Leif Erickson
Biography
Leif Erickson was an American stage, film, and television actor born as William Wycliffe Anderson on October 27, 1911, in Alameda, California, near San Francisco. Before his screen career, he worked as a vocalist and trombone player in a band, performed in Max Reinhardt productions, and gained stage experience in a comedy vaudeville act. Initially billed by Paramount Pictures as Glenn Erickson, he began his film career as a leading man in Westerns. During World War II, Erickson enlisted in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit and serving as a military photographer. He had 129 known acting credits and passed away on January 29, 1986, at the age of 74.
Career overview
Leif Erickson, born William Wycliffe Anderson on October 27, 1911, in Alameda, California, was an American stage, film, and television actor. Before launching his screen career, he worked as a band soloist as a vocalist and trombone player, performed in Max Reinhardt's productions, and gained a small amount of stage experience participating in a comedy vaudeville act. When he entered the film industry, he was initially billed by Paramount Pictures as Glenn Erickson and began his screen career working as a leading man in Westerns.
During World War II, Erickson enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a military photographer in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Over the course of his professional life in the entertainment industry, he accumulated 129 known acting credits across film and television. Erickson passed away on January 29, 1986, at the age of 74.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
140 titles- Wild Times (1980) as John Tyree
- The Fantastic Journey (1977) as Ben Wallace
- Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977) as Ralph Whittaker - CIA Director
- The Fantastic Journey (1977) as Ben Wallace
- Medical Story (1975) as Dr. Taussing
- Abduction (1975) as Prescott
- Winterhawk (1975) as Guthrie
- Force Five (1975) as Cal Newkirk
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Carl Colton 'C.C.' Calloway
- Harry O (1974)
- The Magician (1973) as Nicholas Olson
- The Evil Touch (1973)
- The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973) as William Henry Cameron
- The Rookies (1972)
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- The Sixth Sense (1972)
- The Family Rico (1972) as Mike Lamont
- The Daughters of Joshua Cabe (1972) as Amos Wetherall
- The New Healers (1972) as Dr. Victor Briggs
- Cannon (1971)
- The Deadly Dream (1971) as Dr. Harold Malcolm
- Man and Boy (1971) as Sheriff Mossman
- Terror in the Sky (1971) as Marty Treleavan
- Night Gallery (1970) as Charlie Wheatland
- Medical Center (1969)
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- Ironside (1967)
- Mannix (1967)
- The High Chaparral (1967) as Big John Cannon
- Branded (1965)
- Mirage (1965) as The Major
- I Saw What You Did (1965) as Dave Mannering
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Aaron Burr
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Bill Sedley
- Roustabout (1964) as Joe Lean
- The Carpetbaggers (1964) as Jonas Cord Sr.
- Strait-Jacket (1964) as Bill Cutler
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- Burke's Law (1963) as Jason Hayes
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as General
- Arrest and Trial (1963)
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Abel Parrish
- The Great Adventure (1963) as President Grover Cleveland
- A Gathering of Eagles (1963) as Gen. Hewitt
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Paul White
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Doctor Hellyer
- The Virginian (1962) as Peterson
- The Virginian (1962) as Charlie Ryan
- The Virginian (1962) as Bill King
- Shootout at Big Sag (1962) as Sam Barbee
- The New Breed (1961) as Dr. Eric Thor
- The Shape of the River (1960) as William Dean Howells
- Bonanza (1959) as Tom Caine
- Bonanza (1959) as Josh Tatum
- Rawhide (1959) as Frank Travis
- The Rebel (1959) as Dave Blaine
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Andrew Middleton
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Twilight for the Gods (1958) as Harry Hutton
- Once Upon a Horse... (1958) as Granville "Granny" Dix
- Istanbul (1957) as Charlie Boyle
- Kiss Them for Me (1957) as Eddie Turnbill
- One Coat of White (1957) as Ben Riggs
- The Vintage (1957) as Louis Morel
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Jim Lewis
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Cash Wilson
- The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) as Lou Glover
- Tea and Sympathy (1956) as Bill Reynolds
- Star in the Dust (1956) as George Ballard
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Virgil Powell
- The Millionaire (1955) as Brian Hendricks
- The Millionaire (1955) as Norman Conover
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Wayne Phillips
- Climax! (1954) as Robert Eunson
- Climax! (1954) as Richard Carmichael
- Climax! (1954) as Doug Randell
- Climax! (1954) as Richard Moore
- On the Waterfront (1954) as Glover
- Inner Sanctum (1954)
- Paris Model (1953) as Edgar Blevins
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Man
- Trouble Along the Way (1953) as Father Provincial aka Ed
- Invaders from Mars (1953) as Mr. George MacLean
- Never Wave at a WAC (1953) as Sgt. Norbert 'Noisy' Jackson
- Fort Algiers (1953) as Kalmani
- A Perilous Journey (1953) as Richards
- Born to the Saddle (1953) as Bob Marshall
- Captain Scarface (1953) as Sam
- Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952) as Morgan
- The Cimarron Kid (1952) as Marshal John Sutton
- My Wife's Best Friend (1952) as Nicholas Reed
- Carbine Williams (1952) as Feder
- With a Song in My Heart (1952) as General (uncredited)
- Sailor Beware (1952) as Commander Lane
- Fourteen Hours (1951) as Bit Part (uncredited)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Dan
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Sam Sargent
- Show Boat (1951) as Pete
- Reunion in Reno (1951) as B. Frederick Linaker
- The Tall Target (1951) as Stranger
- Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (1951) as Pilate
- Dallas (1950) as U.S. Marshal Martin Weatherby
- Mother Didn't Tell Me (1950) as Dr. Bruce Gordon
- The Showdown (1950) as Big Mart
- Three Secrets (1950) as Bill Chase
- Stella (1950) as Fred Anderson Jr.
- The Lady Gambles (1949) as Tony
- Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949) as Pringle
- Bambi (1948) as Self (archive footage)
- Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) as Fred Lord
- The Snake Pit (1948) as Gordon
- Joan of Arc (1948) as Dunois, Bastard of Orleans
- The Gay Intruders (1948) as Dr. Harold Matson
- Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948) as Dr. Mason
- The Gangster (1947) as Beaumont
- Blonde Savage (1947) as Steve Blake
- Arabian Nights (1942) as Kamar (as Leif Erikson)
- Night Monster (1942) as Laurie
- The Fleet's In (1942) as Jake
- Eagle Squadron (1942) as Johnny M. Coe
- Are Husbands Necessary? (1942) as Bill Stone
- Pardon My Sarong (1942) as Whaba
- Nothing but the Truth (1941) as Tommy Van Dusen
- The Blonde from Singapore (1941) as Terry Prescott
- H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941) as Rodney 'Bo-Jo' Brown
- One Third of a Nation (1939) as Peter Cortlant
- Crisis (1939) as Narrator (voice)
- The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938) as Bob Hayes
- Ride a Crooked Mile (1938) as Johnny Simpkins
- Waikiki Wedding (1937) as Dr. Victor Quimby
- Thrill of a Lifetime (1937) as Howard Nelson
- Conquest (1937) as Paul Lachinski
- Girl of the Ozarks (1936) as Tom Bolton
- Drift Fence (1936) as Curley Prentice
- College Holiday (1936) as Dick Winters
- Desert Gold (1936) as Glenn Kasedon
- Wanderer of the Wasteland (1935) as Lawrence
- Nevada (1935) as Bill Ide
- Air Tonic (1933) as Band Singer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Leif Erickson best known for?
Leif Erickson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wild Times (1980), The Care Bears Movie (1985), Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977), Medical Story (1975).
When and where was Leif Erickson born?
Leif Erickson was born on October 27, 1911 in Alameda, California, USA. They passed away on January 29, 1986.
How many credits does Leif Erickson have?
Leif Erickson has accumulated over 140 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1933 to 1980.
What is Leif Erickson's background in cinema and television?
Leif Erickson was an American stage, film, and television actor born as William Wycliffe Anderson on October 27, 1911, in Alameda, California, near San Francisco. Before his screen career, he worked as a vocalist and trombone player in a band, performed in Max Reinhardt productions, and gained stage experience in a com...
Leif Erickson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Bambi (1948) as Self (archive footage) — aged about 36
- Arrest and Trial (1963) — aged about 51
- On the Waterfront (1954) as Glover — aged about 42
- Night Gallery (1970) as Charlie Wheatland — aged about 58
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Paul White — aged about 50
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Doctor Hellyer — aged about 50
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