Howard Freeman

Howard Freeman

Deceased · Born: Dec 9, 1895 · Died: Dec 11, 1967

1951
1948
1947
1946
1944
1943

Personal Details

BornDec 9, 1895 Ravenna, Ohio, USA
Spouse
  • Ruth Dibble

    ( Dec 31, 1969 to Dec 11, 1967 )
  • Adele Packard Vaughan

    ( Sep 8, 1914 to Nov 30, 2025 )

Biography

Howard Freeman, a seasoned thespian with a profound understanding of the theatrical arts, embarked on a cinematic journey in 1942, marking the beginning of a remarkable 23-year tenure in the film industry. Noted for his versatility and ability to bring depth to a wide range of characters, Freeman's extensive experience on the stage served as a solid foundation for his subsequent success on the big screen.

Throughout his illustrious career, Freeman consistently demonstrated a knack for imbuing his characters with a sense of authority and gravitas, often taking on roles that required him to portray oily businessmen, pompous government officials, gruff fathers, or neighborhood busybodies. However, his talent for comedic timing and ability to inject a touch of humor into even the most serious of scenes allowed him to add a layer of complexity and nuance to his performances.

One of his most notable roles was in the critically acclaimed film "The Snake Pit" (1948),where he brought a sense of gravitas and authority to the screen as a pompous government official. His ability to convey a sense of menace and foreboding through his portrayal of this character added depth and tension to the film, cementing his status as a talented and reliable character actor.

Career

1965
Dear Brigitte
Dear Brigitte as Dean Sawyer
1953
Remains to Be Seen
Remains to Be Seen as Cecil Clark
Scaramouche
Scaramouche as Michael Vanneau
1951
Double Dynamite
Double Dynamite as R.B. Pulsifer Sr.
1950
Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers as Arthur Timkin
1949
Take One False Step
Take One False Step as Dr. Markheim
Chicago Deadline
Chicago Deadline as Hotspur Shaner
1948
Up in Central Park
Up in Central Park as Myron Schultz
The Snake Pit
The Snake Pit as Dr. Curtis
Arthur Takes Over
Arthur Takes Over as Bert Bixby
Summer Holiday
Summer Holiday as Mr. Peabody
If You Knew Susie
If You Knew Susie as Mr. Hancock Otis Clinton
Cry of the City
Cry of the City as Sullivan the Drunk
The Time of Your Life
The Time of Your Life as Society Gentleman
1947
The Long Night
The Long Night as Sheriff Ned Meade
Cigarette Girl
Cigarette Girl as B.J. Halstead
California
California as Sen. Creel
The Perfect Marriage
The Perfect Marriage as Peter Haggerty
Magic Town
Magic Town as Nickleby
1946
Inside Job
Inside Job as Trent W. Winkle
House of Horrors
House of Horrors as Hal Ormiston
Abilene Town
Abilene Town as Ed Balder
Cross My Heart
Cross My Heart as Wallace Brent
Monsieur Beaucaire
Monsieur Beaucaire as King Philip II
The Killers
The Killers as Brentwood Police Chief (uncredited)
1945
A Song to Remember
A Song to Remember as Friedrich Kalkbrenner
That Night with You
That Night with You as Wilbur Weedy
Mexicana
Mexicana as Beagle
This Love of Ours
This Love of Ours as Dr. Barnes
1944
Secret Command
Secret Command as Max Lessing
Rationing
Rationing as Cash Riddle
Carolina Blues
Carolina Blues as Tom Gordon
Meet the People
Meet the People as George Peetwick
Dancing in Manhattan
Dancing in Manhattan as George Hartley
The Mark of the Whistler
The Mark of the Whistler as M.K. Simmons (uncredited)
Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time as McKenzie (uncredited)
1943
Margin for Error
Margin for Error as Otto Horst
Hitler's Madman
Hitler's Madman as Heinrich Himmler
Air Raid Wardens
Air Raid Wardens as J.P. Norton
Pilot #5
Pilot #5 as Hank Durban
Lost Angel
Lost Angel as Professor Richards
Girl Crazy
Girl Crazy as Governor Tait
Madame Curie
Madame Curie as Prof. Constant (voice) (uncredited)