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He had career spanning more than 55 years on Broadway with his first role as the title character in ''Elmer Brown, the Only Boy in Town'' in 1908/1909.<ref name=NewYorkT>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/15/obituaries/john-alexander-85-film-and-stage-actor.html|title=John Alexander, 85; Film and Stage Actor|date=July 15, 1982}}</ref>
He had career spanning more than 55 years on Broadway with his first role as the title character in ''Elmer Brown, the Only Boy in Town'' in 1908/1909.<ref name=NewYorkT>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/15/obituaries/john-alexander-85-film-and-stage-actor.html|title=John Alexander, 85; Film and Stage Actor|date=July 15, 1982}}</ref>


Perhaps his most memorable performance was as Teddy Brewster, a lunatic who thinks he is [[Theodore Roosevelt]], in the 1944 classic film ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' opposite [[Cary Grant]]. He had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] [[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|play of the same name]] on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 [[Bob Hope]] comedy ''[[Fancy Pants (film)|Fancy Pants]]''.
Perhaps his most memorable performance was as Teddy Brewster, a lunatic who thinks he is [[Theodore Roosevelt]], in the 1944 classic film ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' opposite [[Cary Grant]]. He had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] [[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|play of the same name]] on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 [[Bob Hope]] comedy ''[[Fancy Pants (film)|Fancy Pants]]'' and reprised his role as Teddy "Roosevelt" Brewster in the 1955 TV adaption of ''Arsenic and Old Lace'' in the anthology series ''[[The Best of Broadway]]''.


Among his other notable film roles, Alexander played Steve Edwards in ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]'' in 1945, Mr. McComber in ''[[Summer Holiday (1948 film)|Summer Holiday]]'' in 1948, Jack Riker in ''[[Winchester '73]]'' in 1950 and Howard Shipley in ''[[The Marrying Kind]]'' in 1952.
Among his other notable film roles, Alexander played Steve Edwards in ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]'' in 1945, Mr. McComber in ''[[Summer Holiday (1948 film)|Summer Holiday]]'' in 1948, Jack Riker in ''[[Winchester '73]]'' in 1950 and Howard Shipley in ''[[The Marrying Kind]]'' in 1952.

Revision as of 06:48, 4 December 2017

John Alexander
John Alexander in New Orleans (1947)
Born(1897-11-29)November 29, 1897
Newport, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 1982(1982-07-13) (aged 84)
New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1908–1965

John Alexander (November 29, 1897 – July 13, 1982) was an American stage, film and television actor.

Early life

He was born on November 29, 1897 in Newport, Kentucky. His father owned steamboats and his mother was a telegraph operator.

Career

He had career spanning more than 55 years on Broadway with his first role as the title character in Elmer Brown, the Only Boy in Town in 1908/1909.[1]

Perhaps his most memorable performance was as Teddy Brewster, a lunatic who thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt, in the 1944 classic film Arsenic and Old Lace opposite Cary Grant. He had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 Broadway play of the same name on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 Bob Hope comedy Fancy Pants and reprised his role as Teddy "Roosevelt" Brewster in the 1955 TV adaption of Arsenic and Old Lace in the anthology series The Best of Broadway.

Among his other notable film roles, Alexander played Steve Edwards in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in 1945, Mr. McComber in Summer Holiday in 1948, Jack Riker in Winchester '73 in 1950 and Howard Shipley in The Marrying Kind in 1952.

During the 1950s and early 1960, he guest starred on television series, such as The Phil Silvers Show, Adventures of the Sea Hawk and Car 54, Where Are You?.

Alexander's last performance was as Mayor Crane in the Broadway comedy Never Too Late, a role he had played since 1962.

John Alexander died on July 13, 1982 in New York City.[1]

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ a b "John Alexander, 85; Film and Stage Actor". The New York Times. July 15, 1982.
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