Here is the biography of Lionel Stander:
Lionel Stander was a movie character actor with a distinctive gravelly voice, born on January 11, 1908, in the Bronx, New York City. He began his acting career on stage, making his debut at the age of 19, and later transitioned to radio and film.
Stander's early film career was marked by his unique voice and physique, which led to roles as lovable hoodlums and henchmen. He starred in numerous two-reel comedy shorts and appeared in A-list features such as "Nothing Sacred" (1937).
Stander was an active member of the Communist Party and the Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing organizations fighting against fascism and reactionaries. He wrote about his experiences and the importance of organizing to combat the forces of reaction.
In the 1950s, Stander was blacklisted after being exposed as a Communist Party member during the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings. He was subpoenaed by HUAC and refused to cooperate, leading to his blacklisting and subsequent firing by his studio, Republic Pictures.
After being blacklisted, Stander worked as a broker on Wall Street and appeared on stage as a journeyman actor. He later returned to film, appearing in a range of roles, including "The Loved One" (1965),"Cul-de-sac" (1966),and "New York, New York" (1977).
Stander is best remembered for his role as Max on the TV series "Hart to Hart" (1979-1984) and its subsequent TV movies. He also appeared on other TV shows, including "It Takes a Thief" (1968) and "Dream On" (1990).
Lionel Stander passed away on November 30, 1994, at the age of 86, due to lung cancer.
