Sidney Blackmer
Sidney Alderman Blackmer was an American Broadway and film actor active between 1914 and 1971, usually in major supporting roles.
Biography
Blackmer was born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina, the son of Clara Deroulhac and Walter Steele Blackmer. He started in the insurance and financial counseling business but abandoned it. While working as a construction laborer on a new building, he saw a Pearl White serial being filmed and immediately decided to pursue acting as a career. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Blackmer had a role in the highly popular serial The Perils of Pauline, his film debut.
In 1929, he returned to motion pictures and went on to appear as a major character actor in more than 120 films.
He won the 1950 Tony Award for Best Actor for his role in the Broadway play Come Back, Little Sheba, co-starring with Shirley Booth.
In film, Blackmer had a role as the conniving Manhattan warlock Roman Castevet in the guise of one of many overly solicitous elderly neighbors of the pregnant titular character in the Academy Award-winning 1968 Roman Polanski film, Rosemary's Baby.
Blackmer also appeared in television roles, such as Don't Come Back Alive episode of the 1955 TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents and "The Premature Burial" episode of the 1961 TV series Thriller. Blackmer also guest starred twice in the western TV series Bonanza in the episodes "The Dream Riders" and "The Late Ben Cartwright". Among his most notable roles was the character of presidential candidate William Lyons Selby in the Outer Limits episode "The Hundred Days of the Dragon".
A humanitarian, Blackmer served as the national vice president of the United States Muscular Dystrophy Association. He also helped found the North Carolina School of the Arts. In 1972, he was honored with the North Carolina Award in the Fine Arts category. It is the State of North Carolina's highest civilian award. On his death in 1973, Blackmer was interred in the Chestnut Hill Cemetery in his hometown.
Legacy
For his contributions to the film industry, Blackmer has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1625 Vine Street.
Filmography
Beating Back A Most Immoral Lady as Humphrey SergeantThe Love Racket as Fred MastersStrictly Modern as Heath DesmondSweethearts and Wives as Anthony PeelThe Bad Man as Morgan PellKismet as Wazir MansurMothers Cry as Mr. Gerald HartLittle Caesar as Big BoyWoman Hungry as Geoffrey BrandIt's a Wise Child as SteveThe Lady Who Dared as Charles TownsendFrom Hell to Heaven as Cliff BillingsCocktail Hour as William LawtonThe Wrecker as Tom CummingsDeluge as Martin WebsterGoodbye Love as Chester HamiltonThis Man Is Mine as Mort HolmesThe Count of Monte Cristo as MondegoDown to Their Last Yacht as Barry ForbesTransatlantic Merry-Go-Round as Lee LotherThe President Vanishes as D.L. VoormanA Notorious Gentleman as Clayton BradfordThe Little Colonel as SwazeyBehind the Green Lights as Raymond CortellGreat God Gold as John HartThe Girl Who Came Back as Bill RhodesShadows of the Orient as King MossSmart Girl as Harry CourtlandStreamline Express as Gilbert LandonFalse Pretenses as Kenneth AldenThe Fire-Trap as Cedric McIntyreForced Landing as Tony BernardiHeart of the West as John TrumbullWoman Trap as Riley FergusonFlorida Special as Jack MacklynEarly to Bed as Rex DanielsMissing Girls as Dan CollinsThe President's Mystery as George SartosHouse of Secrets as Tom StarrGirl Overboard as Alex LeMaireA Doctor's Diary as Dr. Anson LudlowJohn Meade's Woman as RodneyMichael O'Halloran as Jim MintumThis Is My Affair as President Theodore RooseveltThe Women Men Marry as Walter WileyWife, Doctor and Nurse as Dr. TherbergHeidi as SesemannThe Last Gangster as EditorCharlie Chan at Monte Carlo as Victor KarnoffThank You, Mr. Moto as Herr Eric KoergerIn Old Chicago as General Phil SheridanSpeed to Burn as HastingsStraight, Place and Show as 'Lucky' BraddockDown on the Farm as Political Boss Suez as Marquis Du BreySharpshooters as Baron OrloffOrphans of the Street as ParkerWhile New York Sleeps as Ralph SimmonsTrade Winds as Thomas Bruhme IIConvict's Code as Gregory WarrenFast and Loose as 'Lucky' NolanWithin the Law as George DemarestIt's a Wonderful World as Al MallonUnmarried as Cash EnrightTrapped in the Sky as MannHotel for Women as McNeilThe Monroe Doctrine as Theodore RooseveltLaw of the Pampas as Ralph MerrittFramed as Tony BowmanTeddy, the Rough Rider as Theodore RooseveltMaryland as Spencer DanfieldDance, Girl, Dance as Puss in BootsI Want a Divorce as Erskine BrandonThird Finger, Left Hand as Hughie WheelerCheers for Miss Bishop as John StevensMurder Among Friends as Mr. WheelerThe Great Swindle as Dave LennoxRookies on Parade as Augustus MoodyLove Crazy as George RennyAngels with Broken Wings as Guy BartonEllery Queen and the Perfect Crime as Anthony RhodesThe Feminine Touch as Freddie BondThe Officer and the Lady as Blake StandishDown Mexico Way as Ellery GibsonNazi Agent as Arnold MilbarObliging Young Lady as Henry, George's AttorneyAlways in My Heart as Philip AmesThe Panther's Claw as Police Commissioner Thatcher ColtGallant Lady as Steve CareySabotage Squad as Carlyle HarrisonQuiet Please, Murder as Martin CleaverMurder in Times Square as George NevinsI Escaped from the Gestapo as BergenIn Old Oklahoma as Teddy RooseveltBroadway Rhythm as Press Agent Buffalo Bill as Theodore Roosevelt The Lady and the Monster as Eugene FultonWilson as Josephus DanielsDuel in the Sun as The LoverMy Girl Tisa as Theodore RooseveltA Song Is Born as AdamsPeople Will Talk as Arthur HigginsSaturday's Hero as T. C. McCabeThe San Francisco Story as Andrew CainWashington Story as Philip EmeryThe High and the Mighty as Humphrey AgnewJohnny Dark as James FieldingAlfred Hitchcock Presents as Frank PartridgeThe View from Pompey's Head as Garvin WalesHigh Society as Seth LordBeyond a Reasonable Doubt as Austin SpencerAccused of Murder as Frank HobartTammy and the Bachelor as Professor BrentAlfred Hitchcock Presents as Reverend Otis JonesHow to Murder Your Wife as Judge BlackstoneJoy in the Morning as Dean James DarwentA Covenant with Death as Colonel OatesRosemary's Baby as Roman CastevetRevenge Is My Destiny as Gregory Mann