Rugged, no-nonsense character actor (usually in action films) who made his screen debut in 1951; memorable as Mike Hammer in the Robert Aldrich classic, "Kiss Me Deadly" (1955).
- Also Credited As:
Ralph Rathgeber
- Born:
November 21, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Died:
August 5, 1988.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Producer, Stage manager
Family
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Father: Ralph Rathgeber.
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Mother: Magnhild Senovia Haavig Meeker Rathgeber.
Education
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Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, musical composition and acting, 1938-42
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Leelanau School for Boys, Glen Arbor, Michigan
Milestones
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1924 At age three, moved with family to Chicago (date approximate)
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1943 Professional stage debut in small role of national touring company of "The Doughgirls" in Chicago
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1945 Broadway debut in "Strange Fruit", directed by Jose Ferrer
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1945 Moved to NYC
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1946 Served as assistant stage manager and bit player in "Cyrano de Bergerac", directed by and starring Jose Ferrer
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1947 Breakthrough stage role in "Mister Roberts"; also understudied Henry Fonda in lead role
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1949 Replaced Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway and later toured in the role opposite Judith Evelyn as Blanche
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1951 Feature film debut in "Teresa"
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1953 Appeared in the Western "The Naked Spur"
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1953 Returned to Broadway to star in "Picnic" by William Inge; acted opposite Janice Rule
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1955 Portrayed Mike Hammer in "Kiss Me Deadly"
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1955 Starred in the pre-Broadway tour of "Top Man", co-starring Lee Remick; show opened in New Haven and closed in Philadelphia
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1956 Reunited with "Picnic" co-star Janice Rule in "A Woman's Devotion", helmed by actor Paul Henried
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1957 Once again appeared opposite Rule in the "Playhouse 90" production of "Four Women in Black"
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1958 Had pivotal role as one of three French soldiers sentenced to the firing squad in "Paths of Glory", directed by Stanley Kubrick
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1958 Was in Broadway production of "Cloud 7" opposite Martha Scott
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1959 Had lead role of a police detective in Hawaii in the syndicated TV series "Not for Hire"
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1961 Appeared on Broadway in Ionesco's "Rhinocerous"
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1961 Starred opposite Carroll Baker in "Something Wild"
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1964 Played featured role in the NYC premiere of Arthur Miller's play "After the Fall"; future wife Salome Jens co-starred
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1965 Final Broadway appearance, "Mrs. Dally" opposite Arlene Francis
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1967 Had co-starring turn in "The Dirty Dozen"
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1968 Played featured role in the NBC "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation "A Punt, a Pass, and a Prayer"
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1970 Was featured in the ABC movie "Lost Flight"
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1971 Acted in "The Anderson Tapes"
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1972 Co-starred in the ABC movie "The Night Stalker"
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1977 Last stage appearances in the L.A. production of David Rabe's "Streamers"
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1978 Made last TV appearance in an episode of "The Eddie Capra Mysteries" (NBC)
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1980 Final film, "Without Warning"
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After graduating from Northwestern, enlisted in the US Navy; military service ended after a shipboard accident left him with a neck injury
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Appeared in a USO tour of Italy in "Ten Little Indians" during WWII
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Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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During 1950s, appeared frequently as guest performer on TV programs like "Kraft Television Theatre", "Goodyear Playhouse", "Studio One", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Playhouse 90" and "The Loretta Young Show"
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Put under contract by MGM
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Reportedly turned down opportunity to recreate stage role in film version of "Picnic" because he didn't want to sign long-term contract with Columbia Pictures
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Toured in play "Up in Mabel's Room"