Purple Heart for wounds suffered on Okinawa.

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