Elliott Pershing Stitzel (November 27, 1918 – May 21, 2005), better known by his stage name Stephen Elliott, was an American actor. His best known roles were that of the prospective father-in-law, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film Arthur and as Chief Hubbard in the 1984 blockbuster Beverly Hills Cop.
Career
Theatre From 1940 to 1942, Elliott studied acting with Sanford Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse."Stephen Elliott, 86; Veteran Stage, Film and TV Actor Known for Role in 'Arthur'". The Los Angeles Times. May 24, 2005. After serving in World War II with the United States Merchant Marine, he started a successful career on Broadway with his debut in Shakespeare's The Tempest; two years later, Elliott was selected by Robert Lewis to be one of The Actors Studio's founding members.
In 1967, Elliott was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Marat/Sade. Two years later, he won the Drama Desk Award for A Whistle in the Dark. Additional Broadway credits include King Lear, The Miser, Georgy, The Crucible, and The Creation of the World and Other Business.
Television Elliott's television credits include the role of Jane Wyman's first husband, newspaper publisher Douglas Channing, in Falcon Crest, General Padget in Columbo, Harold W. Smith in the 1988 television adaptation of Remo Williams, Texan millionaire attorney Scotty Demarest in Dallas, and Judge Harold Aldrich in Chicago Hope. He also appeared in the "Murder! Murder!" episode of The Eddie Capra Mysteries. In 1981 he had a small role as the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst in the TV serial Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years. Elliott appeared in Highway To Heaven episodes "Thoroughbreds: Part 1" and "Thoroughbreds: Part 2" with Helen Hunt and Michael Landon 1985. He was a member of the regular cast of the short-lived 1988 situation comedy Trial and Error.
Radio In 1981, Elliott played the role of Bail Organa, father of Princess Leia, in the radio drama adaptation of Star Wars.
Personal life Elliott was born Elliott Pershing Stitzel in New York City. His marriage to Barbara Blaise was terminated by divorce in February 1947, according to The Kingston Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY), 4 October 1947, page 3. He married stage actress Nancy Chase on 9 October 1947 (Billboard, 18 October 1947, p. 47) and divorced in 1960. They had two children, Jency and Jon.
He married his third wife, actress Alice Hirson, in 1980; they met on Broadway in 1964. Hirson appeared for several seasons in a recurring role as Mavis Anderson, close friend of Ellie Ewing Farlow, on the television series Dallas, although her character never interacted with Elliot’s Scotty Demerest.
Elliott died in 2005 in Woodland Hills, California as result of congestive heart failure.
Filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1954Three Hours to KillSheriff Ben East1955Canyon CrossroadsLarson1956The Proud and Profane1957Street of SinnersHarryBit part1971The HospitalDr. Sundstrom1974Death Wish Police CommissionerThe GunArt Hilliard1975Report to the CommissionerPolice CommissionerThe HindenburgCaptain Fellows1981Cutter's WayJ.J. CordArthurBurt Johnson1984Beverly Hills CopChief HubbardRoadhouse 66 Sam1987AssassinationFitzroyWalk Like a ManWalter WelmontVulturesTheatre Attendant1988Arthur 2: On the RocksBurt Johnson1990Taking Care of BusinessWalter
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1953Monodrama Theater3 episodes1975KojakTyler MeadowsEpisode: "Elegy in an Asphalt Graveyard"1975, 1989Columbo Carl Donner/General Padget2 episodes1977The Bionic Woman DukeEpisode: "Iron Ships and Dead Men"The Six Million Dollar ManMorgan GraylandEpisode: "Sharks"The Court-Martial of George Armstrong CusterMajor General SchofieldTV filmYoung Joe, the Forgotten KennedyJoseph Kennedy, Sr1978Hawaii Five-OEnslowEpisode: "Deadly Courier"1980–1987DallasAttorney Scotty Demerest14 episodes1981TaxiEd McKenzieEpisode: "Thy Boss' Wife"Winston Churchill: The Wilderness YearsWilliam Randolph HearstEpisode: "Down and Out"1981–1982Falcon CrestDouglas Channing9 episodes1982Little House on the Prairie Spencer HollingsworthEpisode: "The Empire Builders"Magnum, P.IRear Admiral Philip WheelerEpisode: "Almost Home"My Body, My ChildEdgarTV film1983Remington SteeleNorman BainesEpisode: "My Fair Steele"PrototypeDr. Arthur JarrettTV film1984St. ElsewhereManny Schecter8 episodes1984–1986Benson Whitley Endicott2 episodes1985Murder, She WroteDr. SamEpisode: "Armed Response"The Fall GuyColonel PayneEpisode: "Femme Fatale"1987Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost LoveEliott MooreTV film1988Trial and ErrorEdmund KittleMiniseriesRemo Williams: The ProphecyHarold W. SmithTV film1989When He's Not a StrangerAttorney Forster1990The Big One: The Great Los Angeles EarthquakeOwen1991, 1992Law & OrderJudge Neil Markham/Dr. Hogan2 episodes1994–1999Chicago HopeJudge Harold Aldrich10 episodes
References
External links
Stephen Elliott at Internet Off-Broadway Database