John Ericson
Biography
John Ericson was a German-American actor and film and television star who was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, on September 23, 1926, and died on May 3, 2020, at the age of 93. Also known as Joachim Alexander, he trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and played the lead role in Stalag 17 on Broadway in 1951. He made his first film appearance in Teresa in 1951, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and subsequently appeared in a series of films for MGM during the 1950s, including Rhapsody, The Student Prince, Green Fire, and Bad Day at Black Rock. His television and film career also included appearances in Playhouse 90, Adventures in Paradise, and United States Steel Hour.
Career overview
John Ericson was a German-American actor and film and television star who was born as Joachim Alexander Ottokar Meibes. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and played the lead role in Stalag 17 by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski on Broadway in 1951. He went on to make a number of films for MGM in quick succession during the 1950s. His first film appearance was in Teresa in 1951, which was directed by Fred Zinnemann and also launched the film careers of Pier Angeli and Rod Steiger. Following this, Ericson appeared in a series of films that included Rhapsody, The Student Prince, and Green Fire, all released in 1954, as well as Bad Day at Black Rock in 1955.
During his career, Ericson established a substantial body of work in both film and television, accumulating known credits across numerous productions. In addition to his cinematic output, he became known for his appearances in various television programs and anthology series. Among the television programs associated with his career are Playhouse 90, Adventures in Paradise, and United States Steel Hour.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
91 titles- The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (2002) as Brockie Drummond (archive footage)
- Primary Target (1990)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Henderson Wheatley
- Airwolf (1984) as Dr. Karl Krüger
- Final Mission (1984) as The Colonel
- The A-Team (1983) as Calvin Cutter
- Knight Rider (1982) as Phillip Royce
- Nero Wolfe (1981) as Arthur Poor
- The Ghosts of Buxley Hall (1980) as George Ross
- The House of the Dead (1978) as Talmudge
- CHiPs (1977) as John Ericson (uncredited)
- CHiPs (1977) as Captain Burke
- Hustler Squad (1976)
- Crash! (1976) as Dr. Gregg Martin
- One Day at a Time (1975) as Clint Wilkens
- S.W.A.T. (1975)
- Barbary Coast (1975) as Mike McCord
- Hog Wild (1974) as Morris Melborne
- Murder Impossible (1974) as Murray
- Hawkins (1973) as Frank Pearson
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972) as Shelby
- The Bounty Man (1972) as Billy Riddle
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) as Col. Heller
- Heads or Tails (1969) as William Huston / Will Hunter / 'Black Talisman'
- The Bamboo Saucer (1968) as Fred Norwood
- The Destructors (1968) as Dutch Holland
- Ironside (1967) as Fred
- The Invaders (1967) as Hardy Smith
- The Money Jungle (1967) as Blake Heller
- The Vengeance of Pancho Villa (1967) as Don Diego Alvarado / Diego Owens
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Sgt. Paul Devlin
- Honey West (1965) as Sam Bolt
- Operation Atlantis (1965) as George Steele
- 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) as Ed Cunningham / Transformed Pan
- The Fugitive (1963) as Lars
- I Am Semiramis (1963) as Kir
- The Virginian (1962) as Jack Bonham
- The Chevy Mystery Show (1960) as Ray
- Under Ten Flags (1960) as Lieutenant Krüger
- Pretty Boy Floyd (1960) as Charles Arthur 'Pretty Boy' Floyd
- Bonanza (1959) as Vince Dagen
- Bonanza (1959) as Wade Hollister
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Jeff Hazen
- The David Niven Show (1959) as Twist Thompson
- Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958) as Brom Bones
- Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958) as Hiawatha
- Day of the Badman (1958) as Sheriff Barney Wiley
- Wagon Train (1957)
- The Restless Gun (1957)
- Forty Guns (1957) as Brockie Drummond
- Oregon Passage (1957) as Lt. Niles Ord
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Will Ruxton
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Lane Baker
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Linc Mallory
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Andy McCall
- Playhouse 90 (1956)
- The Cruel Tower (1956) as Tom Kittredge
- Heritage of Anger (1956) as Johnny Hanneman
- The Millionaire (1955) as Sgt. Peter Barkley
- Appointment with Adventure (1955)
- Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) as Pete Wirth
- Star Stage (1955)
- The Return of Jack Slade (1955) as Jack Slade
- Climax! (1954) as William Herrick
- Climax! (1954) as Lindy Jackson
- Climax! (1954) as Cameron Lacey
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Morris Melborne
- Rhapsody (1954) as James Guest
- Green Fire (1954) as Donald Knowland
- The Student Prince (1954) as Count Von Asterburg
- Great Lady Has an Interview (1954) as Reporter (uncredited)
- The United States Steel Hour (1953)
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Will Hadley
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Roy Hendricks
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Carl Stanton
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Red
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Wonder Boy Nick
- Cavalcade of America (1952)
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Leon Patterson
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Joe Loring
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Gunner's Mate Eddie Younger
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Eddie Markham
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Paul
- It's a Big Country (1951) as Naval Ensign (uncredited)
- Teresa (1951) as Philip Cass
- Out There (1951)
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Mike
- Studio One (1948) as Anderson
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) as Matt Wilson
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Ericson best known for?
John Ericson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Murder, She Wrote (1984), Days of Thunder (1990), The A-Team (1983), Knight Rider (1982).
When and where was John Ericson born?
John Ericson was born on September 23, 1926 in Düsseldorf, Germany. They passed away on May 3, 2020.
How many credits does John Ericson have?
John Ericson has accumulated over 91 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1947 to 2002.
What is John Ericson's background in cinema and television?
John Ericson was a German-American actor and film and television star who was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, on September 23, 1926, and died on May 3, 2020, at the age of 93. Also known as Joachim Alexander, he trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and played the lead role in Stalag 17 on Broadway ...
John Ericson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Barbary Coast (1975) as Mike McCord — aged about 48
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Morris Melborne — aged about 27
- Hawkins (1973) as Frank Pearson — aged about 46
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) as Matt Wilson — aged about 20
- Appointment with Adventure (1955) — aged about 28
- Airwolf (1984) as Dr. Karl Krüger — aged about 57
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