Richard Basehart

Biography: Richard Basehart was a thoughtful American leading man who never achieved major stardom. He was the son of a newspaper editor and began his career as a reporter and radio announcer. He began his Broadway career in 1938; in 1945, he won the New York Drama Critics Award for his lead in The Hasty Heart. This brought him to the attention of Hollywood, and in 1947 he made his film debut in Cry Wolf. That began a successful and varied screen career of almost four decades' duration. He selected his roles carefully and with discrimination to avoid typecasting. During his career he has played heroes, villains, the mentally disturbed, and many other types, often in a rugged and forceful manner. Besides making the occasional stage appearance, he further stretched his talents by performing in many European films, notably Fellini's La Strada (1954) in which he gave a sensitive performance as the Fool. Other roles include Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956) and the title role in the peculiarRichard Basehart was a thoughtful American leading man who never achieved major stardom. He was the son of a newspaper editor and began his career as a reporter and radio announcer. He began his Broadway career in 1938; in 1945, he won the New York Drama Critics Award for his lead in The Hasty Heart. This brought him to the attention of Hollywood, and in 1947 he made his film debut in Cry Wolf. That began a successful and varied screen career of almost four decades' duration. He selected his roles carefully and with discrimination to avoid typecasting. During his career he has played heroes, villains, the mentally disturbed, and many other types, often in a rugged and forceful manner. Besides making the occasional stage appearance, he further stretched his talents by performing in many European films, notably Fellini's La Strada (1954) in which he gave a sensitive performance as the Fool. Other roles include Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956) and the title role in the peculiar black-and-white film Hitler (1962). He also appeared frequently on television including a long stint on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He was married to actress Valentina Cortese.… Expand