Terry Becker (August 5, 1921 – December 30, 2014) was an American film and television actor, Emmy-winning director and producer.
Career
Becker portrayed Chief Francis Ethelbert Sharkey in seasons 2 through 4 of the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Becker took the role after the death of actor Henry Kulky, who had played the submarine’s Chief (Curly Jones) during the first season of the series. Terry Becker also made two guest appearances on Perry Mason. In 1958 he played murder victim Philip Larkin in “The Case of the Prodigal Parent”, and in 1960 he played Prosecuting Attorney Everett Ransome in “The Case of the Violent Village.”
Becker’s work behind the camera began with the TV series Room 222, on which he was associate producer. He also directed eight episodes of the series. Becker went on to directing assignments on many other TV series, including Mission: Impossible, M*A*S*H, Love, American Style, The Brady Bunch and others, plus a motion picture, The Thirsty Dead, which he also produced. In 1973, he partnered with actor Carroll O’Connor to form O’Connor-Becker Productions. In 1983, the partnership split up and Becker continued producing as a solo producer under his own Becker Productions and Becker Enterprises banners.
Partial filmography as actor
Danger (1951-1952, TV Series) …. Lou
Short Short Dramas (1953, TV Series)
Teacher’s Pet (1958) …. Mr. Appino (uncredited)
The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958) …. Lew Lane (uncredited)
Compulsion (1959) …. Benson, Angry Reporter (uncredited)
Wanted Dead or Alive (1960, TV Series) …. Deputy Fred Kimball (billed as Adam Becker)
Perry Mason (1958-1960, TV Series) …. Everett Ransome / Philip Larkin
Gunsmoke (1960) …. Emmett
Code of Silence (1960) …. Mike Story
The Asphalt Jungle (1961, TV Series) …. Ira Fallon
Sea Hunt (1961, TV Series) …. Putnam’s Agent / Alcott – Newspaper Reporter
Combat! (1963, TV Series), Season 2 Episode:15 “The Party” …. / Sgt Claybourne
The Twilight Zone (1964, TV Series, Episode: “I Am the Night Color Me Black”) …. Jagger
Rawhide (1959-1964, TV Series) …. Burt / Seth Warner
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1965-1968, TV Series, Main Character) …. Chief Francis Ethelbert Sharkey
The Writer (2004) …. Dr. Norman Solomon
Neighborhood Watch (2005) …. Judd Sowell
Finishing the Game (2007) …. Breeze’s Dad
In Case of Emergency (2007, TV Series Episode: “Disorder in the Court”) …. Judge
Infection: The Invasion Begins (2010) …. Grandpa Sy (final film role)
Partial filmography as producer-director
The Thirsty Dead, motion picture, producer-director, 1974
Bronk, executive producer TV series 1975-76
Hallmark Hall of Fame The Last Hurrah, TV movie, executive producer, 1977
Bender, TV series, executive producer, 1979
Riding for the Pony Express, TV movie, producer, 1980
Archie Bunker’s Place, TV series, 1979-83 O’Connor-Becker Company
Savage in the Orient, TV movie- TV series pilot, executive producer 1983
Blade in Hong Kong, TV movie, producer, 1985
Room 222, associate producer 26 episodes 1969-70
Room 222, TV series, director 8 episodes 1969-71
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, TV series, director,1970
The Mod Squad, TV series, director,1970
Love, American Style, TV series, director,1970–72
The Brady Bunch, TV series, director,1971
Mission: Impossible, TV series, director, 1970–72
M*A*S*H,TV series, director 1972
External Links
Actor Terry Becker – Wikipedia
