Joe Silver (September 28, 1922 – February 27, 1989) was an American stage, television, film and radio actor. His distinctive deep voice was once described as "the lowest voice in show business; so low that when he speaks, he unties your shoelaces."[1]
Joe Silver | |
|---|---|
 Publicity photo | |
| Born | Joseph Silver September 28, 1922 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 1989 (aged 66) New York City, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1942–1989 (his death) |
| Spouse(s) | Chevi Colton, actress, 1950–1989 (his death) |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
editHe was born on September 28, 1922, in Chicago. He was raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin and attended Green Bay East High School and the University of Wisconsin.[2][3]
Silver made his Broadway debut in 1942 in a revival of Tobacco Road.[1][4] He was in the original production of Gypsy: A Musical Fable (1959) and was nominated for a Tony Award as a supporting actor for playing nine different roles in Lenny (1971).[1][4]
In 1947, he made the first of more than 1,000 appearances on television,[1][4] as a panelist on What's It Worth. Two years later, he became a member of the cast of the CBS educational children's television show Mr. I. Magination. In 1950, he appeared on the short-lived variety show Joey Faye's Frolics. He was featured on The Red Buttons Show in the 1950s, and was the second Captain Jet, host of the children's show Space Funnies in the late 1950s. He played the husband of star Lee Grant's character on Fay in the 1975-1976 season.
His film credits include Diary of a Bachelor (1964), Move (1970), Rhinoceros (1974), The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974), Shivers (1975), Rabid (1977), You Light Up My Life (1977), Crash (1978), Boardwalk (1979), Deathtrap (1982), Almost You (1985) and Switching Channels (1988). He also provided the voice of the ox in the 1970 Christmas special The Night the Animals Talked and as The Creep in the horror anthology film Creepshow 2 (1987). He also provided the speaking and singing voices of the Greedy in Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure (1977).
Silver's last performance was in the musical Legs Diamond. While suffering from liver cancer, Silver died in Manhattan after suffering a heart attack at the age of 66 on February 27, 1989.[1] He was survived by his actress wife Chevi Colton, their son Christopher, their daughter Jennifer, and three grandchildren.[1]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Diary of a Bachelor | Charlie Barrett | |
| 1970 | Move | Oscar | |
| 1971 | Klute | Dr. Spangler | Uncredited |
| 1974 | Rhinoceros | Norman | |
| 1974 | The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz | Farber | |
| 1975 | Shivers | Rollo Linsky | |
| 1977 | Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure | The Greedy | Voice |
| 1977 | Rabid | Murray Cypher | |
| 1977 | You Light Up My Life | Si Robinson | |
| 1978 | Crash | Alvin Jessop | TV movie |
| 1979 | Boardwalk | Leo Rosen | |
| 1982 | Deathtrap | Seymour Starger | |
| 1985 | Almost You | Uncle Stu | |
| 1985 | The Gig | Abe Mitgang | |
| 1987 | Creepshow 2 | The Creep | Voice |
| 1987 | Magic Sticks | Pawnbroker | |
| 1987 | Mr. Nice Guy | Leser Tish | |
| 1988 | Switching Channels | Mordsini |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Mervyn Rothstein (February 28, 1989). "Joe Silver, 66, a Broadway Star And Actor in Film and Television". The New York Times.
Joe Silver, an actor who appeared on and Off Broadway, in films and in more than 1,000 television programs, died of a heart attack yesterday at St. Luke's Hospital in Manhattan. Mr. Silver, who had been suffering from liver cancer, was 66 years old and lived in Manhattan.
- ^ Wilson, Earl (June 30, 1967). "23 Years an Actor, Silver Still Loves It". The Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 2. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ Wolf, William (December 12, 1965). "Silver Finds Gold on Television and Shows Up on Broadway, Too". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 5. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ a b c Folkart, Burt A. (March 2, 1989). "Joe Silver; Actor Had Parts in 1,000 TV Shows in Career of Almost 50 Years". Los Angeles Times.
External links
edit- Joe Silver at IMDb
- Joe Silver at the Internet Broadway Database
- Joe Silver at Find a Grave
