Joseph Sweeney (July 26, 1884 – November 25, 1963) was an American actor who worked in stage productions, television and movies principally in the 1950s, often playing grandfatherly roles. His best-known role was as the elderly Juror #9 in the 1957 classic 12 Angry Men, the role he originated in a 1954 Westinghouse Studio One live teleplay of which the film was an adaptation.
Early life Born in Philadelphia on 26 July 1884, he was raised in a rooming house in the same place with W. C. Fields.
Career In 1910 he started on an acting career and moved to Broadway, being fully active on-stage and touring throughout the United States. Sweeney debuted on stage in stock theater with a company in Norwich, Connecticut.
He had a successful career as a stage performer in such productions as The Clansmen, George Washington Slept Here, Ladies and Gentlemen, A Slight Case of Murder, Dear Old Darlin, and Days To Remember. In the 1940s, he made the switch to television as audiences' interests changed. He returned to the stage in 1953 to portray Giles Corey in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.The Crucible, Bantam Book edition, 1959 at page xiii
In 1949 he was a regular on the CBS series Wesley, and between 1950 and 1960 he appeared in leading and supporting roles and in installments of Lights Out, Kraft Television Theatre, The Philco Television Playhouse, Campbell Television Soundstage, Studio One, Producers' Showcase, Playwrights '56, The U.S. Steel Hour, The Defenders, Car 54, Where Are You?, and Dr. Kildare.
His most important performance in television was Twelve Angry Men (1954), by Reginald Rose. Sweeney played Juror #9, a.k.a. Mr. McCardle, and later repeated the role in Sidney Lumet film adaption alongside Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb and Jack Warden. He also played crafty and villainous roles, such as the larcenous former household employee in The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) or The Fastest Gun Alive (1956).
Death Sweeney continued to act until the time of his death on 25 November 1963 at the age of 79, appearing in numerous television shows and programs that year alone, including at least in more than a dozen during the last year of his life.
Filmography Television +Year(s)TitleRoleNotes1949WesleyWesley's Grandfather 1952 Studio One Dr. Wall "Plan for Escape" (TV episode) 1953 Studio One "Music and Mrs. Pratt" (TV episode) 1954 Studio One Juror No. 9 "Twelve Angry Men" (TV episode) 1954 Studio One Janitor "12:32 A.M." (TV episode) 1955 Studio One Father Durand "Summer Pavilion" (TV episode) 1955 Studio One Charlie "A Terrible Day" (TV episode) 1955 Studio One Vernon "The Prince and the Puppet" (TV episode) 1955 Studio One Mr. Sweeney "Three Empty Rooms" (TV episode) 1956 Studio One Charlie "A Man's World" (TV episode)1957 Father Knows Best Mr. Boomhauer Season 4 Episode 3 - The Good Neighbor1961Naked CityJacob S. MorelandSeason 3 Episode 12 - Bridge Party1963Car 54, Where Are You?The Judge / A.E. Van Cleve / Jim McNaughton4 Episodes
Films +YearTitleRoleNotes1918Sylvia on a SpreeA Pal of Jack's1936Soak the Rich Capt. Pettijohn, 1st detective1940The Philadelphia Story Butler (uncredited)1950Outside the Wall Prison Hospital Inmate (uncredited)1956The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Edward M. Schultz1956The Fastest Gun Alive Reverend195712 Angry MenJuror No. 9 / McCardle
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