Gene Lyons (actor)

Gene Lyons (February 9, 1921 – July 8, 1974) was an American television actor from Pittsburgh, best known for his role as police commissioner Dennis Randall on the NBC detective series Ironside starring Raymond Burr.[1]

Not to be confused with the political columnist and author Gene Lyons.
Gene Lyons
Born
Matthew Eugene Lyons

(1921-02-09)February 9, 1921
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJuly 8, 1974(1974-07-08) (aged 53)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Catholic Cemetery (Pittsburgh), U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1974

Career

A life member of The Actors Studio,[2] Lyons was in the Broadway production of Witness for the Prosecution for two years.[3] His other Broadway credits include Masquerade (1958), The Trip to Bountiful (1953), Harriet (1942), and This Rock (1942).[4]

In 1953, Lyons played a police detective on the CBS drama series Pentagon U.S.A..[5] He appeared in 1954 as Steve Rockwell on the CBS daytime drama Woman with a Past.[6] In 1963 Lyons appeared as Sheriff Jonathan Ballard on the TV western The Virginian in the episode titled "If You Have Tears."

Before joining Raymond Burr as a regular on Ironside, he appeared on Perry Mason in 1965 as murderer Ralph Balfour in "The Case of the Wrathful Wraith." He also made guest appearances on nearly two dozen other series including The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Fugitive, Ben Casey, Star Trek ("A Taste of Armageddon"), The Twilight Zone ("King Nine Will Not Return"), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza ("Shining in Spain") and The Untouchables. He also appeared in films including Kiss Her Goodbye and The Young Don't Cry.

Death

Lyons died in Los Angeles, California on July 8, 1974 from complications related to chronic alcoholism, and is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1957The Young Don't CryMax Cole
1959Kiss Her GoodbyeCorey Sherman
1965SylviaGavin Cullen
1969Daddy's Gone A-HuntingDr. Blanker

References
  1. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  2. Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
  3. Scott, Vernon (August 21, 1968). "Top policeman in 'Ironside' series moon lights [sic] on other net works [sic]". New Castle News. Pennsylvania, New Castle. United Press International. p. 35. Retrieved April 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "("Gene Lyons" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 822. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. pp. 705. ISBN 0-7607-5634-1.


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