Howard David Wendell (January 2, 1908"Michigan, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJQ-8VJ5 : Fri Mar 08 16:53:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Howard David Wendell and Pit and Balcony Inc.. See also: "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V9QH-Z6X : 9 January 2021), Howard Wendell, Aug 1975; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing). – August 11, 1975) was an American actor.
Early life and career A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Wendell was one of two sons born to Irwin Wendell and Clara Heal."Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2QW7-3QT : Sun Mar 10 09:50:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Howard D Wendell and Harriet D Morley, 13 Sep 1937. By 1913, the family had relocated to Elyria, Ohio,"Society". The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. December 30, 2024. p. 2. Retrieved June 15, 2024. where his father found regular employment at Parsch Lumber and Coal Company,"Irwin Wendell, Parsch Employee for 26 Years". The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. December 18, 1945. p. 6. Retrieved June 15, 2024. first as a truck driver and later as the foreman at the lumber yard."United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD5B-QRJ : Sun Mar 10 19:56:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Irvin Wendell and Claire M Wendell, 1920."United States Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X447-YFW : Fri Mar 08 22:26:44 UTC 2024), Entry for Irvin Wendell and Clare Wendell, 1930. Wendell attended Ohio University and later apprenticed at the Cleveland Playhouse."Ohio Alumni Meet". Long Beach Independent. May 4, 1958. p. A-8. Retrieved June 14, 2024."Howard Wendel Forms a New Little Theater". The Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 8, 1937. p. 12-C. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
Wendell's Broadway credits include Make a Wish (1951), The Curious Savage (1950), Arms and the Man (1950), The Show Off (1950), and The Great Campaign (1947). He acted in the Santa Barbara Summer Theatre and in theaters in Hollywood, Phoenix, La Jolla, and San Francisco. He received a gold cup in recognition of being named as the actor with the best performance in 1946 at the Newport Casino Theatre in Rhode Island.
Between 1949 and 1970, Wendell made a number of film appearances but worked mostly on TV, in such programs as Dragnet, Perry Mason, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, The Texan (S1E13), Bonanza, Batman (season 1, episodes 3 and 4), The Munsters, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Leave it to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Hazel, and The Big Valley. His final appearance was in Adam-12.
Personal life and death From September 13, 1937, until their divorce in January 1968, Wendell was married to Harriet Morley,"California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPTR-ZXX : 15 May 2014), Harriet D Morley and Howard D Wendell, Jan 1968; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Santa Barbara, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento. whom he had met while apprenticing at the Cleveland Play House, where she was employed as a costumer. The union produced three sons and one daughter."Obituaries: Harriet Morley Wendell". The Cleveland Plain Dealer. July 10, 1981. p. 53. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
On August 11, 1975, at age 67, Wendell died of undisclosed causes at his home in Oregon City, survived by his wife, children and brother.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1952 You for Me Oliver Wherry 1952 Affair in Trinidad Anderson 1953 By the Light of the Silvery Moon John H. Harris 1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Watson 1953 The Big Heat Commissioner Higgins 1953 Captain Scarface Mr. Dilts 1954 Prince Valiant Morgan Todd 1954 The Black Dakotas Judge Horatio Baker 1954 Athena Mr. Grenville 1955 Wiretapper Prison Chaplain 1955 The View from Pompey's Head John Duncan 1955 The Fighting Chance Lucky Jim Morrison 1956 Never Say Goodbye Harry 1956 A Day of Fury Vanryzin 1956 Storm Center Sen. Bascomb 1958 Mardi Gras Howard Hansen Uncredited1959 The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker Sexton Uncredited1959 Stranger in My Arms Congressman 1959 It Happened to Jane Purchasing Uncredited1959 The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake Dr. George Bradford 1961 The Big Bankroll Mr. Simmons Uncredited1961 Sail a Crooked Ship Mr. Caldingham Uncredited1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour General Practitioner Season 1 Episode 22: "Diagnosis: Danger"1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mr. Flagstone Season 2 Episode 23: "A Matter of Murder"1964 Where Love Has Gone Mr. Carruthers Uncredited1965 How to Murder Your Wife The Trial Judge 1965 My Blood Runs Cold Mayor 1965 Mirage Bar Patron Uncredited1965 The Cincinnati Kid Charlie Uncredited1966 Frankie and Johnny Man at Table Uncredited1971 The Million Dollar Duck Roger - State Dept. Representative Uncredited, (final film role)
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