Today's actor played CONTROL Agent Roberts in the 1969 Get Smart episode "The Apes of Rath". KAOS scientist Dr. Rath has discovered a way to make savage apes look like regular humans, but able to revert back to savagery upon command.
Our luckless Agent Roberts has received a banana in the mail, a sinister omen.
Moments later, he lets into his apartment the man he thinks is CONTROL agent Chuck Armstrong (actor Charles Bateman), not knowing this is really "Chucko the Ape".
Minutes later, "Chucko" is activated and Roberts meets his (off-camera) demise.
This actor didn't get to appear on screen with any members of the main Get Smart cast, but here is a publicity still with the always-exasperated Chief of CONTROL (Edward Platt).
Did you recognize him?
It is former Dodgers star Maury Wills. I have five of the six cards Topps issued for him during his playing career.
Though Wills had a few other roles where he played characters other than himself, other than Get Smart it was always within a baseball setting. Other notable acting credits included the movies The Black 6 (the story of a motorcycle gang played by NFL stars Gene Washington, Carl Eller, Lem Barney, Mercury Morris, Willie Lanier and Joe Greene) and The Sandlot, and episodes of Shazam and Adam's Rib. Here is Wills in his 1973 Adam's Rib appearance.
I thought he played much longer than this. His name has always been familiar to me. Must be my overall love for the 60s/70s that his name stands out.
ReplyDeleteWow I didn't know about his acting career. One of the major leaguers I've met. Nice guy.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch Get Smart re-runs.
ReplyDeleteLoved Get Smart. Didn't know he was on there.
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