Fletcher Markle

Fletcher Markle (March 27, 1921, Winnipeg, Manitoba – May 23, 1991) In a career that spanned three decades, he played various roles as an actor, director and producer for radio, cinema and television.

He began in the early 1940s in Vancouver, British Columbia doing radio dramas with a group whose members included John Drainie, Lister Sinclair, Bernie Braden and Alan Young on such local stations as CJOR and the CBC network. During World War II, the group moved to Toronto, and Markle had a role as an actor in "Journey Together" (1946).

Markle then moved to New York City and although not listed in the credits, wrote for Orson Welles' "The Lady from Shanghai". During his time in New York, he contributed to the CBS radio anthology, "Studio One", which he later brought to television. He produced, wrote for and played a cameo role in the movie "Jigsaw" (1949). For "Night into Morning" (1951), he directed Nancy Davis (Reagan), Ray Milland and John Hodiak.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, he was a director, producer and host for a number of television series such as "Front Row Center" and Boris Karloff's "Thriller", "Father of the Bride" and "Telescope". He directed the movie "The Incredible Journey" (1963) for Walt Disney. Markle is given credit for signing up Lorne Greene to play Ben Cartwright in "Bonanza" [http://engsoc.queensu.ca/players/history/famous_alumni/lorne%20greene/] . While working for Orson Welles, Markle met and later married Mercedes McCambridge.

External links

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* [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/personalities/personalities.php?id=136 Fletcher Markle] at the [http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index.html Canadian Communications Foundation]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-362-1985/politics_economy/bombardier/clip1 The tireless inventor] - a video clip with Markle hosting "Telescope" from the CBC Archives