Carl Benton Reid

Early years

Reid was born in Lansing, Michigan. He used his full name professionally because when he worked in radio, four other people in the business were named Carl Reid.

Career

For seven years, Reid performed in leading-man roles of productions at the Cleveland Play House. He achieved fame on the Broadway stage in 1939 as Oscar Hubbard, one of Regina Giddens's (Tallulah Bankhead) greedy, devious brothers in the play The Little Foxes, and made his film debut reprising his role opposite Bette Davis in the 1941 film version. He also appeared in several Shakespeare plays on Broadway, and in the original production of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, as Harry Slade.

His stern, cold demeanor quickly stereotyped him in villainous, and/or unpleasant characters, although he could play a sympathetic role, as he did occasionally in such films as the 1957 TV-movie version of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Here he played the Mayor of Middelburg, who unsuccessfully requests help from the Mayor of Hamelin (Claude Rains), when Hamelin is the victim of a flood. The flood leads to the famous plague of rats which invade Hamelin, and set the main plot in motion. He played the American Admiral, who is leading the peace talks between the Americans and Chinese during the Korean War in MGM's Pork Chop Hill. His last two roles came in 1966; as the judge in the film version of Madame X.

On old-time radio, Reid played Roger Allen in the soap opera Big Sister.

On television, Reid had the role of The Man in Amos Burke, Secret Agent. He made four guest appearances on Perry Mason during the show's nine-year run between 1957–66. His final television role was as Claude Townsend in the TV series The F.B.I..

Personal life

Reid was married to actress Hazel Harrison, whom he met at the Cleveland Play House. They had a daughter, Shirley Jane.

Death

On March 16, 1973, Reid died at his home in Studio City, California, at age 79. He was survived by his wife and his daughter.