Simon Oakland

Where to watch Simon Oakland

• PsychoMovie · 1960

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Simon Oakland (August 28, 1915 – August 29, 1983) was an American actor of stage, screen, and television. 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). On television, he was a regular on the cult classic horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974-1975), and the military drama Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976-1978). Early life and career Oakland was born in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest of the three sons of immigrant Jewish parents, Jacob Weiss and Ethel Oaklander, born in Romania and the Russian Empire respectively. His father was a plasterer and builder. While he later claimed in media interviews to have been born in 1922 (a date repeated in his New York Times obituary), 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. Film and television In 1955, Oakland made his film debut, albeit uncredited, as an Indiana state trooper in The Desperate Hours. He 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 as murder victims on CBS's Perry Mason. 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 (“The Rip Van Winkle Caper” and “The Thirty-Fathom Grave”) 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. Personal life Oakland was married to Lois Lorraine Porta. The couple had one daughter, Barbara. Death 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. CLR

Filmography

1. 1978Vega$1 episode
2. 1977Lou Grant1 episode
3. 1977CHiPsas Bruno · 2 episodes
4. 1977The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries1 episode
5. 1976Quincy, M.E.as Senator Reeves · 3 episodes
6. 1976Charlie's Angelsas Sgt. Cates · 2 episodes
7. 1976Baa Baa Black Sheepas Thomas Moore · 36 episodes
8. 1975Ellery Queen1 episode
9. 1974Kolchak: The Night Stalkeras Tony Vincenzo · 20 episodes
10. 1974The Rockford Filesas Vern St. Cloud · 3 episodes
11. 1973Kojakas Tom Donnelly · 1 episode
12. 1973The Starlostas Dr. Asgard · 1 episode
13. 1973Emperor of the Northas Policeman
14. 1973Police Story2 episodes
15. 1973The Night Strangleras Tony Vincenzo
16. 1972Chato's Landas Jubal Hooker
17. 1972The Night Stalkeras Tony Vincenzo
18. 1971The Hunting Partyas Matthew Gunn
19. 1970On a Clear Day You Can See Foreveras Dr. Conrad Fuller
20. 1969Medical Center1 episode
21. 1969Hawaii Five-Oas Benny Kalua · 1 episode
22. 1968Bullittas Captain Sam Bennett
23. 1968The Mod Squad1 episode
24. 1967Tony Romeas Rudy Kosterman
25. 1967Cimarron Strip1 episode
26. 1967Ironsideas Ted Berringer, Sr. · 1 episode
27. 1966The Sand Pebblesas Stawski
28. 1966Mission: Impossibleas Jack Wellman · 1 episode
29. 1966Tarzan2 episodes
30. 1965The F.B.I.as Nikos Kapralos · 1 episode
31. 1965Get Smartas Cowboy · 1 episode
32. 1965The Wild Wild Westas Diamond Dave Desmond · 1 episode
33. 1965The Big Valleyas Adam Howard · 1 episode
34. 1965The Satan Bugas Tasserly
35. 1964Daniel Booneas Dull Knife · 1 episode
36. 1963My Favorite Martianas Lt. Murphy · 1 episode
37. 1963The Outer Limitsas Empyrian · 1 episode
38. 1962Combat!as Sgt. Tom Akers · 2 episodes
39. 1962The Virginianas Bob Coulter · 1 episode
40. 1962Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Manas Joe Boulton
41. 1962Follow That Dreamas Nick
42. 1961West Side Storyas Schrank
43. 1961Ben Casey1 episode
44. 1960Route 661 episode
45. 1960Murder, Inc.as William Tobin
46. 1960Psychoas Fred Richman
47. 1960Who Was That Lady?as Belka
48. 1960The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamondas Lt. Moody
49. 1959The Untouchablesas Russ Bogan · 1 episode
50. 1959The Twilight Zoneas De Cruz · 1 episode
51. 1959Bonanzaas Frank Scott / Mel Barnes · 1 episode
52. 1959Rawhideas Bolivar Jagger · 1 episode
53. 1958I Want to Live!as Edward S. 'Ed' Montgomery
54. 195877 Sunset Strip1 episode
55. 1958The Brothers Karamazovas Mavrayek
56. 1957Perry Masonas Howard Walters · 1 episode
57. 1957Have Gun, Will Travel1 episode
58. 1955The Desperate Hoursas State Trooper (uncredited)
59. 1955Gunsmokeas Enoch Mills · 1 episode
60. 1949Red Lightas Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)