PAUL STEWART

Paul Stewart (1908-86) made his living for decades playing dark, callous, shiftless types. With his premature silvery hair, dark thick brows and probing, deep-set eyes, plus a tough and penetrating Brooklynesque accent, he was perfectly suited for film noir and gangland crime drama. Stewart developed an interest for acting in his teens, making his Broadway debut in 1931 with "Two Seconds." He met and impressed Orson Welles, and as a result became a founding member of Welles' Mercury Theatre and a founding member of AFTRA when it was just a radio union. Stewart's tough, guttural voice became a familiar sound on the ‘30s airwaves, and he was a participant in Welles' infamous broadcast "The War of the Worlds." Welles then cast Stewart in CITIZEN KANE (1941) as Raymond, Kane's wily valet, and the actor found himself in demand as an untrustworthy character player. He appeared in many noir faves including CHAMPION (1949), THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) and KISS ME DEADLY (1955). On TV he became a regular on two short-lived series "Top Secret" (1955) and "The Man Who Never Was" (1966). He later turned to stage and TV directing, as well as continuing to act in films. His last was THE TEMPEST (1982) as John Cassavettes' father.