John Dehner was born on November 23, 1915 and was an American radio, film, and television actor who played countless roles, often as likeable villains. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in more than 260 films and television programs. Before acting, Dehner had worked as an animator for Walt Disney Studios (Burbank) and as a radio disc jockey. He was also a professional pianist. Born in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, Dehner had a long career as a radio actor, playing leading roles or supporting roles in series such as Gunsmoke and Philip Marlowe. He made his debut as Paladin in the radio version of Have Gun – Will Travel, one of the few occasions when a show that began on television was adapted for radio. In 1958, on CBS Radio, he starred in Frontier Gentleman, a Western series that began with a trumpet theme written by Jerry Goldsmith. The show was written and directed by Antony Ellis.
Dehner starred alongside Maudie Prickett in the 1953 episode “Bad Men of Marysville” in the western series The Adventures of Kit Carson, starring Bill Williams. He was a guest star in the 1955-1956 NBC western anthology series Frontier, as well as in the CBS Cold War drama Crusader, starring Brian Keith. He played Sheriff Henry Plummer in an episode of the 1954-1955 series Stories of the Century, with Jim Davis in the role of Matt Clark. In 1966, he played the killer “Iron Man” Torres in the episode “Night of the Steel Assassin” in the series The Wild Wild West, starring Robert Conrad.
Dehner gave two memorable performances in the ABC series Maverick (1957), starring James Garner, in the episodes “Shady Deal at Sunny Acres” and “Greenbacks, Unlimited.” He also played Pat Garrett in Gore Vidal's film adaptation of The Left-Handed Gun, starring Paul Newman as Billy the Kid. Dehner appeared in the film Scaramouche (1952) as Doutreval of Dijon, and played Mr. Bascombe, a non-singing character, in the 1956 film version of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical Carousel.
Dehner played Colonel Tedesco in the drama included in the anthology series Playhouse 90 The Killers of Mussolini, based on a story by A.E. Hotchner. Other TV appearances included three episodes of Hogan's Heroes, and in 1957 he worked on Texas Rangers with Gale Storm.
Dehner appeared in three episodes of The Twilight Zone: as Captain Allenby in “The Lonely” (1959); as an engineer who receives a curse in “The Jungle” (1961); and in a role in “Mr. Garrity and the Graves,” in the show's fifth and final season.
He also guest-starred in the episode “Three” of the crime series The Brothers Brannagan, starring Stephen Dunne and Mark Roberts, and played an old French general in an episode of the series Combat! titled “The General and the Sergeant.” During the same period, he worked on another short-lived series set in World War II, The Gallant Men, in the episode “A Moderately Quiet Sunday,” where he played a German captain.
Dehner appeared in several episodes of the series The Rifleman, playing different characters. He was also a guest star on the NBC show The Wide Country, a drama about rodeo competitors that aired in 1962-63. In an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, he played Colonel Harvey, and the following season he guest-starred in Jack Palance's circus-themed series for ABC, The Greatest Show on Earth, and in the CBS production Glynis, starring Glynis Johns and Keith Andes. Dehner was cast in the first season episode of F Troop “Honest Injun,” playing a crooked medicine man. In 1966, he guest-starred in the episode “Power of Fear” on Barry Sullivan's NBC western series The Road West, and also played the recurring role of Morgan Starr on The Virginian. In 1970, he worked on the film Cheyenne's Social Club, starring James Stewart and Henry Fonda.
Between 1971 and 1973, he played Cy Bennett, Doris Martin's boss on The Doris Day Show. He also appeared in the Columbo episodes “Swan Song” (1974) and “Last Salute to the Commodore” (1978), where he played the title character, the commodore. In 1983, he starred in an NBC television series, Bare Essence, in which he played Hadden Marshall.
Dehner starred alongside Maudie Prickett in the 1953 episode “Bad Men of Marysville” in the western series The Adventures of Kit Carson, starring Bill Williams. He was a guest star in the 1955-1956 NBC western anthology series Frontier, as well as in the CBS Cold War drama Crusader, starring Brian Keith. He played Sheriff Henry Plummer in an episode of the 1954-1955 series Stories of the Century, with Jim Davis in the role of Matt Clark. In 1966, he played the killer “Iron Man” Torres in the episode “Night of the Steel Assassin” in the series The Wild Wild West, starring Robert Conrad.
Dehner gave two memorable performances in the ABC series Maverick (1957), starring James Garner, in the episodes “Shady Deal at Sunny Acres” and “Greenbacks, Unlimited.” He also played Pat Garrett in Gore Vidal's film adaptation of The Left-Handed Gun, starring Paul Newman as Billy the Kid. Dehner appeared in the film Scaramouche (1952) as Doutreval of Dijon, and played Mr. Bascombe, a non-singing character, in the 1956 film version of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical Carousel.
Dehner played Colonel Tedesco in the drama included in the anthology series Playhouse 90 The Killers of Mussolini, based on a story by A.E. Hotchner. Other TV appearances included three episodes of Hogan's Heroes, and in 1957 he worked on Texas Rangers with Gale Storm.
Dehner appeared in three episodes of The Twilight Zone: as Captain Allenby in “The Lonely” (1959); as an engineer who receives a curse in “The Jungle” (1961); and in a role in “Mr. Garrity and the Graves,” in the show's fifth and final season.
He also guest-starred in the episode “Three” of the crime series The Brothers Brannagan, starring Stephen Dunne and Mark Roberts, and played an old French general in an episode of the series Combat! titled “The General and the Sergeant.” During the same period, he worked on another short-lived series set in World War II, The Gallant Men, in the episode “A Moderately Quiet Sunday,” where he played a German captain.
Dehner appeared in several episodes of the series The Rifleman, playing different characters. He was also a guest star on the NBC show The Wide Country, a drama about rodeo competitors that aired in 1962-63. In an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, he played Colonel Harvey, and the following season he guest-starred in Jack Palance's circus-themed series for ABC, The Greatest Show on Earth, and in the CBS production Glynis, starring Glynis Johns and Keith Andes. Dehner was cast in the first season episode of F Troop “Honest Injun,” playing a crooked medicine man. In 1966, he guest-starred in the episode “Power of Fear” on Barry Sullivan's NBC western series The Road West, and also played the recurring role of Morgan Starr on The Virginian. In 1970, he worked on the film Cheyenne's Social Club, starring James Stewart and Henry Fonda.
Between 1971 and 1973, he played Cy Bennett, Doris Martin's boss on The Doris Day Show. He also appeared in the Columbo episodes “Swan Song” (1974) and “Last Salute to the Commodore” (1978), where he played the title character, the commodore. In 1983, he starred in an NBC television series, Bare Essence, in which he played Hadden Marshall.
Dehner also played various historical figures, including Pat Garrett in the 1957 western film The Left-Handed Gun; Jean Lafitte in the 1964 episode “The Gentleman from New Orleans” in the series Bonanza; Thomas Jefferson in the 1964 episode “Plague” from the anthology series The Great Adventure; Dean Acheson in the 1974 TV movie The Missiles of October; Lafayette C. Baker in the 1977 film The Lincoln Conspiracy; John Muir in the 1979 TV movie Guardian of the Wilderness; Henry Luce in the 1983 film The Right Stuff; and Admiral Ernest King in the 1988 miniseries War and Remembrance. One of his last performances was as a friendly judge in the thriller The Edge of Suspicion.
John Dehner died of emphysema and diabetes in Santa Barbara, California on February 4, 1992. He was 76 years old. He was buried in Carpinteria Cemetery, California
John Dehner died of emphysema and diabetes in Santa Barbara, California on February 4, 1992. He was 76 years old. He was buried in Carpinteria Cemetery, California
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