John Newland
John Newland was an American film director, actor, television producer, and screenwriter.
Early life and career
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Newland began his career in vaudeville while still in his teens. After moving to New York City to study acting, he served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he signed with Warner Bros. but was limited to playing bit parts. By the early 1950s, Newland began to focus solely on television roles, appearing in several episodes of Studio One, The Philco Television Playhouse, Tales of Tomorrow, Kraft Television Theatre, Robert Montgomery Presents and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.After directing episodes of Letter to Loretta in 1953, Newland went on to direct two episodes of Bachelor Father, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Thriller (US TV series).
His feature film directorial debut That Night! was nominated for two British Academy Film Awards.
In 1959, Newland became the host and director of the paranormal television series Alcoa Presents: [One Step Beyond|One Step Beyond]. The series ended its run in 1961 and Newland later hosted its short-lived counterpart The Next Step Beyond in 1978.
Following the demise of his One Step Beyond, Newland directed one of the early 1964 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episodes called "The Double Affair." His episode was given additional footage and released to cinemas as a motion picture titled The Spy with My Face. In 1966 he produced and directed all episodes but one of the serious spy series The Man Who Never Was for which he also served as a writer. Some episodes were strung together and released outside the United States as a film called Danger Has Two Faces. He later directed episodes of The Sixth Sense and Police Woman. In addition to acting, directing, and screenwriting, he produced several television movies and directed the 1967 Star Trek episode "Errand of Mercy."
Death
On January 10, 2000, Newland died of a stroke in Los Angeles, age 82.Select filmography
Director
That Night! The Thin Man Bachelor Father One Step Beyond, also hostCheckmate Thriller Route 66 Naked City The Defenders The Nurses The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The Man Who Never Was (TV series) Star Trek Daniel Boone Hawaii Five-O The Name of the Game My Lover My Son The Legend of Hillbilly John Night Gallery The Sixth Sense Don't be Afraid of the Dark Harry O Matt Helm Police Woman The Next Step Beyond, also host.Wonder Woman Flamingo Road- ''Whiz Kids''
Actor
Gentleman's Agreement Nora Prentiss 13 Lead Soldiers Kraft Television Theatre Studio One Lights Out The Philco Television Playhouse The Web Armstrong Circle Theatre Lux Video Theatre Tales of Tomorrow Robert Montgomery Presents Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Letter to Loretta General Electric Theater The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor Thriller Dr. Kildare- ''Night Gallery''