Name Nelson Leigh Role Actor | TV shows This Is the Life | |
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Died July 3, 1985, Hemet, California, United States Education University of Southern California Movies World Without End, Bombers B‑52, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Adventures of Sir Galahad, Scorpio Rising Similar People Edward Bernds, Spencer Gordon Bennet, Sam Katzman, Delbert Mann, Gordon Douglas | ||
Nelson Leigh (born Sydney Talbot Christie, January 1, 1905 – July 3, 1985) was a prolific motion picture actor of the 1940s and 1950s.
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Career
Leigh made over 130 appearances in motion pictures of the era, mainly in supporting roles. He appeared in the cult science fiction movie World Without End as "Dr. Gailbraithe." Later in his career he appeared mainly on television, such as in the 1955 anthology drama series Police Call and in popular TV shows such as "Perry Mason", Bonanza and The F.B.I. and in a 1950 episode (#21) of the TV series,The Lone Ranger He made regular appearances in the Christian television anthology series, This Is the Life, in the recurring role of Pastor Martin.
Leigh tended to play authority figures such as military officers and clergymen, but also played roles varied as Jesus Christ in a Christian film The Living Bible and numerous villains.
Leigh also played the Apostle Paul in the "Life of St. Paul" series and again in the "Acts of the Apostles" series. In 1954, he played a priest, Father Kerrigan, in the western film, Jesse James v. the Daltons.
In 1949, he portrayed the Ghost of Christmas Past in a notoriously low-budgeted half-hour television version of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, with Vincent Price as narrator and Taylor Holmes as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Leigh was a graduate of the University of Southern California, class of 1929.