Matinee Classics - Howard Da Silva Biography & Filmography

Howard Da Silva ACTOR

PHOTOS

HOWARD DA SILVA BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Howard Da Silva was born on May 4th, 1909 in Cleveland, Ohio with the last name Silverblatt, born to parents Benjamin and Bertha Silverblatt. Originally, he was not an actor nor did have goals of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. He found work as a steelworker but by the age of twenty switched careers and found work as a stage actor in New York City performing in such productions as, "The Cradle Will Rock" (1937). .

He began gaining more experience working on Broadway before he decided to relocate to Hollywood and attempt a career in films. Some of his early film roles were on such features as, "Sergeant York" (1941) starring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan, "The Big Shot" (1942), "The Omaha Trail" (1942), "Reunion in France" (1942), "Keeper of the Flame" (1942) starring Spencer Tracy, "Tonight We Raid Calais" (1943) and "The Lost Weekend". (1945)

Along with working in the film industry, he remained working as a stage actor adding to his resume one of his best performances in the production of "Oklahoma!" (1943). Sadly, he was one of 324 other actors, writers and directors who had to deal with the Hollywood blacklisting that took place in the early 1950's. He was accused of being a member of the Communist Party and was investigated by the FBI. He had to turn his focus back to working as a stage actor until the blacklist was finally lifted in the early 60's and he then returned back to film and television roles.

Between 1974 and 1977, he appeared in a total of twenty six episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater along with such television series as, "The Doctors and Nurses", "Play of the Week", "The Defenders", "The Outer Limits", "Ben Casey", "The Loner", "The Fugitive", "N.Y.P.D" , "Kung Fu", "Archie Bunker's Place" and "American Playhouse".

Some film credits he added to his resume were in, "Nevada Smith" (1966) starring Steve McQueen, "1776" (1972), "The Great Gatsby" (1974), "Mommie Dearest" (1981) and his final film role was in 1984 in, "Garbo Talks". He did not only make a name for himself in the industry as an actor, Da Silva also gained notice for working as a playwright and director for which he directed the television series, "For the People" (1965).

Two years later, he passed away at the age of seventy six on February 16th, 1986 in Ossining, New York after suffering from lymphoma.