John Houseman
Biography
John Houseman was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer born on September 22, 1902, in Bucharest, Romania. He passed away on October 31, 1988, at the age of 86. During his career, he became known for a highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles, working together from the Federal Theatre Project through the production of Citizen Kane. Houseman was well known for his role as Professor Charles Kingsfield in the 1973 film The Paper Chase, a performance for which he won an academy award for best supporting actor, and he later reprised this role in a subsequent television series adaptation. He was also recognized for his commercials for the brokerage firm Smith Barney and for his distinctive Mid-Atlantic English accent.
Career overview
John Houseman was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer born on September 22, 1902, in Bucharest, Romania. He became known for his highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles, which spanned from their days in the Federal Theatre Project through to the production of Citizen Kane. Throughout his career, Houseman amassed known credits in acting. He possessed a distinctive Mid-Atlantic English accent, which he shared with many actors of his generation.
Houseman is perhaps best known for his role as Professor Charles Kingsfield in the 1973 film The Paper Chase, for which he won a best supporting actor Oscar. He later reprised his role as Kingsfield in the subsequent television series adaptation of The Paper Chase. In addition to his work in film and television, Houseman was known for his commercials for the brokerage firm Smith Barney.
Houseman passed away on October 31, 1988, at the age of 86. His extensive career in the entertainment industry encompassed notable contributions to film, television, and theatre, leaving a lasting legacy through his memorable performances and historic collaborations.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
90 titles- American: An Odyssey to 1947 (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Too Much Johnson (2013) as Duelist
- Too Much Johnson (2013) Producer
- Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog' (2002) as Self (archive)
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) as Driving Instructor (uncredited)
- Scrooged (1988) as Self
- Noble House (1988) as Sir Geoffrey Allison
- Bright Lights, Big City (1988) as Mr. Vogel
- Another Woman (1988) as Marion's Father
- Lincoln (1988) as Gen. Winfield Scott
- The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood (1987) as Self
- 227 (1985)
- A.D. (1985) as Gamaliel
- The Cradle Will Rock (1985) as Self
- The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War (1984)
- The Winds of War (1983) as Aaron Jastrow
- Choices of the Heart (1983) Executive Producer
- A Rose for Emily (1983) as Narrator (voice)
- The Skin of Our Teeth (1983) as Network Newscaster
- American Playhouse (1982) as Network Newscaster
- Silver Spoons (1982) as Grandfather Edward Stratton II
- Marco Polo (1982) as Patriarca di Aquileia
- Murder by Phone (1982) as Stanley Markowitz
- Ghost Story (1981) as Sears James
- The New Deal for Artists (1981) as Self
- Writing: Plain & Fancy (1981) as Narrator
- The Fog (1980) as Mr. Machen
- My Bodyguard (1980) as Dobbs
- Gideon's Trumpet (1980) as Chief Justice / Offscreen Narrator
- Gideon's Trumpet (1980) Executive Producer
- Wholly Moses (1980) as The Archangel
- A Christmas Without Snow (1980) as Ephraim Adams
- The Babysitter (1980) as Dr. Lindquist
- The French Atlantic Affair (1979) as Dr. Archady Clemens
- The Last Convertible (1979) as Dr. Wetherell
- Old Boyfriends (1979) as Dr. Hoffman
- The Paper Chase (1978) as Charles Kingsfield
- The Cheap Detective (1978) as Jasper Blubber
- Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977) as Myron Dunn
- Aspen (1977) as Joseph Merrill Drummond
- The Displaced Person (1977) as Father Flynn
- The Bionic Woman (1976)
- Captains and the Kings (1976) as Judge Newell Chisholm
- The Adams Chronicles (1976) as Justice Gridley
- St. Ives (1976) as Abner Procane
- Truman at Potsdam (1976) as Winston Churchill
- Six Characters in Search of An Author (1976) as The Director
- Three Days of the Condor (1975) as Mr. Wabash
- Rollerball (1975) as Bartholomew
- I'm a Stranger Here Myself (1975) as Self
- Fear on Trial (1975) as Mike Collins
- Beyond the Horizon (1975) as Dr. Fawcett
- The Six Million Dollar Man (1974) as Doctor Franklin
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- The Paper Chase (1973) as Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.
- Great Performances (1971) as Dr.Fawcett
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- This Property Is Condemned (1966) Producer
- Evening Primrose (1966) Executive Producer
- Seven Days in May (1964) as Vice Adm. Farley C. Barnswell (uncredited)
- The Great Adventure (1963) Producer
- In the Cool of the Day (1963) Producer
- Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) Producer
- All Fall Down (1962) Producer
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Nutcracker (1958) Producer
- Van Gogh: Darkness into Light (1957) as Self
- Lust for Life (1956) Producer
- The Cobweb (1955) Producer
- Moonfleet (1955) Producer
- Executive Suite (1954) Producer
- Her Twelve Men (1954) Producer
- Julius Caesar (1953) Producer
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) Producer
- Holiday for Sinners (1952) Producer
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Winston S. Churchill
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Chief Justice
- On Dangerous Ground (1951) Producer
- The Company She Keeps (1951) Producer
- Fireside Theater (1949) Producer
- They Live by Night (1949) Producer
- Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948) Producer
- The Blue Dahlia (1946) Producer
- Miss Susie Slagle's (1946) Associate Producer
- The Unseen (1945) Associate Producer
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Jane Eyre (1943) Screenplay
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Houseman best known for?
John Houseman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), Scrooged (1988), Rad (1986), Another Woman (1988).
When and where was John Houseman born?
John Houseman was born on September 22, 1902 in Bucharest, Romania. They passed away on October 31, 1988.
How many credits does John Houseman have?
John Houseman has accumulated over 90 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1943 to 2022.
What is John Houseman's background in cinema and television?
John Houseman was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer born on September 22, 1902, in Bucharest, Romania. He passed away on October 31, 1988, at the age of 86. During his career, he became known for a highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles, working together from the Federal Theat...
John Houseman by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Captains and the Kings (1976) as Judge Newell Chisholm — aged about 73
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Winston S. Churchill — aged about 48
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Chief Justice — aged about 48
- Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977) as Myron Dunn — aged about 74
- The Paper Chase (1978) as Charles Kingsfield — aged about 75
- Lincoln (1988) as Gen. Winfield Scott — aged about 85
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