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Herbert Lytton

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Herbert Lytton Famous memorial Veteran

Original Name
Herbert Lytton Cress
Birth
Falmouth, Pendleton County, Kentucky, USA
Death
26 Jun 1981 (aged 83)
Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA
Burial
Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA GPS-Latitude: 32.3018528, Longitude: -106.7858083
Plot
Section 10, Block 6, Lot 28
Memorial ID
View Source
Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong General Knowland in "The Cosmic Man" (1959). Born Herbert Cress, after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, he began his career as a leading man on the Broadway stage. While attending a dinner party at the prestigious Russian Tea Room, he was introduced to director Michael Curtiz. Impressed by his slim physique, dark good looks, and distinctive voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in a supporting role per his supervision in "Stolen Holiday" (1937). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 125 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, aristocrats, soldiers, sailors, cowboys, sheriffs, policemen, deputies, chauffeurs, waiters, butlers, retail clerks, businessmen, bartenders, doctors, psychologists, white-collared guys, educators, authority figures, eccentrics, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, detectives, reporters, sugar daddies, jurors, politicians, attorneys, mayors, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Captain America" (1944), "The Last Installment" (1945), "The Damned Don't Cry" (1950), "Navy Blonde" (1951), "Chained for Life" (1952), "The War of the Worlds" (1953), "It Should Happen to You" (1954), "The Big Combo" (1955), "Tension at Table Rock" (1956), "Top Secret Affair" (1957), "Voice in the Mirror" (1958), "The Gallant Hours" (1960), "Ada" (1961), and "Our Man Flint" (1966). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "I Married Joan," "The Lone Ranger," "Hopalong Cassidy," "Meet Corliss Archer," "I Led 3 Lives," "Medic," "I Love Lucy," "Big Town," "Chevron Hall of Stars," "Four Star Playhouse," "The 20th-Century Fox Hour," "Death Valley Days," "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon," "Zane Grey Theatre," "Cheyenne," "Maverick," "Whirlybirds," "Union Pacific," "The Gale Storm Show," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Bronco," "Mackenzie's Raiders," "The Restless Gun," "Tombstone Territory," "The Donna Reed Show," "This Man Dawson," "Laramie," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "The Loretta Young Show," "Whispering Smith," "87th Precinct," "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables," "Wagon Train," "Temple Houston," "McHale's Navy," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," and "The Twilight Zone." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an honorary member of Actors Equity, served in the United States Army during World War II, had been a member of the Hollywood Republican Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the American Lung Association, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, and was the celebrity spokesman for BIC writing instruments. Upon his 1966 retirement, Lytton, who never married nor had any children, spent the remainder of his life being involved in charitable and religious ventures, as well as being a generous benefactor for several public libraries and hospitals, until his death.
Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong General Knowland in "The Cosmic Man" (1959). Born Herbert Cress, after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, he began his career as a leading man on the Broadway stage. While attending a dinner party at the prestigious Russian Tea Room, he was introduced to director Michael Curtiz. Impressed by his slim physique, dark good looks, and distinctive voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in a supporting role per his supervision in "Stolen Holiday" (1937). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 125 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, aristocrats, soldiers, sailors, cowboys, sheriffs, policemen, deputies, chauffeurs, waiters, butlers, retail clerks, businessmen, bartenders, doctors, psychologists, white-collared guys, educators, authority figures, eccentrics, curmudgeons, landlords, neighbors, detectives, reporters, sugar daddies, jurors, politicians, attorneys, mayors, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Captain America" (1944), "The Last Installment" (1945), "The Damned Don't Cry" (1950), "Navy Blonde" (1951), "Chained for Life" (1952), "The War of the Worlds" (1953), "It Should Happen to You" (1954), "The Big Combo" (1955), "Tension at Table Rock" (1956), "Top Secret Affair" (1957), "Voice in the Mirror" (1958), "The Gallant Hours" (1960), "Ada" (1961), and "Our Man Flint" (1966). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "I Married Joan," "The Lone Ranger," "Hopalong Cassidy," "Meet Corliss Archer," "I Led 3 Lives," "Medic," "I Love Lucy," "Big Town," "Chevron Hall of Stars," "Four Star Playhouse," "The 20th-Century Fox Hour," "Death Valley Days," "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon," "Zane Grey Theatre," "Cheyenne," "Maverick," "Whirlybirds," "Union Pacific," "The Gale Storm Show," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Bronco," "Mackenzie's Raiders," "The Restless Gun," "Tombstone Territory," "The Donna Reed Show," "This Man Dawson," "Laramie," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "The Loretta Young Show," "Whispering Smith," "87th Precinct," "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables," "Wagon Train," "Temple Houston," "McHale's Navy," "Gunsmoke," "Bonanza," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," and "The Twilight Zone." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an honorary member of Actors Equity, served in the United States Army during World War II, had been a member of the Hollywood Republican Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the American Lung Association, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, and was the celebrity spokesman for BIC writing instruments. Upon his 1966 retirement, Lytton, who never married nor had any children, spent the remainder of his life being involved in charitable and religious ventures, as well as being a generous benefactor for several public libraries and hospitals, until his death.

Bio by: Lowell Thurgood



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: gordonphilbin
  • Added: Nov 29, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81196522/herbert-lytton: accessed ), memorial page for Herbert Lytton (9 Dec 1897–26 Jun 1981), Find a Grave Memorial ID 81196522, citing Masonic Cemetery, Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.