Nelson Leigh
Nelson Leigh was an American motion picture actor of the 1940s and 1950s.
Early years
Born in Mississippi, Leigh was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Christie. He was a graduate of the University of Southern California, class of 1929.
Career
Leigh appeared on Broadway in Hamlet.
Leigh made over 130 appearances in motion pictures of the 1940s and 1950s, mainly in supporting roles. On stage, Leigh portrayed Jesus Christ for many years in the annual production of the Pilgrimage Play in the Hollywood Pilgrimage Bowl. This typecast Nelson Leigh in religious and medieval roles; in 1949 he played King Arthur in the adventure serial The Adventures of Sir Galahad. That same year he appeared in an early syndicated television film, a notoriously low-budgeted half-hour adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol with Vincent Price as narrator and Taylor Holmes as Ebenezer Scrooge ; Leigh played the Ghost of Christmas Past. He played Jesus Christ in a Christian film The Living Bible, and the Apostle Paul in the "Life of St. Paul" series and again in the "Acts of the Apostles" series. He played priests in various films, including Angels' Alley with The Bowery Boys, and the western Jesse James vs. the Daltons. He made regular appearances in the Christian television anthology series, This Is the Life, in the recurring role of Pastor Martin. He also appeared in costume dramas.
His calm demeanor often landed him roles as military officers and other authority figures. He appeared in the cult science-fiction movie World Without End as Dr. Gailbraithe. Later in his career he appeared mainly on television, such as in a 1950 episode of the TV series The Lone Ranger, the 1955 anthology series Police Call and in popular TV shows such as Perry Mason. Bonanza, and ''The F.B.I.''
Recognition
In 1949, the American Association of Religious Film Directors gave Leigh its Best Actor Award for his portrayal of the Christus in The Calling of Matthew. In 1953, he won a "Christian Oscar" from the National Evangelistic Film Foundation for his work in two series, The Living Bible and This Is the Life.
Selected filmography
Appointment in Berlin - Civilian First Comes Courage - Blake The Man from Down Under - Man in Sydney Pub Sahara - British Soldier Corvette K-225 - Naval Officer Lassie Come Home - Joe's Teacher The Return of the Vampire - Sir Frederick's Office Assistant A Guy Named Joe - Man What a Woman! - Reporter Texas Masquerade - James CorwinTwo-Man Submarine - Naval Officer Jam Session - Vincent Blake The Girl in the Case - Fred Follow the Boys - Bull Fiddler The White Cliffs of Dover - British Naval Officer Louisiana Hayride - Wiffle - Makeup ArtistMr. Winkle Goes to War - Army Doctor U-Boat Prisoner - Destroyer Lt. Hagen Meet Miss Bobby Socks - Henry Bricker Tonight and Every Night - British Army Officer It's a Pleasure - Waiter Identity Unknown - Col. F.A. MarlinSon of Lassie - Flight Coordinator Cornered - Dominion Official The Sailor Takes a Wife - Canadian Officer The Bandit of Sherwood Forest - Robin Hood's Man Brick Bradford - Edward Preston Angels' Alley - Father O'HanlonThe Black Arrow - Guard Superman - Jor-El The Gallant Blade - D'Emery Congo Bill - Dr. GreenwayRacing Luck - HendricksThe Fighting O'Flynn - Officer The Lost Tribe - ZoronBarbary Pirate - RindeffJolson Sings Again - Theater Manager Adventures of Sir Galahad - King ArthurThe Pilgrimage Play - Jesus of NazarethLife of St. Paul Series - St. PaulCaptive Girl - Reverend E.R. Holcom Rogues of Sherwood Forest - Baron Benedict Home Town Story - Dr. JohnsonYukon Manhunt - Jim KenmoreHurricane Island - PadreSubmarine Command - Gen. Whitehead Bugles in the Afternoon - Maj. Reno Thief of Damascus - Ben JammalMagnificent Adventure Savage Mutiny - Dr. ParkerSplit Second - Scientist at Control Station Valley of Head Hunters - Mr. BradleyThe Great Adventures of Captain Kidd - Robert Langdon Prisoners of the Casbah - Emir Jack Slade - Alf SladeTexas Bad Man - BradleyJesse James vs. the Daltons - Father KerriganDrums of Tahiti - Minister The Saracen Blade - IsaacThe Black Shield of Falworth - Archbishop at Myles' Knighting The Outlaw's Daughter - Jim DaltonBig House, U.S.A. - Madden's FBI Supervisor The Virgin Queen - Physician Creature with the Atom Brain - Dr. Kenneth C. Norton Rebel Without a Cause - Desk Sergeant #1 World Without End - Dr. Eldon GalbraitheThe First Texan - Col. HockleyHold Back the Night - Lt. Col. ToomeyStrange Intruder - Doctor Toward the Unknown - Chaplain Friendly Persuasion - Methodist Minister Untamed Mistress - The Holy ManThe Spirit of St. Louis - Director Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - Mayor KellyGod Is My Partner - Rev. William GoodwinJet Pilot - FBI Agent The Unholy Wife - Metallurgy Expert Bombers B-52 - Brig. Gen. Wayne ActonOfficial Detective - CozcoThe Book of Acts Series - Apostle Paul / Saul of TarsusThe Naked and the Dead - Admiral Voice in the Mirror - Dr. Bernhardt Step Down to Terror - Reverend JohnsonIn Love and War - Lt. Col. Herron The Hangman - Col. Hammond Imitation of Life - Doctor These Thousand Hills - Brother Van Operation Petticoat - Adm. Koenig Vice Raid - Louise's Attending Physician Ma Barker's Killer Brood - George BarkerThe Gallant Hours - Adm. Dan Callaghan Ocean's 11 - Doctor / Specialist The Dark at the Top of the Stairs - Ed Peabody A Fever in the Blood - Doctor The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come - Mr. TurnerLover Come Back - Northcross, Ad Council Chairman The Outsider - Judge Incident in an Alley - Police Commissioner Bell A Gathering of Eagles - Gen. AymesThe Silencers - Tung-Tze Agent The Nickel Ride -