John Bramwell Alderson (10 April 1916 – 4 August 2006) was an English actor noted for playing the lead in the 1957–58 syndicated western television series, Boots and Saddles, which ran for thirty-eight episodes in a single season, and many supporting roles in films in a career spanning almost forty years, from 1951 to 1990.
Alderson was cast as the rugged trail guide Hugh Glass, an historical figure, in the 1966 episode "Hugh Glass Meets the Bear" of the syndicated series, Death Valley Days. Others in the episode were Morgan Woodward as Thomas Fitzpatrick, Victor French as Louis Baptiste and Tris Coffin.
Biography
Alderson was born to a mining family in the village of Horden, County Durham, England. After a brief teenage career at the colliery he opted to instead join the Royal Artillery, rising to the rank of Major. Upon leaving the services he married a United States citizen and immigrated to the US, where he began his acting career.Sunderland EchoNorthern Echo
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1951The HighwaymanBritish SoldierUncredited1951The Desert Fox: The Story of RommelGerman Sergeant / Hospital StafferUncredited1952Plymouth AdventureSalterneUncredited1952Against All FlagsJonathan Harris1953The Desert RatsCorporalUncredited1953Julius CaesarCitizen of RomeUncredited1953South Sea WomanFitzroy – Baritone1954Knock on WoodEnglish BobbyUncredited1954Casanova's Big NightOutside GuardUncredited1954Living It UpYankee CatcherUncredited1954King Richard and the CrusadersMob LeaderUncredited1955Violent SaturdayAmish Farmer on TrainUncredited1955MoonfleetGreening1955The Scarlet CoatMr. Durkin1955To Catch a ThiefDetective at the Costume BallUncredited1955Target ZeroCorporal Devon Enoch1957Spoilers of the ForestBig Jack Milna1957Shoot-Out at Medicine BendClyde Walters1957Something of ValuePolicemanUncredited1957The Last Stagecoach WestAngus MacKendrick1957Don't Go Near the WaterLieutenant Commander Diplock1958The Young LionsCorporal KrausUncredited1958Wolf LarsenJohnson1959No Name on the BulletChaffee1960The BarbariansCarthaginean Officer1961Romanoff and JulietRandle Wix1963The HookCrewman Svenson1963Donovan's ReefOfficerUncredited1963CleopatraRoman OfficerUncredited1964My Fair LadyJamie – Doolittle's cronyUncredited1965Strange BedfellowsTruck DriverUncredited1965The War LordHolbracht1966I Deal in DangerGorleck1967Double TroubleIceman1968HellfightersJim Hatch1970The Molly MaguiresJenkins1970You Can't Win 'Em AllU.S. Army Major1971The DeserterO'Toole1972Top of the HeapCaptain Walsh1972Fear Is the KeyTannerUncredited1974Blazing SaddlesGum ChewerUncredited1974The KlansmanVernon Hodo1976The Duchess and the Dirtwater FoxTrent1977ValentinoCop1977CandleshoeJenkins1978The Cat from Outer SpaceMr. Smith1978The Wild GeeseRandy1979SunnysideJack Flynn1981RagtimeWaldo's Aide No. 11982Evil Under the SunPolice Sergeant1986The American WayColonel Sanders1987The Beiderbecke TapesTracy1990Young Guns IIGuano Miner(final film role)
Selected television appearances
Gunsmoke (1955) – Nash Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 31: "The Gentleman From America") – Attendant Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 3 Episode 34: "The Crocodile Case") – Inspector Karsiak Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1958–1959, Episodes: "The Swamp Fox" and "Texas John Slaughter") – Sergeant Duncan MacGregor / Sergeant McDonald Yancy Derringer (1958) – Marble Fingers Black Saddle (1959) – Big Sam Davis Lawman (1959) – Jack Brace Border Patrol (1959) – Curley Colt .45 (1959) – Captain Hudson's Bay (1959) – Boggs Adventures in Paradise (1960–1961) – Sean Casey / Darcy / Palsson / Harry Pine Follow the Sun (1961) – Mervin Taggert Have Gun – Will Travel (1958–1962) – Rusty Doggett / Max Clay Maverick (1959–1962) – Simon Girty / Captain Bly / Zindler / Ben Chapman Tales of Wells Fargo (1960–1962) – Gage / Clay Arvin Bronco (1962) – Francis Randolph Going My Way (1963) – Mr. Larkin Gunsmoke (1955–1963) – Canby / Ab Laster / Nash Arrest and Trial (1963) – Bartender The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964) (Season 2 Episode 18: "Final Escape") – The 3rd Guard Combat! (1964) – (Season 2 Episodes 25 & 26: What Are the Bugles Blowing For Parts 1 and 2) Sergeant Rawlings The Rogues (1965) – Bill Bonanza (1961–1966) – Hugh Gwylnedd / Montague Blue Light (1966) – Gorlek / Gorleck Play of the Month (1996) - Richard Edward Snyder Doctor Who (1966, in the serial The Gunfighters) – Wyatt Earp Death Valley Days (1964–1966) – John Tunstall / Hank Butterford / Hugh Glass / Joe Meek / Big Mac Time Tunnel (1966 TV series) – Season 1 Episode 16 – The Revenge of Robin Hood as Little John The Wild Wild West (1967) – Clive Marchmount The Guns of Will Sonnett (1968) – Sheriff Mission: Impossible (1970) – Follet The Persuaders! (1971) – Kyle Sandor Rod Serling's Night Gallery (1972) – Granger (segment "Lindemann's Catch") Philip Marlowe, Private Eye (1983) – Gaff Talley
In 1966, the first four episodes of Blue Light were edited together to create the theatrical film I Deal in Danger. Alderson's Blue Light appearance was included in the film.
References
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