Wendell Holmes (actor)


Wendell Holmes was an American actor whose career included work in radio, television, broadway, and film.

Early years

Holmes was born Oliver Wendell Holmes in Cheshire, Ohio to Ferdie and Ada Holmes.
Census records indicate that by 1930 the family was living in Columbus, Ohio.

Career

An article appearing in The Des Moines Register mentions Holmes being born on a farm and describes his winning a Chautauqua competition at age six, entering high school at age ten, and graduating from Ohio State University at age 18 with a degree in Education. It further states that instead of becoming an educator, Holmes hitch-hiked to New York and began working as an actor, starting his radio career in 1934.
An article appearing in The Daily Dispatch mentions that Holmes' parents were school teachers and adds to the Chautauqua event by noting it took place in Middleport, Ohio, where a talent scout signed him up for more work.
The same Daily Dispatch article quotes Holmes as saying at the time, "There are about 5,000 radio actors here, and last year they averaged $16 a week salary. Only about 500 manage to earn a truckdriver's living...When I started in 1934 I got $20 a week for working in 30 shows."
During the years 1947–48, Holmes appeared in the adaptation of Sherlock Holmes starring John Stanley as Dr. Watson, but was credited as "George Spelvin" to avoid confusion between his actual surname and the surname of the show's protagonist.
Over the years, Holmes acted in more than 40 radio dramas, 50 TV episodes, and 10 movies.

Personal life

On June 20, 1938, Holmes married actress Lois E Jesson in Manhattan, New York. Following his divorce from Jesson, Holmes married actress Adrienne Marden in Santa Monica, California on August 12, 1956.
Wendell Holmes died of what is thought to have been a heart attack in Paris, France, on May 18, 1962.

Radio Acting

YearTitleRoleNotes
1945Words at War: Apartment in Athensvoice actorRadio drama
1947Colonel Humphrey Flackvoice actorRadio drama
1948The Ford Theater: Storm in a Teacupvoice actorRadio drama
1948The Mysterious Traveler: The Man Who Vanishedvoice actorRadio drama
1948Sherlock Holmes: The Blue Carbunclevoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: Almost Humanvoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: And the Moon Be Still as Brightvoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: No Contactvoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: Mars Is Heavenvoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: The Outer Limitvoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: The Potters of Firskvoice actorRadio drama
1950Dimension X: The Roads Must Rollvoice actorRadio drama
1951John Steele, Adventurer: Counterpointvoice actorRadio drama
1951Dimension X: First Contactvoice actorRadio drama
1951Dimension X: The Last Objectivevoice actorRadio drama
1952Best Plays: Arsenic and Old Lacevoice actorRadio drama
1952The Chase: Career Girlvoice actorRadio drama
1953The Chase: A Frame for Murdervoice actorRadio drama
195321st Precinct: The Dog Dayvoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: The Green Hills of Earthvoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: A Logic Named Joevoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: No Contactvoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: Mars Is Heavenvoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: First Contactvoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: Nightfallvoice actorRadio drama
1955X Minus One: The Outer Limitvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: Chain of Commandvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: A Gun For Dinosaurvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: Honeymoon in Hellvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: Mr. Costello, Herovoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: The Old Die Richvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: Protective Mimicryvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: The Roads Must Rollvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: Skulking Permitvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: The Snowball Effectvoice actorRadio drama
1956X Minus One: Soldier Boyvoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: The Category Inventorvoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: Discovery of Morniel Mathawayvoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: Man's Best Friendvoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: Open Warfarevoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: Saucer of Lonelinessvoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: The Scapegoatvoice actorRadio drama
1957X Minus One: Something For Nothingvoice actorRadio drama
1961Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar: The Stock in Trade Mattervoice actorRadio drama

Filmography