Norman Alden
Norman Alden, born Norman Adelberg on September 13, 1924, was an American character actor who entertained audiences for nearly 50 years with his diverse and memorable performances. Standing at a height of 5 feet 11 inches (1.80m), he possessed a presence that could be both commanding and warm, depending on the role. Alden discovered his passion for acting while attending Texas Christian University, where he participated in on-campus theater productions. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he pursued a career in acting, landing his first television appearance in 1957 on The 20th Century Fox Hour. Throughout his career, Alden amassed an impressive filmography, appearing in dozens of television shows and films. He became known for a wide range of roles, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. Some of his most notable performances include Kranix and Arblus in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Dr. Linstrom in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), the voice of Kay in The Sword in the Stone (1963), and guest appearances in popular shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone. Alden continued to work steadily until his retirement in 2006. He left behind a legacy of diverse and memorable performances, proving his talent as a true character actor.
Known For
Credits
- 2009 ยทLooking Back to the Futureas Self
- 2006 ยทLooking Back at the Futureas Himself
- 2002 ยทNight of the Wolfas Carl Casey
- 1998 ยทPatch Adamsas Truck Driver
- 1996 ยทTracey Takes On...as
- 1995 ยทJAGas Mr. Platt
- 1994 ยทEd Woodas Cameraman Bill (uncredited)
- 1992 ยทBodies of Evidenceas
- 1989 ยทRoller Blade Warriors: Taken by Forceas Bartender
- 1989 ยทCutting Classas Officer Fondulac
- 1989 ยทMan Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murdersas Chief of Police
- 1988 ยทTV 101as Ralphie
- 1988 ยทThey Liveas Foreman
- 1988 ยทLady Mobsteras Sal Borolo
- 1988 ยทMan Against the Mobas Capt. Necker
- 1987 ยทOff the Markas Coach Elam
- 1987 ยท21 Jump Streetas
- 1987 ยทDestination: Americaas Tom Beller
- 1986 ยทSunday Driveas Norman
- 1986 ยทSledge Hammer!as Roscoe
- 1986 ยทThe Transformers: The Movieas Kranix (voice)
- 1986 ยทThe Hogan Familyas
- 1985 ยทBack to the Futureas Lou
- 1985 ยทHeart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Storyas Ray Arcel
- 1985 ยทCalifornia Girlsas Mr. Pegem
- 1984 ยทMurder, She Wroteas Mercer Hawthorne
- 1984 ยทMurder, She Wroteas Bart Klapper
- 1984 ยทHunteras Jerry Walsh
- 1984 ยทHunteras Mike, Missing Persons
- 1984 ยทHunteras Mike, Missing Persons (uncredited)
- 1983 ยทHardcastle and McCormickas
- 1983 ยทWebsteras
- 1983 ยทThe A-Teamas Ed Maloney
- 1983 ยทThe A-Teamas Mickey Stern
- 1982 ยทMatt Houstonas
- 1982 ยทSilver Spoonsas
- 1982 ยทCagney & Laceyas Dan Cobbin
- 1982 ยทDesperate Livesas Coach
- 1981 ยทFalcon Crestas Det. Bitterman
- 1981 ยทThe Fall Guyas
- 1981 ยทCode Redas Robert Melton
- 1981 ยทNero Wolfeas
- 1981 ยทHill Street Bluesas Art Eastland
- 1980 ยทBorderlineas Willie Lambert
- 1980 ยทBack to the Planet of the Apesas Zako
- 1980 ยทEnosas
- 1980 ยทCloud Danceras Dr. Putman
- 1980 ยทFlamingo Roadas Pete
- 1980 ยทStoneas
- 1979 ยทCalifornia Feveras
- 1979 ยทTrapper John, M.D.as
- 1979 ยทThe Facts of Lifeas
- 1979 ยทSamuraias Lt. Al DeNisco
- 1979 ยทNo Other Loveas Les Hollister
- 1978 ยทVega$as
- 1978 ยทDallasas Senator Orloff
- 1978 ยทRing of Passionas Max Machon
- 1977 ยทWhat Really Happened To the Class Of '65?as
- 1977 ยทSemi-Toughas Coach Alvin Parks
- 1977 ยทThe Love Boatas Ralph
- 1977 ยทYoung Dan'l Booneas
- 1977 ยทThe All-New Super Friends Houras
- 1977 ยทI Never Promised You a Rose Gardenas McPherson
- 1977 ยทEight Is Enoughas
- 1977 ยทHunteras
- 1976 ยทQuincy, M.E.as
- 1976 ยทCharlie's Angelsas Louis Fluellen
- 1976 ยทCharlie's Angelsas P. J. Wilkes
- 1976 ยทCharlie's Angelsas Jake Barnett
- 1976 ยทElectra Woman and Dyna Girlas Professor Frank Heflin
- 1976 ยทAliceas
- 1976 ยทMary Hartman, Mary Hartmanas Coach Leroy Fedders
- 1975 ยทOne Day at a Timeas
- 1975 ยทStarsky & Hutchas
- 1975 ยทSwitchas Barney
- 1975 ยทFayas Al Cassidy
- 1975 ยทBronkas
- 1974 ยทTerror on the 40th Flooras Capt. Parker
- 1974 ยทThe Rockford Filesas Roland Eddy
- 1974 ยทPlanet of the Apesas
- 1974 ยทThe Manhunteras
- 1974 ยทDevlinas
- 1974 ยทCry Panicas Doc Potter
- 1973 ยทKojakas Foster
- 1973 ยทSuper Friendsas
- 1973 ยทSuper Friendsas Aquaman (voice)
- 1972 ยทKung Fuas Sheriff Crossman
- 1972 ยทThe Streets of San Franciscoas
- 1972 ยทThe Streets of San Franciscoas Sgt. Dan Healy
- 1972 ยทThe Rookiesas
- 1972 ยทKansas City Bomberas Horrible Hank Hopkins
- 1972 ยทWhere Does It Hurt?as Katzen
- 1972 ยทBenas Policeman
- 1972 ยทStand Up and Be Countedas Businessman
- 1971 ยทThe Trackersas Pete Dilworth
- 1971 ยทMcMillan & Wifeas Randy Baine
- 1971 ยทOwen Marshall: Counselor at Lawas Henry Grover
- 1971 ยทCannonas
- 1971 ยทCannonas Mitchell
- 1970 ยทThe Psychiatrist: God Bless the Childrenas Sheriff Glenn
- 1970 ยทDan Augustas Benjamin Marsh
- 1970 ยทTora! Tora! Tora!as Major Truman Landon
- 1969 ยทThe Pigeonas Carl
- 1969 ยทLove, American Styleas Paul
- 1969 ยทLove, American Styleas Barry
- 1969 ยทLove, American Styleas Bernie
- 1969 ยทTo Rome with Loveas
- 1969 ยทMedical Centeras
- 1969 ยทThe Great Bank Robberyas The Great Gregory - Balloonist
- 1969 ยทAll the Loving Couplesas Mitch Burnett
- 1968 ยทKillers Threeas Guthrie
- 1968 ยทThe Mod Squadas
- 1968 ยทThe Mod Squadas Parker
- 1968 ยทAdam-12as Sgt. Hardwick
- 1968 ยทAdam-12as Charley Baker
- 1968 ยทHawaii Five-Oas Cameron
- 1968 ยทThe Devil's Brigadeas MP Lieutenant
- 1968 ยทFever Heatas Herbert Hupgrove
- 1967 ยทMannixas
- 1967 ยทMannixas Travers
- 1967 ยทThe Danny Thomas Houras Marshak
- 1967 ยทThe Guns of Will Sonnettas
- 1967 ยทGood Timesas Warren
- 1967 ยทFirst to Fightas Sergeant Schmidtmer
- 1967 ยทRangoas
- 1966 ยทFamily Affairas
- 1966 ยทRun, Buddy, Runas
- 1966 ยทThe Wild Angelsas Medic
- 1966 ยทBatmanas Henchman #1
- 1965 ยทRed Line 7000as Pat
- 1965 ยทThe F.B.I.as Norman Frome
- 1965 ยทThe F.B.I.as Worth
- 1965 ยทHogan's Heroesas Sergeant Krebs
- 1965 ยทHoney Westas Ben Fancher
- 1965 ยทHoney Westas Artie Dixon
- 1965 ยทThe Big Valleyas Jeff Bowden
- 1965 ยทAndyas Andy Chadakis
- 1964 ยทThe Cara Williams Showas
- 1964 ยทThe Patsyas Bully at the Gym
- 1964 ยทMan's Favorite Sport?as John Screaming Eagle
- 1963 ยทThe Sword in the Stoneas Kay (voice)
- 1963 ยทMy Favorite Martianas Detective Harris
- 1963 ยทThe Travels of Jaimie McPheetersas Broken Mouth
- 1963 ยทBurke's Lawas Mark Hodges
- 1963 ยทTemple Houstonas Carlton Owens
- 1963 ยทThe Nutty Professoras Football Player
- 1963 ยทThe Dakotasas
- 1962 ยทCombat!as Pfc. Cooper
- 1962 ยทCombat!as Pvt. Buford
- 1962 ยทSaints and Sinnersas Frank Donelli
- 1961 ยทEvergladesas
- 1961 ยทBen Caseyas
- 1961 ยทDr. Kildareas Bernie (uncredited)
- 1961 ยทCain's Hundredas Fred Jackson
- 1961 ยทSecret of Deep Harboras Barney Haines
- 1961 ยทPortrait of a Mobsteras Bo Wetzel
- 1961 ยทOperation Bottleneckas Cpl. Lester 'Merc' Davenport
- 1960 ยทThe Andy Griffith Showas Tom Strongbow
- 1960 ยทThe Andy Griffith Showas Hank
- 1960 ยทThe Walking Targetas Sam Russo
- 1960 ยทMy Three Sonsas
- 1959 ยทMr. Luckyas
- 1959 ยทMr. Luckyas Devil
- 1959 ยทNot for Hireas
- 1959 ยทThe Untouchablesas Barry Carlton
- 1959 ยทThe Untouchablesas John Henry Whitmore
- 1959 ยทPhilip Marloweas
- 1959 ยทHenneseyas
- 1959 ยทBonanzaas Teller
- 1959 ยทThe Lawless Yearsas
- 1958 ยท77 Sunset Stripas Rene
- 1958 ยทMan with a Cameraas
- 1958 ยทWestinghouse Desilu Playhouseas
- 1958 ยทLawmanas Charley - Townsman
- 1958 ยทThe Riflemanas Duff
- 1958 ยทThe Texanas Ryan
- 1957 ยทLeave It to Beaveras Water Dept. Worker
- 1957 ยทPerry Masonas Darrel Reed
- 1957 ยทThe Thin Manas
- 1957 ยทRichard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Ben Regan
- 1957 ยทPanic!as
- 1955 ยทThe 20th Century Fox Houras Frank Fallom
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Purlie Loftus
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Deke Franklin
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Berber
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Amos Potter
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Tom Hart
- 1955 ยทThe Life and Legend of Wyatt Earpas Johnny Ringo
- 1954 ยทThe Adventures of Rin Tin Tinas
- 1954 ยทThe Adventures of Rin Tin Tinas Black Cloud
- 1954 ยทLassieas
- 1950 ยทThe Jack Benny Programas Man with iron bar