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==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Oakland was born in [[Brooklyn, New York]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Villain on the screen really is a nice guy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-fhHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BAANAAAAIBAJ&pg=4105%2C5627166|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Morning Record|date=December 9, 1967|page=3}}</ref> the eldest of the three sons of immigrant Jewish parents, Jacob Weiss and Ethel Oaklander, born in Romania and Tsarist Russia, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Death Notices: Weiss, Ethel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36469320/ |work=The Miami News |date=October 9, 1974|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="1930 Census" /> His father was a plasterer and builder.<ref name=wilson/> While he later claimed in media interviews to have been born in 1922<ref name=wilson/><ref name=blank/> (a date repeated in his ''[[New York Times]]'' obituary),<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|title=Simon Oakland, 61, Actor who starred in 3 TV series, dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/01/obituaries/simon-oakland-61-actor-who-starred-in-3-tv-series-dies.html|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=[[New York Times]]|date=September 1, 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-42398-3942-23?cc=221569|website=FamilySearch|access-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[vital records]] indicate he was born '''Simon Weiss''' in 1915; his [[stage name]] was derived from his mother's maiden name, Oaklander.<ref>{{cite web |title=California Death Index, 1940-1997 |url=https://www.ancestry.com.au/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-89c71e12-da3b-4844-a9ed-3f282ad2760c&collectionId=5180&recordId=5426056&ahsht=2019-09-28T01:21:51&language=en-AU&ahsh=4d79c692838ecb2ec5aa75fbd6a08109 |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=September 28, 2019}} Duplicate entries under surname Weiss and Oakland with same Social Security number.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=California Death Index, 1940-1997 |url=https://www.ancestry.com.au/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-3901c498-2ba4-4d07-b393-a0a456fdf424&collectionId=5180&recordId=14447861&ahsht=2019-09-28T01:21:51&language=en-AU&ahsh=a0c055f72b471679d284392e1e2c58b8 |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 |url=https://www.ancestry.com.au/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-45d56644-9fa3-4b0f-8e82-566aa8e083ed&collectionId=3693&recordId=45925165&ahsht=2019-09-28T01:21:51&language=en-AU&ahsh=69a20b16b0f926607dfa1a968ea4458d |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>{{refn|group=Note|Some primary sources suggest his birth name may have been '''Isidor Weiss'''.<ref name="1930 Census">{{cite web|title=United States Census, 1930|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4V8-3W2|quote=Isidor Weiss in household of Jacob Weiss, Brooklyn|website=Family Search|access-date=June 3, 2016}} {{registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New York, New York, Births, 1910-1965|url=https://www.ancestry.com/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-94baad5d-c64d-4bc3-9abb-3be6f5302c00&collectionId=61457&recordId=865994&ahsht=2018-02-02T02:05:06&language=en-US&ahsh=12f2634fd6b1cede02f7f82bbc4a17b3|website=Ancestry.com|publisher=New York City Department of Health|access-date=February 2, 2018}}</ref> One source reported that his "real name" was Si Oaklander,<ref name=wilson>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Earl|title=People Recognise His Face But Not Oakland's Name|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wT41AAAAIBAJ&sjid=amcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6752%2C6147391|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|date=May 14, 1977|page=11A}}</ref> but this is contradicted by the weight of evidence.}}
Oakland was born in [[Brooklyn, New York]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Villain on the screen really is a nice guy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-fhHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BAANAAAAIBAJ&pg=4105%2C5627166|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Morning Record|date=December 9, 1967|page=3}}</ref> the eldest of the three sons of immigrant Jewish parents, Jacob Weiss and Ethel Oaklander, born in Romania and the Russian Empire respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Death Notices: Weiss, Ethel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36469320/ |work=The Miami News |date=October 9, 1974|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="1930 Census" /> His father was a plasterer and builder.<ref name=wilson/> While he later claimed in media interviews to have been born in 1922<ref name=wilson/><ref name=blank/> (a date repeated in his ''[[New York Times]]'' obituary),<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|title=Simon Oakland, 61, Actor who starred in 3 TV series, dies|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/01/obituaries/simon-oakland-61-actor-who-starred-in-3-tv-series-dies.html|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=[[New York Times]]|date=September 1, 1983}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-42398-3942-23?cc=221569|website=FamilySearch|access-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[vital records]] indicate he was born '''Simon Weiss''' in 1915; his [[stage name]] was derived from his mother's maiden name, Oaklander.<ref>{{cite web |title=California Death Index, 1940-1997 |url=https://www.ancestry.com.au/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-89c71e12-da3b-4844-a9ed-3f282ad2760c&collectionId=5180&recordId=5426056&ahsht=2019-09-28T01:21:51&language=en-AU&ahsh=4d79c692838ecb2ec5aa75fbd6a08109 |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=September 28, 2019}} Duplicate entries under surname Weiss and Oakland with same Social Security number.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=California Death Index, 1940-1997 |url=https://www.ancestry.com.au/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-3901c498-2ba4-4d07-b393-a0a456fdf424&collectionId=5180&recordId=14447861&ahsht=2019-09-28T01:21:51&language=en-AU&ahsh=a0c055f72b471679d284392e1e2c58b8 |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 |url=https://www.ancestry.com.au/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-45d56644-9fa3-4b0f-8e82-566aa8e083ed&collectionId=3693&recordId=45925165&ahsht=2019-09-28T01:21:51&language=en-AU&ahsh=69a20b16b0f926607dfa1a968ea4458d |website=Ancestry.com |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>{{refn|group=Note|Some primary sources suggest his birth name may have been '''Isidor Weiss'''.<ref name="1930 Census">{{cite web|title=United States Census, 1930|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4V8-3W2|quote=Isidor Weiss in household of Jacob Weiss, Brooklyn|website=Family Search|access-date=June 3, 2016}} {{registration required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New York, New York, Births, 1910-1965|url=https://www.ancestry.com/inst/discoveries/PfRecord?emailId=N-94baad5d-c64d-4bc3-9abb-3be6f5302c00&collectionId=61457&recordId=865994&ahsht=2018-02-02T02:05:06&language=en-US&ahsh=12f2634fd6b1cede02f7f82bbc4a17b3|website=Ancestry.com|publisher=New York City Department of Health|access-date=February 2, 2018}}</ref> One source reported that his "real name" was Si Oaklander,<ref name=wilson>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Earl|title=People Recognise His Face But Not Oakland's Name|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wT41AAAAIBAJ&sjid=amcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6752%2C6147391|access-date=March 1, 2016|work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]|date=May 14, 1977|page=11A}}</ref> but this is contradicted by the weight of evidence.}}


He began his [[performing arts|performing]] career as a [[musician]] (he was a [[violin]]ist,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Ruth|title=More Than 800 Programs for Simon Oakland|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r2wmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lP8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2493%2C176288|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Gettysburg Times|issue=TV Magazine|date=October 28, 1968|page=1}}</ref> an [[avocation]] he pursued during his entire career as an actor). Oakland began his acting career in the late 1940s. He enjoyed a series of [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] hits, including ''Light Up the Sky'', ''[[The Shrike (play)|The Shrike]]'', and ''[[Inherit the Wind (play)|Inherit the Wind]]'', and [[theater]] was one of his lasting passions. He was a concert violinist until the 1940s.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
He began his [[performing arts|performing]] career as a [[musician]] (he was a [[violin]]ist,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thompson|first1=Ruth|title=More Than 800 Programs for Simon Oakland|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r2wmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lP8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2493%2C176288|access-date=March 3, 2016|work=The Gettysburg Times|issue=TV Magazine|date=October 28, 1968|page=1}}</ref> an [[avocation]] he pursued during his entire career as an actor). Oakland began his acting career in the late 1940s. He enjoyed a series of [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] hits, including ''Light Up the Sky'', ''[[The Shrike (play)|The Shrike]]'', and ''[[Inherit the Wind (play)|Inherit the Wind]]'', and [[theater]] was one of his lasting passions. He was a concert violinist until the 1940s.{{cn|date=December 2021}}


==Film and television==
==Film and television==
{{Unsourced|section|date=January 2022}}
⚫
In 1955, Oakland made his film debut, albeit uncredited, as an [[Indiana]] state trooper in ''[[The Desperate Hours (1955 film)|The Desperate Hours]]''. He next appeared in two films released in 1958: as Mavrayek in ''[[The Brothers Karamazov (1958 film)|The Brothers Karamazov]]'' and as journalist [[Edward S. Montgomery|Edward Montgomery]] in ''[[I Want to Live!]]''{{hsp}}


⚫
In 1955, Oakland made his film debut, albeit uncredited, as an [[Indiana]] state trooper in ''[[The Desperate Hours (1955 film)|The Desperate Hours]]''. He next appeared in two films released in 1958: as Mavrayek in ''[[The Brothers Karamazov (1958 film)|The Brothers Karamazov]]'' and as journalist [[Edward S. Montgomery|Edward Montgomery]] in ''[[I Want to Live!]]''{{hsp}}
⚫
Oakland's notable performance in ''I Want to Live!'' led to his playing a long series of bullying tough-guy types, usually in positions of authority, but sometimes as villains, or as an admixture of both. He appeared in ''Psycho'' as the psychiatrist who, at the end of the film, explains [[Norman Bates]]'s [[multiple personality disorder]]. He appeared in ''West Side Story'', ''The Sand Pebbles'', and ''Bullitt''. He made two guest appearances on [[CBS]]'s ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', both times as the murder victim. He also appeared in the [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] crime drama, ''[[Decoy (TV series)|Decoy]]'', starring [[Beverly Garland]]. Oakland appeared once on the CBS Western ''[[Dundee and the Culhane]]'' and once on the series ''Sheriff of Cochise''.


Oakland's notable performance in ''I Want to Live!'' led to his playing a long series of tough-guys, either as authority figures or villains or a mix of both. He appeared in ''Psycho'' as the psychiatrist who, at the end of the film, explains [[Norman Bates]]'s [[multiple personality disorder]]. He appeared in the films ''West Side Story'', ''The Sand Pebbles'', and ''Bullitt''.
⚫
He was a regular, as General Thomas Moore, on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]'', starring [[Robert Conrad]]. He also appeared in two episodes of the original ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' TV series and in ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' as the alien birdman in "[[Second Chance (The Outer Limits)|Second Chance]]". In 1974 and 1975, he was a series regular on ''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]'', playing newspaper editor Tony Vincenzo. (He had previously played the same character in the two made-for-television movies that served as the pilot for the series.)


⚫
He made two guest appearances on [[CBS]]'s ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'', both times as the murder victim. He appeared in the [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] crime drama, ''[[Decoy (TV series)|Decoy]]'', starring [[Beverly Garland]]. Oakland appeared once on the CBS Western ''[[Dundee and the Culhane]]'' and once on the series ''Sheriff of Cochise''.
⚫
During the 1970s, Oakland appeared in multiple episodes of ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', three times as blustery private detective Vern St. Cloud.
⚫
He was also a regular, in a comedic supporting role, as General Thomas Moore, on [[NBC]]'s ''[[Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]'', starring [[Robert Conrad]]. He appeared in two episodes of the original ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' TV series and in ''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' as the alien birdman in "[[Second Chance (The Outer Limits)|Second Chance]]". In 1974 and 1975, he was a series regular on ''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]'', playing newspaper editor Tony Vincenzo. (He had previously played the same character in two made-for-television movies.

⚫
During the 1970s, Oakland appeared in multiple episodes of ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', three times as blustery private detective Vern St. Cloud, a nemesis/ antagonist for Jim Rockford.
[[File:Death Certificate of Simon Oakland.jpg|thumb|150px|Death certificate of Simon Oakland]]
[[File:Death Certificate of Simon Oakland.jpg|thumb|150px|Death certificate of Simon Oakland]]


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*''[[Gunsmoke]]'' (1956-1965, TV Series) as Carl Mandee / Miguel / Jim Nation / Enoch Mills
*''[[Gunsmoke]]'' (1956-1965, TV Series) as Carl Mandee / Miguel / Jim Nation / Enoch Mills
*''[[The Sheriff of Cochise]]'' (1956, Episode: "Question of Honor", season 1) as Charlie Moon
*''[[The Sheriff of Cochise]]'' (1956, Episode: "Question of Honor", season 1) as Charlie Moon
*''[[The Silent Service (TV series)|The Silent Service]]'' (1958, episode: "[[USS Cavalla (SS-244)|USS ''Cavalla'']]: Lucky Lady's Famous First Patrol") as Captain [[Herman J. Kossler]]
*''The Silent Service'' (1958, episode: "[[USS Cavalla (SS-244)|USS ''Cavalla'']]: Lucky Lady's Famous First Patrol") as Captain [[Herman J. Kossler]]
*''[[The Brothers Karamazov (1958 film)|The Brothers Karamazov]]'' (1958) as Mavrayek
*''[[The Brothers Karamazov (1958 film)|The Brothers Karamazov]]'' (1958) as Mavrayek
*''[[I Want to Live!]]'' (1958) as Edward S. 'Ed' Montgomery
*''[[I Want to Live!]]'' (1958) as Edward S. 'Ed' Montgomery
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*''[[Laramie (TV series)|Laramie]]'' (1960, episode: "Ride or Die") as fugitive Vernon Kane
*''[[Laramie (TV series)|Laramie]]'' (1960, episode: "Ride or Die") as fugitive Vernon Kane
*''[[Who Was That Lady?]]'' (1960) as Belka
*''[[Who Was That Lady?]]'' (1960) as Belka
*''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' (1960) as Dr. Fred Richmond, the psychiatrist who explains Norman Bates' case
*''[[Psycho (1960 film)|Psycho]]'' (1960) as Dr. Richmond, the psychiatrist who explains Norman Bates' case
*''[[Murder, Inc. (1960 film)|Murder Inc.]]'' (1960) as Detective Sergeant William Tobin
*''[[Murder, Inc. (1960 film)|Murder Inc.]]'' (1960) as Detective Sergeant William Tobin
*''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' (1961-1963, episodes: "[[The Rip Van Winkle Caper]]" and "[[The Thirty-Fathom Grave]]", the original series, hosted by [[Rod Serling]]) as De Cruz and Captain Beecham, respectively
*''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'' (1961-1963, episodes: "[[The Rip Van Winkle Caper]]" and "[[The Thirty-Fathom Grave]]", the original series, hosted by [[Rod Serling]]) as De Cruz and Captain Beecham, respectively
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*''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1963, episode: "Incident of the Travelin' Man") as Bolivar Jagger
*''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' (1963, episode: "Incident of the Travelin' Man") as Bolivar Jagger
*''[[Wall of Noise]]'' (1963) as Johnny Papadakis
*''[[Wall of Noise]]'' (1963) as Johnny Papadakis
*''[[My Favorite Martian]]'' (1963, season one, episode onr: "My Favorite Martian") as Lieutenant Murphy
*''[[My Favorite Martian]]'' (1963, season one, episode one: "My Favorite Martian") as Lieutenant Murphy
*''[[The Raiders (1963 film)|The Raiders]]'' (1963) as Sgt. Austin Tremaine
*''[[The Raiders (1963 film)|The Raiders]]'' (1963) as Sgt. Austin Tremaine
*''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' (1964, episode: "[[Second Chance (The Outer Limits)|Second Chance]]") as Empyrian
*''[[The Outer Limits (1963 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' (1964, episode: "[[Second Chance (The Outer Limits)|Second Chance]]") as Empyrian
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*''[[The Wild Wild West]]'' (1968, episode: "The Night of the Fugitives") as Diamond Dave Desmond
*''[[The Wild Wild West]]'' (1968, episode: "The Night of the Fugitives") as Diamond Dave Desmond
*''[[The Big Valley]]'' (1969, episode: "The Secret") as Adam Howard
*''[[The Big Valley]]'' (1969, episode: "The Secret") as Adam Howard
*''[[Ironside (TV series)|Ironside]]'' (1969-1973, TV series) as Mel Grayson / Theodore Berringer, Sr. / Elton Ferris
*''[[Ironside (1967 TV series)|Ironside]]'' (1969-1973, TV series) as Mel Grayson / Theodore Berringer, Sr. / Elton Ferris
*''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (film)|On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'' (1970) as Dr. Conrad Fuller
*''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (film)|On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'' (1970) as Dr. Conrad Fuller
*''[[Scandalous John]]'' (1971) as Barton Whittaker
*''[[Scandalous John]]'' (1971) as Barton Whittaker
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*''[[Emperor of the North]]'' (1973) as Policeman
*''[[Emperor of the North]]'' (1973) as Policeman
*''[[Happy Mother's Day, Love George]]'' (1973) as Sheriff Roy
*''[[Happy Mother's Day, Love George]]'' (1973) as Sheriff Roy
*''[[The Starlost]]'' (1973, episode: "And Only Man is Vile") as Dr. Asgard
*''[[The Starlost]]'' (1973, episode: "And Only Man Is Vile") as Dr. Asgard
*''[[Toma (TV series)|Toma]]'' (1973-1974, TV series) as Inspector Spooner
*''[[Toma (TV series)|Toma]]'' (1973-1974, TV series) as Inspector Spooner
*''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]'' (1974-1975, TV series) as Tony Vincenzo
*''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]'' (1974-1975, TV series) as Tony Vincenzo
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*''[[Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]'' (1976–1978, TV series) as Brigadier General Thomas Moore
*''[[Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]'' (1976–1978, TV series) as Brigadier General Thomas Moore
*''[[Gibbsville (TV series)|Gibbsville]]'' (1976, episode: "All the Young Girls", season one) as Chapman
*''[[Gibbsville (TV series)|Gibbsville]]'' (1976, episode: "All the Young Girls", season one) as Chapman
*''[[Kojak]]'' (1976, episode: "Dead Again") as security chief of a department store getting extorted
*''[[The Feather and Father Gang]]'' (1977, episode: "The Big Frame", season one, episode 14) as Cosgrove
*''[[The Feather and Father Gang]]'' (1977, episode: "The Big Frame", season one, episode 14) as Cosgrove
*''[[David Cassidy - Man Undercover]]'' (1978–1979, TV series) as Sergeant Abrams / Lieutenant Abrams
*''[[David Cassidy: Man Undercover]]'' (1978–1979, TV series) as Sergeant Abrams / Lieutenant Abrams
*''[[CHiPs]]'' (1979 episodes "Drive, Lady Drive", Pts I and II) as Bruno
*''[[CHiPs]]'' (1979 episodes "Drive, Lady Drive", Pts I and II) as Bruno
*''[[Evening in Byzantium]]'' (1978) as Walter Klein
*''[[Evening in Byzantium]]'' (1978) as Walter Klein
Line 124: Line 126:
*''[[Charlie's Angels]]'' (1980, episode: "Angel's Child") as Sgt. Shanks (His character's name during the show was always spoken as "Cates", but in the credits it is listed as "Shanks").
*''[[Charlie's Angels]]'' (1980, episode: "Angel's Child") as Sgt. Shanks (His character's name during the show was always spoken as "Cates", but in the credits it is listed as "Shanks").
*''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'' (1978–1982, TV series) as U.S. Sen. Reeves / Keith Zagner / Chick Thomas / Sal Jarrett
*''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'' (1978–1982, TV series) as U.S. Sen. Reeves / Keith Zagner / Chick Thomas / Sal Jarrett
*''[[Vega$]], (1981, Episode: "Set-Up") as private detective Eddie Miller.
*''[[Vegas (1978 TV series)|Vega$]]'' (1981, Episode: "Set-Up") as private detective Eddie Miller.
*''[[CHiPs]]'' (1982 episode "Alarmed", as Sweeny
*''[[The Littlest Hobo]]'' (1982, episode: "Mail Order Bride", season three) as Tom Beecher
*''[[The Littlest Hobo]]'' (1982, episode: "Mail Order Bride", season three) as Tom Beecher
*''[[Tucker's Witch]]'' (1983, episode: "Living and Presumed Dead", season one) as Daniel Gorman (final appearance)
*''[[Tucker's Witch]]'' (1983, episode: "Living and Presumed Dead", season one) as Daniel Gorman (final appearance)
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* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|29056}}
* {{iobdb name|29056}}
* {{Find a Grave|58739064}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in California]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer in California]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Male actors from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Age controversies]]
[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Romanian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Western (genre) television actors]]
[[Category:Western (genre) television actors]]

Latest revision as of 03:23, 2 December 2024

Simon Oakland
Oakland as Inspector Spooner in Toma (1973)
Born
Simon Weiss

(1915-08-28)August 28, 1915
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 29, 1983(1983-08-29) (aged 68)
Cathedral City, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1951–1983
Spouse
Lois Lorraine Porta
​
​
(m. 1943)​
Children1

Simon Oakland (August 28, 1915 – August 29, 1983) was an American actor of stage, screen, and television.[1]

During his career, Oakland performed primarily on television, appearing in over 130 series and made-for-television movies between 1951 and 1983. His most notable big-screen roles were in Psycho (1960), West Side Story (1961), The Sand Pebbles (1966), Bullitt (1968), The Hunting Party (1971), and Chato's Land (1972).

Early life and career

[edit]

Oakland was born in Brooklyn, New York,[2] the eldest of the three sons of immigrant Jewish parents, Jacob Weiss and Ethel Oaklander, born in Romania and the Russian Empire respectively.[3][4] His father was a plasterer and builder.[5] While he later claimed in media interviews to have been born in 1922[5][6] (a date repeated in his New York Times obituary),[1][7] Social Security and vital records indicate he was born Simon Weiss in 1915; his stage name was derived from his mother's maiden name, Oaklander.[8][9][10][Note 1]

He began his performing career as a musician (he was a violinist,[12] an avocation he pursued during his entire career as an actor). Oakland began his acting career in the late 1940s. He enjoyed a series of Broadway hits, including Light Up the Sky, The Shrike, and Inherit the Wind, and theater was one of his lasting passions. He was a concert violinist until the 1940s.[citation needed]

Film and television

[edit]

In 1955, Oakland made his film debut, albeit uncredited, as an Indiana state trooper in The Desperate Hours. He next appeared in two films released in 1958: as Mavrayek in The Brothers Karamazov and as journalist Edward Montgomery in I Want to Live! 

Oakland's notable performance in I Want to Live! led to his playing a long series of tough-guys, either as authority figures or villains or a mix of both. He appeared in Psycho as the psychiatrist who, at the end of the film, explains Norman Bates's multiple personality disorder. He appeared in the films West Side Story, The Sand Pebbles, and Bullitt.

He made two guest appearances on CBS's Perry Mason, both times as the murder victim. He appeared in the syndicated crime drama, Decoy, starring Beverly Garland. Oakland appeared once on the CBS Western Dundee and the Culhane and once on the series Sheriff of Cochise. He was also a regular, in a comedic supporting role, as General Thomas Moore, on NBC's Baa Baa Black Sheep, starring Robert Conrad. He appeared in two episodes of the original The Twilight Zone TV series and in The Outer Limits as the alien birdman in "Second Chance". In 1974 and 1975, he was a series regular on Kolchak: The Night Stalker, playing newspaper editor Tony Vincenzo. (He had previously played the same character in two made-for-television movies.

During the 1970s, Oakland appeared in multiple episodes of The Rockford Files, three times as blustery private detective Vern St. Cloud, a nemesis/ antagonist for Jim Rockford.

Death certificate of Simon Oakland

Personal life

[edit]

Oakland was married to Lois Lorraine Porta.[6][13] The couple had one daughter, Barbara.[1]

Death

[edit]

Oakland continued working up to the year of his death. His last credited acting appearance was in the episode "Living and Presumed Dead" on the CBS television series Tucker's Witch. That episode aired three months before Oakland's death from colon cancer in Cathedral City, California, on August 29, 1983, the day after his 68th birthday.

TV and filmography

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Some primary sources suggest his birth name may have been Isidor Weiss.[4][11] One source reported that his "real name" was Si Oaklander,[5] but this is contradicted by the weight of evidence.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Simon Oakland, 61, Actor who starred in 3 TV series, dies". New York Times. September 1, 1983. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "Villain on the screen really is a nice guy". The Morning Record. December 9, 1967. p. 3. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  3. ^ "Death Notices: Weiss, Ethel". The Miami News. October 9, 1974 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "United States Census, 1930". Family Search. Retrieved June 3, 2016. Isidor Weiss in household of Jacob Weiss, Brooklyn (registration required)
  5. ^ a b c Wilson, Earl (May 14, 1977). "People Recognise His Face But Not Oakland's Name". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 11A. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Blank, Edward L. (January 3, 1972). "Simon Oakland: 'Face is Familiar - What's his name?'". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 39. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  7. ^ "Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006". FamilySearch. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  8. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997". Ancestry.com. Retrieved September 28, 2019. Duplicate entries under surname Weiss and Oakland with same Social Security number.
  9. ^ "California Death Index, 1940-1997". Ancestry.com. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  10. ^ "U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014". Ancestry.com. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "New York, New York, Births, 1910-1965". Ancestry.com. New York City Department of Health. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  12. ^ Thompson, Ruth (October 28, 1968). "More Than 800 Programs for Simon Oakland". The Gettysburg Times. No. TV Magazine. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  13. ^ "Funeral Services & Memorials: Lois Lorraine Oakland, 84". Santa Fe New Mexican. New Mexico. April 9, 2003. p. 12 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
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