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Seamon Glass

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Seamon Glass
Glass in This Is Not a Test (1962)
Born(1925-09-26)September 26, 1925
DiedJuly 12, 2016(2016-07-12) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Actor, author
Years active1961–2005
SpouseYan Zhang

Seamon Glass (September 26, 1925 – July 12, 2016) was an American actor and author. He acted in film and television from the early 1960s to the early 1990s. He appeared in the films This Is Not a Test (1962), Deliverance (1972), Bootleggers (1974), and Winterhawk (1975).

Background

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He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 26, 1925.[1] He died in Los Angeles on July 12, 2016.[2] His family's name was originally "Altglas" but changed to "Glass". His father died when he was 13 years of age with the family moving to California.

World War II

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With his mother's permission, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 during World War II,[3][4] serving in British Samoa and the Marshall Islands. He received a disability pension after suffering a hearing loss during a Japanese bombing raid. Glass was sent to the brig four times,[5] His novel of his service in a Marine aviation unit entitled The Half Ass Marines was published in 2010.[6]

Postwar career

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Following the war Glass attended Santa Monica Junior College on the G.I. Bill where he became heavyweight boxing champion of the college; the experience leading him into amateur and professional boxing.

He held a variety of jobs including being a seaman with the U.S. Merchant Marine, a school teacher of English and Social Studies as well as guidance counselor at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles,[3] a bartender, a newspaper columnist for the Santa Monica Independence and a bodyguard for Darryl F. Zanuck's daughter Darrylin.

Glass had a brief professional boxing career in 1960 in Los Angeles, compiling a record of 1–2.[7] where he was sponsored by actress Anna Maria Alberghetti.

Hollywood career

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When acting as a boxing instructor and sparring partner, Glass met many actors and Hollywood film people who wanted to box but did not want any damage to their faces or to be hurt. One of his clients was producer and director Fred Gadette who found him several acting roles and stunt work experiences.

1960s

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He was the lead actor in This Is Not a Test (1962), a film about a lawman who sets up a roadblock to catch a criminal then hears on the radio that there is going to be a nuclear attack.[8][9][10] He also appeared in Star Trek, in the episode "Mudd's Women" as Benton (1966).

Glass turned down extra work requirements in films such as Kid Galahad (1962) and Captain Newman, M.D. leading to his appearances in the films to be reduced with Glass preferring the rewards and financial security of teaching and seaman jobs to the non reliability of an acting career. His agent, the former actor Hugh French[citation needed] dropped him when Glass's taking a merchant voyage led him to lose a role that was requested by John Wayne, possibly the Sons of Katie Elder.,[5]

1970s

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Glass was the menacing 'First Griner' in John Boorman's film Deliverance (1972). He played staff member Tim Donahue in the film The Other Side of Hell (1978), about a mental inmate played by Alan Arkin who regains his sanity and wants to leave the hospital.[11][12]

Glass returned to teaching by leaving America and working in China.

1970s - 1980s

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Seamon Glass worked as a Santa Monica Harbor Patrolman, preferring the night shift. This provided a few quiet hours to continue writing his books and a regular column for the Santa Monica Independent newspaper.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1960 Spartacus Pirate Uncredited
1961 The George Raft Story Jack McGurk aka McGurn Uncredited
1962 Kid Galahad Boxer Uncredited
1962 This Is Not a Test Deputy Sheriff Dan Colter
1963 For Love or Money Seaman Uncredited
1963 Captain Newman, M.D. Patient Uncredited
1967 Chubasco Emile Uncredited
1969 Childish Things Ex-Fighter
1972 Deliverance First Griner
1973 Slither Farmer in Truck
1973 Sleeper Guard Uncredited
1974 Blazing Saddles Cowboy Uncredited
1974 Bootleggers Rufus Woodall
1975 Johnny Firecloud Grissom
1975 Winterhawk Big Smith
1976 Harry and Walter Go to New York Guard
1977 Damnation Alley Mountain Man #2
1978 An Enemy of the People
1978 The Norseman Stargazer
1979 The Rose Trucker #3
1981 Amy Mr. Watkins
1982 Partners Gillis
1987 Hawken's Breed Pa Hickman

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 Star Trek: The Original Series Benton S1:E6, "Mudd's Women"

Publication

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  • Half-Assed Marines. ISBN 1450235638. 2010[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Aveleyman Seamon Glass
  2. ^ "Seamon Glass's Obituary on Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Seamon Glass, Tough Guy Character Actor, Dies at 90 The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  4. ^ "Seamon Glass Obituary (1925 - 2016) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". Legacy.com.
  5. ^ a b "An Interview with Seamon Glass". June 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Half-Assed Marines : Glass, Seamon: Amazon.com.au: Books. August 4, 2011. ASIN 1450235638.
  7. ^ "BoxRec: Seamon Glass". BoxRec.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "This Is Not A Test". This Is Not A Test (1962) Movie Review – MRQE. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  9. ^ The Gettysburg Times September 12, 1970 Page Five This Week's Television Movie Guide, Sunday, 12:30 (15-21)
  10. ^ Pittsburgh Post Gazette May 2, 1965 Friday, May 7, 5:00 P.M. 2-Early Show
  11. ^ Boca Raton News Friday, August 1, 1980 Page 15 freedom flight
  12. ^ "Page 6 Shows to Watch By Paul Henniger", The Milwaukee Journal Tuesday, January 17, 1978
  13. ^ Seamon Glass Half-Assed Marines
  14. ^ "Half-Assed Marines by Seamon Glass". www.Readings.com.au. July 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
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