Orville Sherman
Biography
Orville Sherman was born on January 18, 1916, in Lexington, Oklahoma. His great‑grandfather purchased land in the state in 1894, and Sherman later described his frontier upbringing as giving him an edge when portraying cowboys in the many television episodes, primarily Westerns, in which he appeared. He began tap dancing at nine and left home at nineteen to pursue a career in entertainment. The 1940 U.S. census lists him as a boarder in Shawnee, Oklahoma, with the occupation “actor, dancer, director.” During World II he enlisted from Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was working with a small theatre troupe. After the war he performed on stage in New York and continued to work in film and television, accumulating forty credited roles before his death on October 1, 1984, at age sixty‑eight.
Career overview
Orville Sherman was born on January 18, 1916, in Lexington, Oklahoma. His family’s roots in the state stretched back to 1894, when his great‑grandfather purchased land there. Sherman began tap dancing at the age of nine and left home at nineteen to pursue a career in the performing arts. By the time of the 1940 U.S. census he was living as a boarder in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he listed his occupation as “actor, dancer, director.” During World War II he enlisted from Santa Fe, New Mexico, after working with a small theater troupe, and served in the armed forces.
After the war Sherman returned to the stage, appearing in New York productions before moving into television. His screen work was concentrated in the Western genre, and he accumulated roughly forty television credits, most of which were brief appearances that collectively amounted to only a few seconds of screen time. Despite the brevity of his roles, Sherman was regarded as skilled in his craft. He continued to work in television until his death on October 1, 1984, at the age of 68.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
51 titles- Transplant (1979) as Boris
- A Question of Guilt (1978) as The Priest
- The Legend of Frank Woods (1977) as Jesse Frome
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Headmaster
- Scream of the Wolf (1974) as Coroner
- Westworld (1973) as Supervisor
- The Letters (1973) as Minister
- Your Three Minutes Are Up (1973) as Mr. Fisher
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) as Pastor
- Medical Center (1969)
- Once You Kiss a Stranger... (1969) as Raymond
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) as Danny
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) as Otto
- Bewitched (1964)
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Will Camfield
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Tupper
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964)
- The Fugitive (1963) as Hotel clerk
- The Fugitive (1963) as Prewitt
- The Man from Galveston (1963) as Ted Dooley (uncredited)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Charles
- The Virginian (1962) as Doctor
- The Virginian (1962) as Undertaker
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Steward
- Shadow of the Boomerang (1961)
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Huey Welch
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Matt
- Home from the Hill (1960) as Ed Dinwoodie (uncredited)
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Tillman Miller
- Rawhide (1959) as Charley Casey
- The Lawless Years (1959)
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Sheriff Owens
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- The Brain Eaters (1958) as Mayor Cameron
- Perry Mason (1957) as Kirkwood
- Perry Mason (1957) as Hotel Clerk
- Perry Mason (1957) as Mr. Link
- Trackdown (1957)
- 26 Men (1957)
- Harbor Command (1957)
- Cheyenne (1955)
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Sheriff
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Warden
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Wib Smith
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Wib
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Preacher
- Lassie (1954) as Ride Attendant
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Luther Gaines
- Adventures of Superman (1952) as Gangster Scientist
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Orville Sherman best known for?
Orville Sherman is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including An Inconvenient Truth (2006), Westworld (1973), Alias Smith and Jones (1971), Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971).
When and where was Orville Sherman born?
Orville Sherman was born on January 18, 1916 in Lexington, Oklahoma, USA. They passed away on October 1, 1984.
How many credits does Orville Sherman have?
Orville Sherman has accumulated over 51 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1952 to 1979.
What is Orville Sherman's background in cinema and television?
Orville Sherman was born on January 18, 1916, in Lexington, Oklahoma. His great‑grandfather purchased land in the state in 1894, and Sherman later described his frontier upbringing as giving him an edge when portraying cowboys in the many television episodes, primarily Westerns, in which he appeared. He began tap danci...