Matinee Classics - Claude Akins Biography & Filmography

Claude Akins ACTOR

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CLAUDE AKINS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Claude Akins was born on May 25 in the year 1926. He was an American actor who appeared in almost 100 films and over 180 television episodes. He is best known for his burliness and masculinity, which lent well for his most common roles as villains, as well as both good and bad southern men. There is some argument between fans as to which of his roles is his most widely known, but the people that knew him personally all agree that underneath all of his villainous and other false-character roles, he was truly one of the kindest and most grounded people that anyone could meet.

His fondness for acting began in high school, as he worked in speech and drama. He later attended Northwestern University and joined acting stock companies in order to carry out his dream of becoming an actor. Eventually, he landed a spot on Broadway, performing in “The Rose Tattoo”. Akins first role off of Broadway was on the television show “Dragnet” in 1951. Two years later he finally made it to the movies with his debut in “From Here to Eternity” (1953), although his character, Dhom, was not credited. He followed this film up with roles such as: Vance Morgan in “Bitter Creek” (1954), Horrible in “The Caine Mutiny” (1954), Fat Michaels in “Shield for Murder” (1954), and the Chief Executer’s Aide in “The Adventures of Hajji Baba” (1954). The year of 1954 was a good one for Akins, for he appeared in many films, which consequently got him on his feet and running. 1956 was an even better year though, for the actor appeared in even a larger number of films, not limited to “Battle Stations”, “The Proud and the Profane”, and “The Sharkfighters”.

Akins played in some more recognizable films also, like “The Defiant Ones” (1958), “Inherit the Wind” (1960), “Merrill’s Marauders” (1962), and “The Killers” (1964). In addition, he skillfully depicted pests and rednecks in a number of westerners such as “Rio Bravo” (1959) and “Commanche Station” (1960). While in movies he tended to be less likeable characters, on TV he was shown in a better light. In 1961, the show “Bonanza” took in Akins and he became a very unforgettable part of it. Other shows he appeared in include “Adventures of Superman”, “The Twilight Zone”, “The Untouchables”, and many more. He additionally held roles in multiple western series’ “Frontier”, “Crusader”, “My Friend Flicka”, “The Oregon Trail”, “Wagon Train” to name a few.

In the 1970’s, Akins performed in a number of supernatural made-for-TV movies, playing a driven cop in both “The Night Stalker” (1972) and “The Norliss Tapes” (1973). He was absolutely unidentifiable beneath his gorilla makeup in the final installment of the original “Ape” movies in “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” (1973), where he played Aldo.

Akins was primarily in small screen movie productions and TV show guest spots, but he landed a two year role as a Gypsy trucker in “Movin’ On” (1974-76), a well liked series set on the roads of America. However, the actor just might be most known for his involvement as the entertaining Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo on the adventurous “B.J. and the Bear” (1979-81), its spin-off series “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo” (1979-80), and “Lobo” (1980-81), all of which were aired on the NBC network.

Following his outbreak role of Lobo, Akins was seen in only a handful of features. He guest-starred in the television series “Murder, She Wrote” in 1984, “Hunter” in 1989, and “In the Heat of the Night” in 1991. His last year of being in front of the camera was 1992. In that year he had his last guest spot on a television show, that of a ghost of a bank robber in “Eerie Indiana”. He also appeared in his final made for TV movie in the syndicated miniseries “Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls”, in which he played Teddy Roosevelt. Finally, Akins ended his career with a supporting role in the directorial debut of musician-actor John Mellencamp’s “Falling from Grace”.

Two years after completing his dream of being an actor, Akins died of cancer. His official date of death was January 27, 1994. He passed in Altadena, California. While he never won any prizes or recognition for his involvement in the dramatic arts, he did die with an award for being the Outstanding Indian/Native American of the Year at the American Indian Exposition, proving that while many believe he was a talented actor, he was moreover a good person.

Filmography

1992 Falling from Grace

1992 Eerie Indiana

1992 Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls

1991 In the Heat of the Night: An Eye for an Eye

1991 The Gambler Returns

1989 Hunter: The Legion

1987 The Curse

1987 Monster in the Closet

1984 Master Ninja I

1984 Murder, She Wrote: Deadly Lady

1984 Celebrity