Today's mystery actor was a classically trained pianist as a youngster, even performing at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York at the age of 16. (This was actually not terribly unusual, the hall hosted many youth piano recitals in the 1950s.) He made his acting debut in the same episode of Gilligan's Island as our previous performer. He is the headhunter in the center of the photo.
He was also twice a henchman on Batman, once for Tallulah Bankhead (Black Widow) and once for Zsa Zsa Gabor (Minerva) in the series' final episode.
He also had a brief role in the 1967 film Riot on Sunset Strip. He returned to acting briefly in the mid-1970s with appearances on the TV show Baretta and the movies Mansion of the Doomed and Dracula's Dog.
Have you guessed? It is former Dodgers and Padres outfielder Al Ferrara. Ferrara played parts of eight seasons in the major leagues between 1963 and 1971, hitting .259 with 51 HR and 198 RBI.
I have all but one of Ferrara's Topps cards, just missing 1965.
Seems like a lot of ballplayers made guest appearances on tv shows back in the 60's and 70's. I'm not sure if they do nowadays... but if they are... I haven't seen them.
ReplyDeleteIt was mostly Dodgers (being near Hollywood and such). I can think of Wes Parker, Jim Lefebvre, and of course Don Drysdale - giving Greg Brady some pitching advice.
DeleteThe LA Rams' Marlin McKeever also appeared in a 3 Stooges movie.
I always love to learn I have baseball cards of Batman villain goons.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of his cards set aside strictly because of his Batman appearances.
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