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Norman Alden

Norman Alden

Department: Acting

Biography

Norman Alden (né Adelberg; September 13, 1924 – July 27, 2012) was an American character actor. His career lasted nearly 50 years, including many diverse and memorable performances. Some of his notable roles include the voice of Sir Kay in The Sword in the Stone (1963), Dr. Linstrom in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), diner owner Lou in Back to the Future (1985), the voice of Kranix in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), the construction foreman in They Live (1988), and cameraman Bill in Ed Wood (1994). Alden also made numerous guest appearances in popular shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone. Alden first discovered his passion for acting while attending Texas Christian University, where he participated in on-campus theater productions. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he pursued a career in acting, making his first television appearance in 1957 on The 20th Century Fox Hour. Alden continued to work steadily until his retirement in 2006.

Known For

Ed Wood

Ed Wood

1994

Sunday Drive

Sunday Drive

1986

The Transformers: The Movie

The Transformers: The Movie

1986

Borderline

Borderline

1980

The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone

1963

The Wild Angels

The Wild Angels

1966

Man's Favorite Sport?

Man's Favorite Sport?

1964

The Nutty Professor

The Nutty Professor

1963

All the Loving Couples

All the Loving Couples

1969

The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children

The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children

1970

The Walking Target

The Walking Target

1960

Looking Back to the Future

Looking Back to the Future

2009

Operation Bottleneck

Operation Bottleneck

1961

Back to the Future

Back to the Future

1985

Kansas City Bomber

Kansas City Bomber

1972

The Trackers

The Trackers

1971

Secret of Deep Harbor

Secret of Deep Harbor

1961

Portrait of a Mobster

Portrait of a Mobster

1961

Cloud Dancer

Cloud Dancer

1980

Cannon

Cannon

1971

Destination: America

Destination: America

1987

Red Line 7000

Red Line 7000

1965

Good Times

Good Times

1967

First to Fight

First to Fight

1967

Flamingo Road

Flamingo Road

1980

They Live

They Live

1988

Stand Up and Be Counted

Stand Up and Be Counted

1972

Off the Mark

Off the Mark

1987

Andy

Andy

1965

Killers Three

Killers Three

1968

Looking Back at the Future

Looking Back at the Future

2006

California Girls

California Girls

1985

Lady Mobster

Lady Mobster

1988

Back to the Planet of the Apes

Back to the Planet of the Apes

1980

Fever Heat

Fever Heat

1968

Cry Panic

Cry Panic

1974

Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story

Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story

1985

Ben

Ben

1972

Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders

Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders

1989

Samurai

Samurai

1979

Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force

Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force

1989

Ring of Passion

Ring of Passion

1978

Cutting Class

Cutting Class

1989

Tora! Tora! Tora!

Tora! Tora! Tora!

1970

Semi-Tough

Semi-Tough

1977

Night of the Wolf

Night of the Wolf

2002

Terror on the 40th Floor

Terror on the 40th Floor

1974

Where Does It Hurt?

Where Does It Hurt?

1972

No Other Love

No Other Love

1979

Man Against the Mob

Man Against the Mob

1988

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

1977

The Patsy

The Patsy

1964

The Devil's Brigade

The Devil's Brigade

1968

The Pigeon

The Pigeon

1969

Desperate Lives

Desperate Lives

1982

The Great Bank Robbery

The Great Bank Robbery

1969

Patch Adams

Patch Adams

1998

Victor/Victoria

Victor/Victoria

1982

K-PAX

K-PAX

2001

The Power of the Resurrection

The Power of the Resurrection

1958

Bedtime Story

Bedtime Story

1964

Chubasco

Chubasco

1968

Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes

1974

Falcon Crest

Falcon Crest

1981

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show

1960

Alice

Alice

1976

Hardcastle and McCormick

Hardcastle and McCormick

1983

Family Affair

Family Affair

1966

Sledge Hammer!

Sledge Hammer!

1986

Super Friends

Super Friends

1973

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

1963

Cain's Hundred

Cain's Hundred

1961

The Rookies

The Rookies

1972

Trapper John, M.D.

Trapper John, M.D.

1979

The A-Team

The A-Team

1983

My Three Sons

My Three Sons

1960

Starsky & Hutch

Starsky & Hutch

1975

The Facts of Life

The Facts of Life

1979

The F.B.I.

The F.B.I.

1965

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

1977

Mr. Lucky

Mr. Lucky

1959

Silver Spoons

Silver Spoons

1982

Batman

Batman

1966

Hawaii Five-O

Hawaii Five-O

1968

Quincy, M.E.

Quincy, M.E.

1976

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

1972

Tracey Takes On...

Tracey Takes On...

1996

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters

1963

Webster

Webster

1983

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

1976

Mannix

Mannix

1967

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

1968

Kojak

Kojak

1973

Medical Center

Medical Center

1969

Hogan's Heroes

Hogan's Heroes

1965

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

Cagney & Lacey

Cagney & Lacey

1982

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl

1976

Combat!

Combat!

1962

Dallas

Dallas

1978

Cannon

Cannon

1971

Lassie

Lassie

1954

JAG

JAG

1995

Eight Is Enough

Eight Is Enough

1977

California Fever

California Fever

1979

Man with a Camera

Man with a Camera

1958

The Hogan Family

The Hogan Family

1986

Saints and Sinners

Saints and Sinners

1962

Hunter

Hunter

1984

The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy

1981

Leave It to Beaver

Leave It to Beaver

1957

Run, Buddy, Run

Run, Buddy, Run

1966

Everglades

Everglades

1961

Philip Marlowe

Philip Marlowe

1959

The Lawless Years

The Lawless Years

1959

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958

McMillan & Wife

McMillan & Wife

1971

To Rome with Love

To Rome with Love

1969

Vega$

Vega$

1978

Switch

Switch

1975

Hennesey

Hennesey

1959

The All-New Super Friends Hour

The All-New Super Friends Hour

1977

Young Dan'l Boone

Young Dan'l Boone

1977

Matt Houston

Matt Houston

1982

The Thin Man

The Thin Man

1957

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

1957

The Big Valley

The Big Valley

1965

Enos

Enos

1980

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

1954

The Dakotas

The Dakotas

1963

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

1961

The Guns of Will Sonnett

The Guns of Will Sonnett

1967

Fay

Fay

1975

The Manhunter

The Manhunter

1974

The Cara Williams Show

The Cara Williams Show

1964

Devlin

Devlin

1974

Honey West

Honey West

1965

Rango

Rango

1967

Nero Wolfe

Nero Wolfe

1981

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969

Dr. Kildare

Dr. Kildare

1961

Panic!

Panic!

1957

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

1955

Stone

Stone

1980

Hunter

Hunter

1977

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

1977

Not for Hire

Not for Hire

1959

Bronk

Bronk

1975

Bodies of Evidence

Bodies of Evidence

1992

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

1959

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin

1954

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984

Hunter

Hunter

1984

The Texan

The Texan

1958

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969

Mr. Lucky

Mr. Lucky

1959

The F.B.I.

The F.B.I.

1965

Combat!

Combat!

1962

The Jack Benny Program

The Jack Benny Program

1950

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

1959

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show

1960

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

1955

Adam-12

Adam-12

1968

Temple Houston

Temple Houston

1963

Adam-12

Adam-12

1968

Love, American Style

Love, American Style

1969

Honey West

Honey West

1965

Code Red

Code Red

1981

Dan August

Dan August

1970

The Rifleman

The Rifleman

1958

Kung Fu

Kung Fu

1972

Mannix

Mannix

1967

The A-Team

The A-Team

1983

The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files

1974

TV 101

TV 101

1988

The Danny Thomas Hour

The Danny Thomas Hour

1967

21 Jump Street

21 Jump Street

1987

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

1968

My Favorite Martian

My Favorite Martian

1963

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

1976

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

1976

Hunter

Hunter

1984

77 Sunset Strip

77 Sunset Strip

1958

Lawman

Lawman

1958

One Day at a Time

One Day at a Time

1975

Bonanza

Bonanza

1959

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971

Super Friends

Super Friends

1973

The 20th Century Fox Hour

The 20th Century Fox Hour

1955

The Streets of San Francisco

The Streets of San Francisco

1972

Hill Street Blues

Hill Street Blues

1981

Mannix

Mannix

1967

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954

The Mod Squad

The Mod Squad

1968

Matt Houston

Matt Houston

1982

Barnaby Jones

Barnaby Jones

1973

The Rousters

The Rousters

1983

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

1976