Theo Marcuse

Theo Marcuse (August 2, 1920 – November 29, 1967) was an American character actor who appeared frequently on TV in the 1950s and 1960s. His sinister, hulking countenance was enhanced by a shaven head that accentuated his elephantine ears.

Biography
Marcuse was born in Washington, D.C. of Irish-Jewish parentage to a successful fur designer. He grew up in San Francisco and received a master's degree in classical literature from Stanford University. He served with the Navy during World War II and was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation for his heroics while serving as a lieutenant on the famed submarine Tirante. Other officers on board included future Massachusetts governor Endicott Peabody and author Edward L. Beach, Jr., who wrote the submarine classic Run Silent, Run Deep.

Career
His love for Shakespeare's plays led to a desire to act on the stage. He trained under Guthrie McClintic in his theatre company along with Charlton Heston and appeared on Broadway with Katharine Cornell, Maurice Evans and others. On TV he appeared on many series including The Wild Wild West, Have Gun-Will Travel, Hogan's Heroes, Star Trek episode "Catspaw", The Time Tunnel, I Spy, The Monkees, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episodes "The Re-collectors Affair," "The Minus-X Affair," and "The Pieces of Fate Affair".

Marcuse, who sometimes was credited as Theodore Marcuse, died in an automobile accident in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 47.