Whit Bissell

Whit Bissell

Deceased · Born: Oct 25, 1909 · Died: Mar 5, 1996

Personal Details

BornOct 25, 1909 New York City, New York, USA
Spouse
  • Jennifer Raine

    ( Nov 24, 1967 to Jan 5, 1993 )
  • Dilys Mary Shan Jukes

    ( Dec 5, 1954 to Jan 11, 1958 )
  • Adrienne Marden

    ( Nov 23, 1938 to Sep 17, 1953 )
Parents
  • James Dougal Bissell
Relatives
  • Bradford Bissell (Sibling)

Biography

Whit Bissell, a renowned actor, embarked on a illustrious career in Hollywood during the 1940s, and upon his retirement, he had amassed an impressive portfolio of over 200 film credits and numerous television appearances. He is perhaps most famously recognized for his chilling portrayal of the sinister scientist who transformed Michael Landon into a half-beast in the 1957 cult classic, I Was a Teenage Werewolf.

Throughout his distinguished career, Bissell consistently demonstrated his versatility by specializing in a range of roles, including doctors, military officers, and other authoritative figures. On television, he maintained a recurring presence on the popular series Bachelor Father, which premiered in 1957, and The Time Tunnel, which debuted in 1966.

Beyond his impressive acting credits, Bissell played an active role in the film industry, serving as a member of the Screen Actors Guild board of directors for an impressive 18 years. He also represented the actors branch in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors, further solidifying his status as a respected and influential figure within the industry.

Career

1991
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook as Prof. Frankenstein (archive footage)
1982
Aliens from Another Planet
Aliens from Another Planet as Army Lt. Gen. Heywood Kirk
1978
The Time Machine
The Time Machine as Ralph Branly
Casey's Shadow
Casey's Shadow as Dr. Williamson
1977
The Lincoln Conspiracy
The Lincoln Conspiracy as Sen. John Conness
Flood
Flood as Dr. Ted Horne
1975
Psychic Killer
Psychic Killer as Dr. Paul Taylor
1973
Cry Rape
Cry Rape as Judge Newcombe
Soylent Green
Soylent Green as Gov. Santini
1972
Pete 'n' Tillie
Pete 'n' Tillie as Funeral Minister
1971
City Beneath the Sea
City Beneath the Sea as Prof. Holmes
A Tattered Web
A Tattered Web as Mr. Harland
In Broad Daylight
In Broad Daylight as Capt. Moss
1970
Airport
Airport as Mr. Davidson
1969
1968
5 Card Stud
5 Card Stud as Dr. Cooper
1967
A Covenant with Death
A Covenant with Death as Bruce Donnelly
1966
The Time Tunnel
The Time Tunnel as General Heywood Kirk
Fluffy
Fluffy as Dr. Braden
1964
Advance to the Rear
Advance to the Rear as Capt. Queeg
Seven Days in May
Seven Days in May as Sen. Frederick Prentice
Where Love Has Gone
Where Love Has Gone as Professor Bell
1963
Spencer's Mountain
Spencer's Mountain as Dr. Campbell
Hud
Hud as Mr. Burris
1962
The Manchurian Candidate
The Manchurian Candidate as Medical Officer
1960
The Time Machine
The Time Machine as Walter Kemp
Never So Few
Never So Few as Capt. Alofson - Psychiatrist
Warlock
Warlock as Petrix
1958
Monster on the Campus
Monster on the Campus as Dr. Oliver Cole
1957
Johnny Tremain
Johnny Tremain as Josiah Quincy
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein as Prof. Frankenstein
The Tall Stranger
The Tall Stranger as Adam Judson
I Was a Teenage Werewolf
I Was a Teenage Werewolf as Dr. Alfred Brandon
The Wayward Girl
The Wayward Girl as Ira Molson
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral as 'Tombstone Epitaph' Editor John P. Clum
1956
Dakota Incident
Dakota Incident as Mark Chester
Man from Del Rio
Man from Del Rio as Breezy Morgan
The Proud Ones
The Proud Ones as Mr. Sam Bolton
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Invasion of the Body Snatchers as Emergency Room Psychiatrist
1955
At Gunpoint
At Gunpoint as Clem Clark
The Naked Street
The Naked Street as Dist. Atty. Blaker
The Desperate Hours
The Desperate Hours as FBI Agent Carson
Trial
Trial as Sam Wiltse
Not as a Stranger
Not as a Stranger as Dr. Dietrich
1954
The Atomic Kid
The Atomic Kid as Dr. Edgar Pangborn
The Caine Mutiny
The Caine Mutiny as Lt. Comdr. Dickson M.D.
1953
Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon as Virgil Gates
1952
Boots Malone
Boots Malone as Lou Dyer
Hoodlum Empire
Hoodlum Empire as Pickpocket
The Sellout
The Sellout as Wilfred Jackson
The Turning Point
The Turning Point as Buck (uncredited)
1951
Lost Continent
Lost Continent as Stanley Briggs
Sealed Cargo
Sealed Cargo as Schuster
Night Into Morning
Night Into Morning as Monument Salesman (uncredited)
The Family Secret
The Family Secret as Joe Elsner
The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage as Wounded Officer (uncredited)
1950
When Willie Comes Marching Home
When Willie Comes Marching Home as Lt. M.J. Hanley - Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Perfect Strangers
Perfect Strangers as Defense Attorney (uncredited)
A Life of Her Own
A Life of Her Own as Rental Agent (uncredited)
Side Street
Side Street as Harold Simpson (chief teller)
Convicted
Convicted as States Attorney Owens (uncredited)
1949
He Walked by Night
He Walked by Night as Paul Reeves
Anna Lucasta
Anna Lucasta as Stanley
Tokyo Joe
Tokyo Joe as Capt. Winnow (uncredited)
Raw Deal
Raw Deal as Murderer
Canon City
Canon City as Heilman
1947
A Double Life
A Double Life as Dr. Stauffer
The Sea of Grass
The Sea of Grass as Ted - the Clerk (uncredited)
Brute Force
Brute Force as Tom Lister
1946
It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog
It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog as Chester Frye (uncredited)
Somewhere in the Night
Somewhere in the Night as John (uncredited)
Cluny Brown
Cluny Brown as Archie
1945
The Horn Blows at Midnight
The Horn Blows at Midnight as Heavenly Piccolo Player (uncredited)
1944
Winged Victory
Winged Victory as Lt. Hudson
1943
Holy Matrimony
Holy Matrimony as Harry Leek (uncredited)
Destination Tokyo
Destination Tokyo as Yo Yo (uncredited)
1942
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon as London Bobbie (uncredited)
1940
The Sea Hawk
The Sea Hawk as Gate Guard at Palace Entrance