Harry Bellaver (born Enricho Bellaver; February 12, 1905 – August 8, 1993) was an American stage, film, and television actor who appeared in many roles from the 1930s through the 1980s.
Early years
Bellaver was born in Hillsboro, Illinois, the son of Matteo and Maria (née Copa) Bellaver. His father worked in the Hillsboro coal mines. He left school at a young age and worked various jobs but eventually was awarded a scholarship to Brookwood Labor College in Katonah, New York.[1]
Stage
Bellaver was a member of the Hedgerow Players of Rose Valley, Pennsylvania, for eight years.[2] Early in Bellaver's career, he appeared in numerous Broadway plays. He made his Broadway debut in the 1931 Group Theatre in the play 1931.[3]
Bellaver appeared in the original production of the Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun as Chief Sitting Bull. He appeared in the same role in the 1958 and 1966 revivals.[4]
Bellaver is best known for his featured role as Sgt. Frank Arcaro, in the television series Naked City, appeared in 136 of the series' 138 combined episodes. He played an older, mellow detective who was a counterpoint to the dedicated young detectives played by James Franciscus and Paul Burke. He also was on Another World as Ernie Downs.[5]
Bellaver married Gertrude Dudley Vaughan Smith, "Dudley". They had two daughters, Vaughan and Lee.[2][8]
Bellaver lived in Tappan, New York, when he died of pneumonia on August 8, 1993, at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, New York.[5] He was survived by his daughters, Lee Bellaver of Stone Ridge, New York, and theatrical casting director Vaughn Bellaver-Allentuck of East Hampton, Long Island, two grandsons, a granddaughter, and two great-granddaughters.[citation needed][6]
^Pollock, Arthur (December 11, 1931). "The Theaters". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 25. Retrieved January 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
