Arthur Batanides
Arthur Batanides was an American film and television actor, originally from Tacoma, Washington.
Life and career
Arthur Batanides was born in Tacoma, Washington on April 9, 1923. He became enamored with acting after performing stand-up routines in front of fellow GIs in Europe during World War II. He was educated in dramatic art at the Actors' Lab in Los Angeles, followed by extensive stage experience.Batanides guest starred in such series as Crusader, Tombstone Territory, Zorro, Combat!, The [Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone], The [Asphalt Jungle (TV series)|The Asphalt Jungle], One Step Beyond, Blue Light, Lost in Space, Mission: Impossible, The Silent Force, I Spy, The [Dick Van Dyke Show], The Wild Wild West, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bearcats!, The [Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|The Odd Couple], The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, Columbo and Happy Days. He appeared as Bill Golding in the season six, 1963 episode of Perry Mason titled "The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe". He played Littleboy Sherman in The Rifleman S5 E24 "Old Man Running" which aired March 17, 1963.
One of his more recognizable roles was that of the unfortunate Starfleet officer/geologist D'Amato in the Star Trek episode "That Which Survives". Among his film credits are The Unearthly, Violent Road, The Leech Woman, Man-Trap, The Maltese Bippy, Evil Roy Slade and Brannigan. He also appeared as Mr. Kirkland in four of the Police Academy film series, and the sixth installment was his final acting appearance.
Batanides died in Los Angeles, California on January 10, 2000, at the age of 76.