Edward Andrews

Edward Andrews (October 9, 1914 – March 8, 1985) was an American actor, one of the most recognizable character actors on television and motion pictures between the 1950s and the 1980s. His stark white hair, portly build and horn-rimmed glasses added to the type of roles he received, as he was often cast as an ornery boss, a cagey businessman, or a strict disciplinarian of some type. Infobox actor
name = Edward Andrews

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birthname = | birthdate = birth date|1914|10|09
birthplace = Griffin, Georgia, U.S.A.
deathdate = death date and age|1985|03|08|1914|10|09
deathplace = Santa Monica, California, U.S.A.
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occupation = actor
yearsactive = 1936 – 1984
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He was born in Griffin, Georgia, the son of an Episcopalian minister, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Wheeling, West Virginia. As a child he attended Pittsburgh's Nixon Theatre and would nab a balcony seat so as to catch a good view of the 'headliners.' At age 12 he did a walk-on in a stock theatre production which featured James Gleason and he was 'hooked' on an acting career.

He attended the University of Virginia and at age 21 made his stage debut in 1926, progressing to Broadway by 1935. In 1936, Andrews debuted in the movie "Rushin' Art". It was not until 1955, however, that he appeared in his second movie. He was cast as the subversive and corrupt character of Rhett Tanner, head of a knock-them-off political machine, in "The Phoenix City Story".

While Andrews' film acting career began in earnest in his forties, he was consistently typecast as a grandfatherly type, and thus he is most strongly associated with these roles in later movies. Among his roles are those that are soft and friendly though Andrews was equally adept at portraying sleazy businessman types or sinister bureaucrats and officials.

Well-known films in which Andrews acted include "Send Me No Flowers", with Doris Day and Rock Hudson, "Advise and Consent", "The Harder They Fall", "The Young Savages", "Elmer Gantry", in which he was memorable as George F. Babbitt, "The Absent-Minded Professor" and "Son of Flubber", in both of which he played the Defense Secretary, and "Avanti!", in which he was a very convincing agent of the State Department. Among his other film credits are: "Summertime" (1955) with Katharine Hepburn; "Tension at Table Rock" (1956); "The Harder They Fall" (1956) with Humphrey Bogart; "Tea and Sympathy" (1956); "Three Brave Men" (1957); "The Young Doctors" (1961); "Youngblood Hawke" (1964); "Good Neighbor Sam" (1964); "The Glass Bottom Boat" (1966); "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (1970) as Admiral Harold R. Stark; "How to Frame a Figg" (1971); "Charley and the Angel" (1973); and "The Seniors" (1978). In 1984, he played the character of Howard Baker in John Hughes' "Sixteen Candles". He also appeared in "Gremlins", filmed later the same year, which would be his final movie.

He also guested on many television series including: "Goodyear Television Playhouse"; "The U.S. Steel Hour"; "Cheyenne"; "Twilight Zone"; "Naked City"; "Gunsmoke"; "Rawhide"; "Bonanza"; "The F.B.I."; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "The Invaders"; "Bewitched"; "Charlie's Angels" and "The Bob Newhart Show." He was a regular on the series: "Broadside" (1964-65) as Commander Rogers Adrian. He played the character of Charley in the 1966 dramatization of "Death of a Salesman", and constantly acted throughout the 1970s as Elton Dykstra on "The Intruders", Ernest W. Stanley on "The Man Who Came to Dinner", Mayor Chrisholm alongside Don Knotts in the 1971 film How to Frame a Figg, and Mayor Massey on "The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton". In 1968, he played a safecracker in a 4-part episode of "I Dream of Jeannie". He played Conductor Harry Flood on the short-lived series "Supertrain". He played Jack Tripper's grandfather in an episode of "Three's Company".

He and his wife Emily had three children, 2 daughters and a son. He was an avid yachtsman and loved sailing. He died of a heart attack on March 8, 1985 in Santa Monica, California at age 70.

External links

*imdb name|id=0028647|name=Edward Andrews
*ibdb name|id=29915|name=Edward Andrews
*amg name|2:1710

Would like to contact Mrs. Andrews.I knew her husband in the forties in Summer Stock.Hopefully, Elettra