Dean Stockwell, who began his career as a child actor in such films as
The Boy with Green Hair (1948) and
The Happy Years (1950) before appearing in such films as
Paris, Texas (1984) and
Blue Velvet (1986) and the TV series
Quantum Leap as an adult, died on November 7 2021 at the age of 85.
Dean Stockwell was born on March 5 1936 in North Hollywood, California. His father was actor Harry Stockwell, who had provided the singing voice of Prince Charming in
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). His older brother was Guy Stockwell, who was later a regular on the TV shows
Adventures in Paradise and
The Richard Boone Show. As the son of an actor, Dean Stockwell grew up in both Los Angeles and New York City.
It was while appearing in
Oklahoma! on Broadway that his father Harry Stockwell heard of the play
Innocent Voyage that needed child actors. Both Guy Stockwell and Dean Stockwell auditioned for roles in
Innocent Voyage and both were cast in the play. While Dean Stockwell's part was small and
Innocent Voyage only ran on Broadway from November 15 1943 to December 18 1944, he was noticed by MGM who gave him a contract. Dean Stockwell made his film debut in
The Valley of Decision in 1945. He had notable roles in
Anchors Aweigh (1945),
The Green Years (1946),
The Boy with Green Hair (1948), and
The Happy Years (1950). He played Nick Charles Jr. in
Song of the Thin Man (1947). He also appeared in the movies
Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945),
Home, Sweet Homicide (1946),
The Mighty McGurk (1947),
The Arnelo Affair (1947),
The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947),
Gentleman's Agreement (1947),
Deep Waters (1948),
Down to the Sea in Ships (1949),
The Secret Garden (1949), and
Kim (1950).
Dean Stockwell appeared in the movie
Cattle Drive (1951) before taking a short break from acting. During this period he worked a number of odd jobs, from working on the railroad to working in a bakery. He returned to acting with the movie
Gun for a Coward in 1956. He also made his second and last appearance on Broadway in the play
Compulsion in 1957. He would reprise his role as Judd Steiner in the 1959 film adaptation of
Compulsion. Dean Stockwell made his television debut in an episode of
Front Row Center in 1956. In the mid to late Fifties he also appeared in the movies
The Careless Years (1957) and
Sons and Lovers (1960). He guest starred on the TV shows
Matinee Theatre,
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars,
Wagon Train,
The United States Steel Hour,
Climax!,
Men of Annapolis,
Cimarron City,
General Electric Theatre,
Playhouse 90,
Johnny Staccato,
Buick-Electra Playhouse,
Checkmate, and
The DuPont Show with June Allyson.
In the Sixties Dean Stockwell had a recurring role on the TV series
Dr. Kildare. He guest starred on the TV shows
Outlaws,
Alfred Hitchcock Presents,
Wagon Train,
Bus Stop,
The Twilight Zone,
Alcoa Premiere,
The Dick Powell Show,
Combat!,
The Greatest Show on Earth,
The Defenders,
The Eleventh Hour,
Kraft Suspense Theatre,
Burke's Law, The Danny Thomas Hour,
Thirty-Minute Theatre, and
Bonanza. He appeared in the movies
Long Day's Journey into Night (1962),
Rapture (1965),
Psych-Out (1968), and
The Dunwich Horror (1970).
In the Seventies Mr. Stockwell guest starred in the television shows
Mannix,
The F.B.I.,
Mission: Impossible,
Night Gallery,
Orson Welles' Great Mysteries,
Dr. Simon Locke,
The Streets of San Francisco,
Columbo,
Joe Forrester,
Three for the Road,
Cannon,
Ellery Queen,
Police Story,
McCloud,
Tales of the Unexpected, and
Greatest Heroes of the Bible. He appeared in the movies
The Last Movie (1971),
The Loners (1973),
The Werewolf of London (1973),
The Pacific Connection (1974),
Win, Place or Steal (1974),
Tracks (1976),
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976),
One Away (1976), and
She Came to the Valley (1979).
In 1989 Dean Stockwell began a five year run playing Admiral Al Calavicci on the TV series
Quantum Leap. He was the voice of Duke Nukem on the animated series
Captain Planet and the Planeteers. He guest starred on the shows
Hart to Hart;
The A-Team; Simon & Simon;
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense;
Miami Vice;
Hunter;
Murder, She Wrote; and
The Twilight Zone. He appeared in the mini-series
Son of the Morning Star. During the Eighties he made several significant appearances in movies, playing Walt Henderson in
Paris, Texas (1984), Doctor Yueh in
Dune (1984), and Ben in
Blue Velvet (1986). He also appeared in the movies
Wrong is Right (1982),
Human Highway (1982),
Alsino y el cóndor (1982),
To Kill a Stranger (1984),
The Legend of Billie Jean (1985),
To Live and Die of L.A. (1985),
Once Bitten (1985),
Papa Was a Preacher (1985),
Gardens of Stone (1987),
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987),
The Time Guardian (1987),
Banzai Runner (1987),
The Blue Iguana (1988),
Married to the Mob (1988),
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988),
Palais Royale (1988),
Buying Time (1988),
Jorge, um Brasileiro (1989),
Limit Up (1989), and
Catchfire (1990).
In the Nineties he continued to appear as Al on
Quantum Leap. He was a regular on the show
Street Gear and
The Tony Danza Show. He guest starred on the shows
Burke's Law,
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,
Chicago Hope,
Snowy River: The McGregor Saga,
Nowhere Man,
The Commish,
Can't Hurry Love,
Ink,
Popular Science,
It's True!,
The Drew Carey Show, and
Cold Feet. He appeared in the movies
Sandino (1991),
The Player (1992),
Friends and Enemies (1992),
Chasers (1994),
Mr. Wrong (1996),
Naked Souls (1996),
Last Resort (1996),
Living in Peril (1997),
McHale's Navy (1997),
Midnight Blue (1997),
Air Force One (1997),
The Shadow Men (1997),
The Rainmaker (1997),
Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights (1998),
Restraining Order (1999),
Water Damage (1999),
The Venice Project (1999),
Rites of Passage (1999), and
The Flunky (2000).
In the Naughts Dean Stockwell had a recurring role the TV series
First Monday. On
JAG he played the recurring role of Secretary of the Navy Edward Sheffield. He also had a recurring role on the 2000s revival of
Battlestar Galactica. He guest starred on the shows
Star Trek: Enterprise,
Stargate SG-1, and
Crash. He appeared in the movies
Face to Face (2001),
CQ (2001),
The Quickie (2001),
Buffalo Soldiers (2001),
Inferno (2002),
The Manchurian Candidate (2004), and
The Deal (2007).
In the Teens Dean Stockwell guest starred on the shows
Elisted and
NCIS. He appeared in the movies
C.O.G. (2013),
Max Rose (2013),
Deep in the Darkness (2014),
Persecuted (2014), and
Entertainment (2015).
Dean Stockwell was an enormous talent. He was among the most natural child actors of all time, giving superb performances in
The Boy with Green Hair and
Kim, among other movies. As an adult he would play a wide variety of roles. He will always be remembered as Al, the womanizing rear admiral who assists Sam Beckett as he travels through time. He will also be remembered as the rather creepy Ben, who lip syncs to Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" in
Blue Velvet. That having been said, he played many more roles throughout his career. He was Edmund, the younger son who may have tuberculosis, in
Long Day's Journey into Night. He played Howard Hughes in
Tucker: The Man and His Dream. From the attorney Bob Grimes in
To Live and Die in L.A. to a mob boss in
Married to the Mob, Dean Stockwell played many different roles. What is more he always gave a good performance.