Sebouh Der Abrahamian (July 14, 1924 – December 12, 2009), known professionally as Val Avery, was an American character actor. In a career that spanned 50 years, he appeared in over 100 films and had appearances in over 300 television episodes. He was known as a frequent collaborator of John Cassavetes.
Early life and education Avery was born in Philadelphia to Armenian parents Megerdich and Arousiag Der Abrahamian. His father was from Sebastia and moved to the United States in 1907. His paternal grandfather, Bedros Der Abrahamian, a priest at the Church of the Holy Mother of God in Sebastia, was killed during the Armenian genocide.
In his early years, Avery acted in plays with the Armenian Youth Federation. After serving in the United States Army Air Forces as a flight instructor during World War II, he attended the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia.
Career Avery was frequently cast as tough or low-class types, such as policemen, thugs, mobsters, bartenders, and blue-collar workers.
He had television roles in The Twilight Zone episode "The Night of the Meek" (1960), and in four Columbo episodes: "A Friend in Deed" (1974), "Dead Weight" (1971), "The Most Crucial Game" (1972), and "Identity Crisis" (1975). Avery's other television appearances include The Untouchables; The Fugitive; Gunsmoke (“The Lure”, 1967); The Asphalt Jungle; The Investigators; Mission: Impossible; Daniel Boone; The Munsters; Mannix; The Odd Couple; Kojak; Quincy, M.E.; Friday the 13th: The Series; Cannon and Law & Order.
Avery made his film debut with an uncredited role in The Harder They Fall (1956), the last film of Humphrey Bogart. Avery appeared in five John Cassavetes films: Too Late Blues (1961), Faces (1968), Minnie and Moskowitz (1971), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976), and Gloria (1980). His many film credits also include The Long, Hot Summer (1958), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), Hud (1963), Papillon (1973), The Wanderers (1979), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), Cobra (1986), and Donnie Brasco (1997).
On Broadway, Avery appeared in a successful 1969–70 revival of The Front Page.
Personal life Avery and actress Margot Stevenson were married from 1953 until his death. Their daughter, Margot Avery, is also an actress.
Death Avery died on December 12, 2009, at age 85 in his home in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1956 The Harder They Fall Frank Uncredited 1957 Edge of the City Brother 1958 The Long, Hot Summer Wilk Uncredited King Creole Ralph 1959 Last Train from Gun Hill Steve 1960 The Magnificent Seven Henry 1961 Too Late Blues Milt Frielobe 1962 Requiem for a Heavyweight Promoter 1963 Hud Jose Love with the Proper Stranger Stein Uncredited 1965 Sylvia Pudgey Smith The Hallelujah Trail Denver Bartender Satan's Bed Unknown 1966 Wild Wild Winter Fox Nevada Smith Buck Mason Assault on a Queen Trench 1967 Hombre Delgado 1968 Faces Jim McCarthy No Way to Treat a Lady The Bartender Uncredited The Pink Jungle Rodriguez The Brotherhood Jake Rotherman 1969 Machine Gun McCain Chuck Regan A Dream of Kings Fatsas 1970 The Traveling Executioner Jake 1971 Vanishing Point Police Officer Uncredited The Anderson Tapes Rocco "Socks" Parelli Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! The Marshal Minnie and Moskowitz Zelmo Swift 1972 The Legend of Hillbilly John Shull Cobart 1973 Black Caesar Cardoza Papillon Pascal The Laughing Policeman Inspector John Pappas 1975 Russian Roulette Rudolph Henke Let's Do It Again Lieutenant Bottomley Lucky Lady Dolph 1976 The Killing of a Chinese Bookie Blair Benoit Harry and Walter Go to New York Chatsworth 1977 Heroes Bus Driver 1978 Up in Smoke Factory Boss 1979 Love and Bullets Caruso The Wanderers Mr. Sharp The Amityville Horror Sergeant Gionfriddo 1980 Brubaker Wendel Gloria Sill 1981 The Chosen Teacher Continental Divide Alderman Yablonowitz Choices Coach Rizzo Sharky's Machine Manny 1982 Assignment Berlin Talaat Pasha Jinxed! Milt Hawkins 1983 The Sting II O'Malley Easy Money Louie 1984 The Pope of Greenwich Village Nunzi 1985 Too Scared to Scream Dr. Richards 1986 Cobra Chief Halliwell The Messenger Clark 1997 Donnie Brasco Santo Trafficante Jr. 1999 A Fish in the Bathtub Abe 2001 In the Shadows Carlo Pierazzi 2004 Blueberry Judge
Television Year Title Role Notes 1953 Lux Video Theatre Hank Episode: "One for the Road" 1954–56 The Big Story Informer 2 episodes 1955 Robert Montgomery Presents Philip Reilly Episode: "The Tall Dark Man" 1956–58 Kraft Television Theatre John Hardy / Mauck 2 episodes Playhouse 90 The Bartender 2 episodes 1956–61 Armstrong Circle Theatre Various roles 9 episodes 1957 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Carson Episode: "Proud Woman" 1957–69 Gunsmoke Various roles 4 episodes 1958 The Investigator 2 episodes 1959 The Lineup Episode: "The Frederick Freemont Case" Border Patrol "Waxey" Walters Episode: "In a Deadly Fashion" Peter Gunn Hoodlum Episode: "Protection" Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Sheriff Jenkins Episode: "Goodbye, Al" Johnny Staccato Corky Lewis Episode: "Viva, Paco!" The Lawless Years "Bobo" Koening Episode: "The Billy Boy 'Rockabye' Creel Story" The Play of the Week Police Chief Episode: "The Power and the Glory" 1960 The Untouchables Frank Salinas, Johnny 2 episodes Bonanza Sheriff Trev Kincaid Episode: "Breed of Violence" Hong Kong Michael Fortune Episode: "The Turncoat" The Twilight Zone The Bartender Episode: "The Night of the Meek" 1961 Tales of Wells Fargo Frank "Bully" Armstrong Episode: "Town Against a Man" Have Gun – Will Travel B.J. Throckton Episode: "The Gold Bar" Rawhide Sheriff S3:E28, "Incident of the Blackstorms" The Asphalt Jungle The Big Fellow Episode: "The Dark Night" The Investigators Phil Bledsoe Episode: "Something for Charity" 1961–63 The Defenders Various roles 3 episodes 1962 The Everglades Pops, Harry Conlin 2 episodes 1963 Naked City Franko Episode: "Beyond This Place There Be Dragons" The Doctors and the Nurses Charman Tompkins Episode: "Strike" 1963–64 East Side/West Side Lieutenant Al Costello 5 episodes 1964 The Reporter Pete Krenek Episode: "How Much for a Prince?" Mr. Broadway Detective Episode: "Smelling Like a Rose" 1964–65 The Munsters The Commissar, Marty 2 episodes 1965 Kraft Suspense Theatre Various roles 3 episodes Slattery's People Lou Teller Episode: "Question: Does Nero Still at Ringside Sit?" Peyton Place Boudreau Episode: #1.81 Daniel Boone Watowah Episode: "The Old Man and the Cave" Get Smart KAOS Agent #1 Episode: "Now You See Him, Now You Don't" Honey West Roger Episode: "A Neat Little Package" 1965–67 The Fugitive Various roles 4 episodes 1966 The Virginian Jim Sunderland Episode: "Harvest of Strangers" Run for Your Life 2nd Man Episode: "Night Train from Chicago" Felony Squad Gene Hardy Episode: "Strike Out" I Spy Josef Episode: "Will the Real Good Guys Please Stand Up?" Laredo Sheriff Jonathan Daniels Episode: "Road to San Remo" 1966–67 The Wild Wild West Brad Logan, John Crane 2 episodes 1966–74 The F.B.I. Various roles 4 episodes 1967 Dragnet 1967 Phil Masturian Episode: "The Big Explosion" The Invaders Manager Episode: "The Mutation" Iron Horse Grimes Episode: "The Passenger" Mr. Terrific Leo Episode: "Stanley the Track Star" CBS Playhouse McDermott Episode: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" 1968 Lancer Wade Hackett Episode: "Julie" Judd, for the Defense John Rowan Episode: "A Swim with Sharks" N.Y.P.D. Walter Carney Episode: "The Love Hustle" 1968–71 The Mod Squad Briggs, "Turk" 2 episodes 1968–72 Mission: Impossible Various roles 4 episodes 1969 My Friend Tony Episode: "Let George Do It" 1970 Dan August Russ Carter Episode: "The Murder of a Small Town" The Name of the Game Mike Episode: "Cynthia Is Alive and Living in Avalon" The Bold Ones: The Lawyers Lieutenant Aram Makarian Episode: "Panther in a Cage" 1970–74 Mannix Various roles 4 episodes 1971 Monty Nash Luis Perez / Man 2 episodes The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Victor Corso Episode: "The Convicts" 1971–72 McCloud Walter McKay, Gruber 2 episodes 1971–75 Columbo Various roles 4 episodes 1972 Nichols Jasper 2 episodes 1972–73 Ironside McKay, Arnie Hummel 2 episodes 1972–74 Cannon Leo Crothers, Pawnshop Owner 2 episodes 1973 Madigan Augie Episode: "The Park Avenue Beat" Shaft Captain Rigano Episode: "The Killing" The Odd Couple Elmo Episode: "A Barnacle Adventure" 1973–74 Barnaby Jones Andy Burns 4 episodes Police Story Sergeant Mahler, Steve 2 episodes 1974 Kojak George Janis Episode: "Marker to a Dead Bookie" 1975 Archer Joe Mengers Episode: "Blood Money" McCoy "Turk" Episode: "Double Take" 1976–77 Baretta Ray Carmona, Pogo 2 episodes 1976–78 Switch Rosie Finniston, Irving Munn 2 episodes 1977 Starsky & Hutch Captain Ryan Episode: "Starsky and Hutch Are Guilty" The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Tracy, Skipper 2 episodes Man from Atlantis Lew Episode: "C.W. Hyde" 1977–81 Quincy, M.E. Various roles 4 episodes 1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Bearded Man In Suit Episode: "What're Girls Like You Doing in a Bank Like This?" 1984 Hardcastle and McCormick Willie Lerner Episode: "It Coulda Been Worse, She Coulda Been a Welder" 1987 Cagney & Lacey Rekubian Episode: "Favors" 1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Russ Sharko Episode: "Badge of Honor" 1989 Men Burt Episode: "Cupid Ms...Takes" Moonlighting Mr. Viola Episode: "In 'N Outlaws" Hunter Ray Sullivan Episode: "Ring of Honor" 1991–96 Law & Order Max Schaeffer, Dan Magadan Sr. 2 episodes 1992 Counterstrike Morey Lempke Episode: "No Honour Among Thieves" Secret Service Moe Episode: "It's in the Mail/Counterfeit Murder" Civil Wars Sol Lobell Episode: "The Old Man and the 'C'" 2001 100 Centre Street Sal Gentle Episode: "Queenie and Joe"
Television films, miniseries, and specials Year Title Role Notes 1957 There Shall Be No Night Gus Shuman 1960 Cradle Song The Driver 1961 The Power and the Glory 1966 The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones Morgan 1971 A Tattered Web Sergeant Harry Barnes 1973 Firehouse Sonny Caputo 1973 Blood Sport Frank Dorsdale 1975 The Law Ouspensky 1977 Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? Chuck Voit 1984 The Streets Whitcomb 1985 Out of the Darkness Guido Pressano 1986 Courage Pete Solto 1992 Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story Salerno 1994 Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker General William T. Sherman 1997 Gold Coast Jimmy Capp
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