Howard Culver


Howard Culver was an American radio and television actor, best known as hotel clerk Howie Uzzell during the entire run of TV's Gunsmoke. On radio he starred in the title role of the Western adventure series Straight Arrow, which aired on Mutual from May 6, 1948 to June 21, 1951.

Biography

Culver grew up in Los Angeles, and he was first heard as an actor on CBS while he was a teenager. He served in the Navy for three years during World War II, returning to continue on many San Francisco and Hollywood-based radio shows. In 1948, he was the last actor to portray Ellery Queen on radio's The Adventures of Ellery Queen. After Straight Arrow, he co-starred with Mercedes McCambridge as reporter Jud Barnes on ABC's Defense Attorney.
Jack French recalled Culver in his 1996 essay on Straight Arrow:
Much information about Culver and Straight Arrow was published in the newsletter, Pow Wow, edited by William and Teresa Harper of North Augusta, South Carolina.

Films and television

In addition to his regular role on Gunsmoke, he made numerous TV guest appearances on such shows as Dragnet, ''Adam-12, Land of the Giants, and CHiPs. His film roles included a newscaster in Hal Ashby's Shampoo''.

Death

On August 4, 1984, while vacationing in Hong Kong, Culver died at age 66 after contracting meningitis.

Partial filmography

  • Time Table – Pete the detective
  • Tension at Table Rock – Clerk
  • The Black Whip – Dr. Gillette
  • Cattle Empire – Preacher
  • Hot Car Girl – Dan – police headquarters sergeant
  • -30- – Walt Ashton
  • The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes – Moderator
  • Something's Happened to Dexter
  • Brady Bunch – Mr Crawford
  • The Barefoot Executive –
  • The Million Dollar Duck – Morgan's Assistant
  • Shampoo – Newscaster
  • The Bad News Bears – Newscaster
  • Brigham
  • The Swarm – Airman #2
  • Halloween II – Man in Pajamas
  • Home Safe – Grandpa Ollie

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