Charles Drake
Biography
Charles Drake was an American actor born as Charles Ruppert in New York City on October 2, 1917. He graduated from Nichols College and initially worked as a salesman before turning to acting in 1939, when he signed a contract with Warner Brothers. His early career was interrupted by World War II. Following his military service, he returned to Hollywood in 1945, appearing in Conflict starring Humphrey Bogart, and his contract with Warner Brothers eventually ended. During the 1940s, he engaged in freelance work, including A Night in Casablanca, before moving to Universal Studios in 1949. In 1955, he transitioned to television as a stock-company player on Robert Montgomery Presents. He died on September 10, 1994, at the age of seventy-six.
Career overview
Charles Drake was an American actor born as Charles Ruppert in New York City on October 2, 1917. After graduating from Nichols College and working as a salesman, he turned to acting in 1939 and signed a contract with Warner Brothers. His early career was not immediately successful and was subsequently interrupted by World War II. Following his military service, Drake returned to Hollywood in 1945, where he was cast in Conflict, a film that starred Humphrey Bogart. Eventually, his contract with Warner Brothers ended.
During the 1940s, Drake engaged in freelance work, appearing in projects such as A Night in Casablanca. In 1949, he moved to Universal Studios. As his career progressed, he transitioned to television in 1955, working as one of the stock-company players on Robert Montgomery Presents. Three years later, his television work continued to develop. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 111 known acting credits in movies and television shows, with his work extending to productions such as Playhouse 90, Slattery's People, and Mission: Impossible.
Drake passed away on September 10, 1994, at the age of 76. Throughout his decades in the entertainment industry, he established a substantial filmography spanning both cinema and television before his death.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
129 titles- James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987) as Self (archive footage)
- My Brother's Wedding (1983) as Pastor #2
- Switch (1975) as Charles Estabrook
- Matt Helm (1975) as Mr. Simmons
- The Lives of Jenny Dolan (1975) as Alan Hardesty
- Cop on the Beat (1975) as Deputy Chief Berliner
- Harry O (1974)
- Police Headquarters (1974) as David L. Chapin
- Partners in Crime (1973) as Lt. Fred Harnett
- Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973) as George Thornton
- The Rookies (1972)
- The Screaming Woman (1972) as Ken Bronson
- Cannon (1971)
- The Arrangement (1969) as Finnegan
- Hail, Hero! (1969) as Senator Murchiston
- Land of the Giants (1968) as Mr. Erdap
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Tom Laraby
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Jonathan Galley
- The Counterfeit Killer (1968) as Dolan
- The Swimmer (1968) as Howard Graham
- The Smugglers (1968) as Harry Miller
- Ironside (1967) as Mr. Thomas
- Mannix (1967) as Adam Pierson
- The Invaders (1967) as Robert Morrison
- Judd, for the Defense (1967)
- Valley of the Dolls (1967) as Kevin Gillmore
- The Money Jungle (1967) as Harvey Sheppard
- Star Trek (1966) as Commodore Stocker
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Mitchell Connally
- F Troop (1965)
- Dear Heart (1965) as Frank Taylor
- The Third Day (1965) as Lawrence Conway
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Simon Jarvis
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Andy Wharton
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Taggart Coleman
- The Lively Set (1964) as Paul Manning
- The Fugitive (1963) as Oliver Greer
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- Showdown (1963) as Bert Pickett
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Walter Kendricks
- The Virginian (1962) as Randolf
- Back Street (1961) as Curt Stanton
- Tammy Tell Me True (1961) as Buford Woodly
- Checkmate (1960) as Mack Weston
- The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960) as Ben Stockton
- No Name on the Bullet (1959) as Luke Canfield
- Rendezvous (1958) as John Burden
- Step Down to Terror (1958) as Johnny Walters
- Wagon Train (1957) as Marshal Vern Rothman
- Wagon Train (1957) as Sam Livingston
- Wagon Train (1957) as Frank Casteel
- Until They Sail (1957) as Capt. Richard Bates
- The Playroom (1957) as George Rutherford
- Jeanne Eagels (1957) as John Donahue
- The Price of Fear (1956) as Pete Carroll
- Walk the Proud Land (1956) as Tom Sweeny
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Female on the Beach (1955) as Police Lieutenant Galley
- All That Heaven Allows (1955) as Mick Anderson
- Summer Pavilion (1955) as Ned Welch
- To Hell and Back (1955) as Brandon
- Climax! (1954) as Mickey Wayne
- The Glenn Miller Story (1954) as Don Haynes
- The Road to Edinburgh (1954) as Jeff Davis
- Tobor the Great (1954) as Dr. Ralph Harrison
- Four Guns to the Border (1954) as Sheriff Jim Flannery
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Jeff Bertch
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Tom
- It Came from Outer Space (1953) as Sheriff Matt Warren
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Jeff Davis (uncredited)
- War Arrow (1953) as Sgt. Luke Schermerhorn
- Gunsmoke (1953) as Johnny Lake
- The Lone Hand (1953) as George Hadley
- The Red Ball Express (1952) as Partridge
- Bonzo Goes to College (1952) as Malcolm Drew
- The Treasure of Lost Canyon (1952) as Jim Anderson
- You Never Can Tell (1951) as Perry Collins
- Air Cadet (1951) as Captain Sullivan
- Little Egypt (1951) as Oliver Doane
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Johnny Bond
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Ivan
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Billy Gordon
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Lew
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Paul Doniger
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Gavin Rhodes
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Carl Phillips
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Andrew
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Wayne
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Jed
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Kenneth Reed
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as John
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Chet
- Winchester '73 (1950) as Steve Miller
- Harvey (1950) as Dr. Sanderson
- Louisa (1950) as Radio Broadcaster (voice) (uncredited)
- I Was a Shoplifter (1950) as Herb Klaxon
- Comanche Territory (1950) as Stacey Howard
- Peggy (1950) as Tom Fielding
- Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949) as Dodd
- Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949) as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- Studio One (1948) as Ned Welch
- The Tender Years (1948) as Bob Wilson
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947)
- The Pretender (1947) as Dr. Leonard Koster
- Whistle Stop (1946) as Ernie
- A Night in Casablanca (1946) as Lt. Pierre Delmar
- Winter Wonderland (1946) as Steve Kirk
- Conflict (1945) as Norman Holsworth
- You Came Along (1945) as Lt. R. Janoschek
- Air Force (1943) as Navigator
- The Hard Way (1943) as Trailer Narrator (Uncredited)
- Proceed and Report (1943) as Lt. Johnson
- Winning Your Wings (1942) as State College Student (uncredited)
- Across the Pacific (1942) as Officer (uncredited)
- The Male Animal (1942) as Student (uncredited)
- Now, Voyager (1942) as Leslie Trotter (uncredited)
- Busses Roar (1942) as Eddie Sloan
- Bullet Scars (1942) as Reporter at Police HQ
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Reporter (uncredited)
- Sergeant York (1941) as Scorer (uncredited)
- The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) as Sandy
- Nine Lives Are Not Enough (1941) as Snappy Saunders
- Dangerously They Live (1941) as Joe, Hospital Orderly with Dr. Murdock (uncredited)
- Million Dollar Baby (1941)
- One Foot in Heaven (1941) as Second Bridegroom (uncredited)
- Out of the Fog (1941)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) as Young Priest (uncredited)
- Career (1939) as Rex Chaney
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Charles Drake best known for?
Charles Drake is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Switch (1975), Matt Helm (1975), In the Cut (2003), Sasaki and Peeps (2024).
When and where was Charles Drake born?
Charles Drake was born on October 2, 1917 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on September 10, 1994.
How many credits does Charles Drake have?
Charles Drake has accumulated over 129 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1939 to 1987.
What is Charles Drake's background in cinema and television?
Charles Drake was an American actor born as Charles Ruppert in New York City on October 2, 1917. He graduated from Nichols College and initially worked as a salesman before turning to acting in 1939, when he signed a contract with Warner Brothers. His early career was interrupted by World War II. Following his military...
Charles Drake by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Star Trek (1966) as Commodore Stocker — aged about 48
- Matt Helm (1975) as Mr. Simmons — aged about 57
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) — aged about 29
- Judd, for the Defense (1967) — aged about 49
- Harvey (1950) as Dr. Sanderson — aged about 32
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Reporter (uncredited) — aged about 23
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