biography

Bradford Dillman Born in San Francisco on April 14, 1930, actor Bradford Dillman grew up as the son of a well-to-do stockbroker. Educated at private schools, Dillman graduated with a literature degree from Yale in 1951. Following graduation, he entered the United States Marine Corps and served through 1953. Having developed a taste for the theater while at Yale, Dillman headed to New York in 1953 to break into acting. While attending Lee Strasberg's famed Actor's Studio, he worked as a hotel desk clerk to support himself. By the mid 1950s, Dillman was making appearances on such television anthology series as the NBC program Kraft Theatre (1947-1958) and the CBS series Climax!. He made it to Broadway in the play Long Day's Journey Into Night (1956-1958). Spotted by a talent scout, he was put under contract with 20th Century Fox in 1958. He moved his wife and young family to Los Angeles to start his film career.

Bradford DillmanSuzy Parker

LEFT: Shot from 1962. RIGHT: Dillman's second wife, actress and model Suzy Parker

While at Fox, Dillman starred in such films as Compulsion (1959; with Dean Stockwell and Orson Welles), Crack in the Mirror (1960; with Orson Welles and Juliette Greco), and Francis of Assisi (1961; with Dolores Hart and Stuart Whitman). Although this films earned good notices, none proved to be huge successes, so Dillman left Fox and went back to television, where he guest-starred on numerous TV series and had a series of his own, the 1965-1966 ABC crime drama Court Martial. While Dillman's career was going well, he and his first wife, Frieda, separated in 1961 and divorced in April 1962. In 1963, he married actress and model Suzy Parker, whom he met while filming A Circle of Deception (1960; with Suzy Parker).

the films of bradford dillman

A Certain Smile (1958)

Christine Carere and Bradford Dillman

With Christine Carere in the 20th Century Fox drama A Certain Smile, which was Dillman's first film

In Love and War (1958)

Dana Wynter and Bradford Dillman

With Dana Wynter in the 20th Century Fox drama In Love and War

Compulsion (1959)

Edward Binns, Bradford Dillman, and Louise LorimerMartin Milner, Diane Varsi, Bradford Dillman, and Dean Stockwell

LEFT: From the 20th Century Fox thriller Compulsion with Edward Binns and Louise Lorimer. This film was loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb murder case in the 1920s. RIGHT: With Martin Milner, Diane Varsi, and Dean Stockwell

Circle of Deception (1960)

Bradford Dillman and Suzy Parker

With Suzy Parker in the 20th Century Fox war drama Circle of Deception. Parker and Dillman married about three years after this film's release

Crack in the Mirror (1960)

Bradford Dillman and Juliette Greco

With Juliette Greco in the 20th Century Fox crime drama Crack in the Mirror

Francis of Assisi (1961)

Stuart Whitman, Dolores Hart, and Bradford DillmanStuart Whitman and Bradford Dillman

From the 20th Century Fox drama Francis of Assisi, in which Dillman has the title role. LEFT: With Stuart Whitman and Dolores Hart. RIGHT: With Stuart Whitman

Alcoa Premiere (1961-1963 ABC TV Series)

Bradford Dillman and Diana Hyland

With Diana Hyland in a 1962 episode of Alcoa Premiere titled The Voice of Charlie Pont

Sergeant Ryker (1965)

Bradford Dillman and Peter GravesVera Miles and Bradford Dillman

LEFT: With Peter Graves in the Universal drama Sergeant Ryker. This film is actually comprised of two 1963 episodes of Kraft Suspense Theatre titled The Case Against Paul Ryker. RIGHT: With Vera Miles

Jigsaw (1968)

Hope Lange, Bradford Dillman, and Pat HingleSusan Saint James and Bradford Dillman

From the Universal thriller Jigsaw. LEFT: With Hope Lange and Pat Hingle. RIGHT: With Susan Saint James

Brother John (1971)

Bradford Dillman

As Lloyd Thomas in the Columbia drama Brother John


Bug (1975)

Bradford DillmanBradford Dillman

Bradford Dillman in stills from Bug, the last film produced by William Castle


King's Crossing (1982 ABC TV Series)

Bradford Dillman and Diana Hyland

From Dillman's short-lived 1982 TV series King's Crossing

later years

While a fixture on television series and made-for-television films from the 1960s through the 1980s, Bradford Dillman also tackled film roles in such movies as Piranha (1978; with Heather Menzies and Kevin McCarthy), The Swarm (1978; with Michael Caine and Katharine Ross), and Guyana: Cult of the Damned (1979; with Stuart Whitman and Yvonne De Carlo). He retired from acting in 1995 with a final appearance on the CBS TV series Murder, She Wrote. Dillman's wife, actress Suzy Parker, passed away after a long illness in May 2003 at the age of 69. He passed away on January 16, 2018, of natural causes at age 87. He was survived by six children.

filmography

FILM
The Heart of Justice (1992) with Vincent Price, Dennis Hopper, Dermot Mulroney, Eric Stoltz, and William H. Macy
Heroes Stand Alone (1989) with Chad Everett and Roddy McDowall
Lords of the Deep (1989) with Priscilla Barnes
Man Outside (1986) with Robert Logan, Kathleen Quinlan, and Levon Helm
Covenant (1985) with Jane Badler, Kevin Conroy, Barry Morse, Michelle Phillips, and Jose Ferrer
The Treasure of the Amazon (1985) with Stuart Whitman, Donald Pleasence, and John Ireland
Sudden Impact (1983) with Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, and Pat Hingle
The Legend of Walks Far Woman (1982) with Raquel Welch
Tourist (1980) with Lee Meriwether, Lois Nettleton, Adrienne Barbeau, David Groh, Bonnie Bedelia, John Ireland, and Marisa Berenson
The Memory of Eva Ryker (1980) with Jean-Pierre Aumont, Ralph Bellamy, Morgan Fairchild, Mel Ferrer, Robert Foxworth, Peter Graves, Robert Hogan, Roddy McDowall, and Natalie Wood
Running Scared (1980) with Ken Wahl, Judge Reinhold, John Saxon, and Pat Hingle
Before and After (1979) with Patty Duke, Barbara Feldon, Conchata Ferrell, Kenneth Mars, Jean Smart, and Betty White
Guyana: Cult of the Damned (1979) with Stuart Whitman, Gene Barry, John Ireland, Joseph Cotten, Yvonne De Carlo, and Robert DoQui
Jennifer: A Woman's Story (1979) with Elizabeth Montgomery, Scott Hylands, Doris Roberts, Kate Mulgrew, Arthur Franz, and Tracey Gold
Love and Bullets (1979) with Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Rod Steiger, Henry Silva, Strother Martin, Val Avery, Billy Gray, and Albert Salmi
Piranha (1978) with Heather Menzies, Kevin McCarthy, Keenan Wynn, Dick Miller, Barbara Steele, Paul Bartel, and Richard Deacon
The Swarm (1978) with Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland, Lee Grant, Jose Ferrer, Patty Duke, Slim Pickens, Fred MacMurray, Henry Fonda, and Cameron Mitchell
The Amsterdam Kill (1977) with Robert Mitchum, Richard Egan, Leslie Nielsen, and Keye Luke
The Lincoln Conspiracy (1977) with John Dehner, John Anderson, and Whit Bissell
The Hostage Heart (1977) with Sharon Acker, Cameron Mitchell, Peter Palmer, Belinda Montgomery, Robert Walden, Carl Weathers, Loretta Swit, and Vic Morrow
The Enforcer (1976) with Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Harry Guardino, and John Mitchum
Kingston (1976) with Raymond Burr, R.G. Armstrong, Claire Brennen, Martin Kove, Robert Mandan, and Dina Merrill
Street Killing (1976) with Andy Griffith, Harry Guardino, and Robert Loggia
Widow (1976) with Michael Learned, Farley Granger, Carol Rossen, Louise Sorel, and Robert Lansing
Mastermind (1976) with Zero Mostel, Sorrell Booke, and Felix Silla
One Away (1976) with Elke Sommer and Dean Stockwell
Bug (1975) with Joanna Miles, Richard Gilliland, and Patty McCormack
Force Five (1975) with Nicholas Pryor, Leif Erickson, and Claire Brennen
The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond (1975) with Robert Clary, Samantha Eggar, Oskar Homolka, and Claudine Longet
Adventures of the Queen (1975) with Robert Stack, David Hedison, Ralph Bellamy, Sorrell Booke, John Randolph, Francine York, Paul Carr, and Russell Johnson
Demon, Demon (1975) with Juliet Mills
The Disappearance of Flight 412 (1974) with Glenn Ford, David Soul, Guy Stockwell, Greg Mullavey, and Ken Kercheval
The Great Gold Conspiracy (1974) with Roger Moore, Susannah York, Ray Milland, and John Gielgud
99 and 44/100% Dead (1974) with Richard Harris, Edmond O'Brien, Ann Turkel, Constance Ford, and Chuck Connors
Chosen Survivors (1974) with Jackie Cooper, Alex Cord, Richard Jaeckel, and Diana Muldaur
Murder or Mercy (1974) with Melvyn Douglas, Mildred Dunnock, Denver Pyle, Don Porter, David Birney, Bonnie Bartlett, and Arthur Franz
A Black Ribbon for Deborah (1974) with Gig Young
The Iceman Cometh (1973) with Lee Marvin, Fredric March, Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges, Sorrell Booke, and Hildy Brooks
The Way We Were (1973) with Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford, Lois Chiles, Patrick O'Neal, Viveca Lindfors, Herb Edelman, and Sally Kirkland
Deliver Us from Evil (1973) with George Kennedy, Jan-Michael Vincent, Jim Davis, and Jack Weston
Moon of the Wolf (1972) with David Janssen, Barbara Rush, John Beradino, Geoffrey Lewis, and Royal Dano
The Eyes of Charles Sand (1972) with Peter Haskell, Joan Bennett, Barbara Rush, Sharon Farrell, Adam West, Gary Clarke, and Don 'Red' Barry
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler (1971) with Leslie Nielsen and Angie Dickinson
Revenge (1971) with Shelley Winters, Stuart Whitman, Carol Rossen, Roger Perry, Gary Clarke, and Leslie Charleson
Five Desperate Women (1971) with Robert Conrad, Anjanette Comer, Joan Hackett, Denise Nicholas, and Stefanie Powers
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) with Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Eric Braeden, Ricardo Montalban, William Windom, Sal Mineo, Albert Salmi, Jason Evers, and John Randolph
The Mephisto Waltz (1971) with Alan Alda, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Parkins, William Windom, Pamelyn Ferdin, Curd Jurgens, and Berry Kroeger
Brother John (1971) with Sidney Poitier and Will Geer
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970) with Brian Keith, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine, Ivan Dixon, Suzanne Pleshette, Tom Ewell, Arthur O'Connell, and Don Ameche
Black Water Gold (1970) with Keir Dullea, France Nuyen, Aron Kincaid, Ricardo Montalban, and Lana Wood
The Bridge at Remagen (1969) with George Segal, Robert Vaughn, Ben Gazzara, E.G. Marshall, Peter van Eyck, Bo Hopkins, and Robert Logan
Fear No Evil (1969) with Louis Jourdan, Lynda Day George, Carroll O'Connor, and Marsha Hunt
Jigsaw (1968) with Harry Guardino, Hope Lange, Pat Hingle, Diana Hyland, Victor Jory, Susan Saint James, Michael J. Pollard, James Doohan, and Kent McCord
The Plainsman (1966) with Don Murray, Guy Stockwell, Abby Dalton, Henry Silva, Simon Oakland, and Leslie Nielsen
A Rage to Live (1965) with Suzanne Pleshette, Ben Gazzara, and Peter Graves
Sergeant Ryker (1965) with Lee Marvin, Vera Miles, Peter Graves, Lloyd Nolan, Murray Hamilton, and Norman Fell
Francis of Assisi (1961) with Dolores Hart, Stuart Whitman, and Cecil Kellaway
Sanctuary (1961) with Lee Remick, Yves Montand, Odetta, Reta Shaw, and Strother Martin
A Circle of Deception (1960) with Suzy Parker
Crack in the Mirror (1960) with Orson Welles and Juliette Greco
Compulsion (1959) with Orson Welles, Diane Varsi, Dean Stockwell, E.G. Marshall, Martin Milner, Richard Anderson, and Gavin MacLeod
In Love and War (1958) with Robert Wagner, Dana Wynter, Jeffrey Hunter, Hope Lange, Sheree North, France Nuyen, and Mort Sahl
A Certain Smile (1958) with Rossano Brazzi and Joan Fontaine

TELEVISION SERIES
King's Crossing, 1982 ABC TV series. Dillman portrayed Paul Hollister
Falcon Crest, 1981-1990 CBS TV series. Dillman portrayed Darryl Clayton during the 1982-1983 season
Court Martial, 1965-1966 ABC TV series. Dillman portrayed Captain David Young. Also in the cast was Peter Graves

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Murder, She Wrote, episode Twice Dead, originally aired February 12, 1995
Murder, She Wrote, episode Wheel of Death, originally aired May 22, 1994
Murder, She Wrote, episode Final Curtain, originally aired January 10, 1993
Murder, She Wrote, episode Unauthorized Obituary, originally aired September 29, 1991
Murder, She Wrote, episode Hannigan's Wake, originally aired October 28, 1990
Christine Cromwell, episode Easy Come, Easy Go, originally aired December 9, 1989
Murder, She Wrote, episode Steal Me a Story, originally aired November 15, 1987
Murder, She Wrote, episode Death Takes a Dive, originally aired February 22, 1987
Hotel, episode Lost and Found, originally aired July 17, 1985
Murder, She Wrote, episode Murder to a Jazz Beat, originally aired February 3, 1985
Dynasty, episode Amanda, originally aired November 14, 1984
Dynasty, episode The Verdict, originally aired November 7, 1984
Hotel, episode Prisms, originally aired March 14, 1984
The Love Boat, episode Julie and the Bachelor/Intensive Care/Set Up for Romance, originally aired November 19, 1983
Matt Houston, episode Stop the Presses, originally aired October 3, 1982
Charlie's Angels, episode Angels of the Deep, originally aired December 7, 1980
Fantasy Island, episode Skater's Edge/Concerto of Death/The Last Great Race, originally aired November 8, 1980
How the West Was Won, episode The Forgotten, originally aired March 19, 1979
The Incredible Hulk, episode The Snare, originally aired December 7, 1979
Sword of Justice, episode Girl on the Edge, originally aired October 28, 1978
Barnaby Jones, episode Final Judgment: Part 1 and 2, originally aired January 26, 1978
Barnaby Jones, episode Fraternity of Thieves, originally aired December 30, 1976
The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, episode Wonder Woman Meets Baroness Von Gunther, originally aired April 21, 1976
Bronk, episode Jailbreak, originally aired February 15, 1976
Wide World Mystery, episode Demon, Demon, originally aired November 11, 1975
Thriller, episode Death in Deep Water, originally aired November 4, 1975
The Streets of San Francisco, episode Murder by Proxy, originally aired October 23, 1975
Three for the Road, episode The Fugitives, originally aired October 12, 1975
Medical Story, episode The Right to Die, originally aired September 11, 1975
Thriller, episode The Next Voice You See, originally aired May 17, 1975
Barnaby Jones, episode The Deadlier Species, originally aired March 18, 1975
Cannon, episode Missing at FL307, originally aired February 5, 1975
The Manhunter, episode Day of Execution, originally aired January 15, 1975
Wide World Mystery, episode Please Call It Murder, originally aired January 15, 1975
The ABC Afternoon Playbreak, episode Last Bride of Salem, originally aired May 8, 1974
Barnaby Jones, episode Image in a Cracked Mirror, originally aired March 24, 1974
Medical Center, episode A Life at Stake, originally aired November 26, 1973
Barnaby Jones, episode Requiem for a Son, originally aired January 28, 1973
McCloud, episode Showdown at the End of the World, originally aired January 7, 1973
Columbo, episode The Greenhouse Jungle, originally aired October 15, 1972
The Mod Squad, episode The Connection, originally aired September 14, 1972
The Sixth Sense, episode Face of Ice, originally aired April 22, 1972
Cannon, episode Cain's Mark, originally aired March 7, 1972
The Delphi Bureau, episode Pilot, originally aired March 6, 1972
Mary Tyler Moore, episode You Certainly Are a Big Boy, originally aired February 19, 1972
Alias Smith and Jones, episode The McCreedy Bust: Going, Going, Gone, originally aired January 13, 1972
Mission: Impossible, episode Stone Pillow, originally aired January 8, 1972
Night Gallery, episode Pickman's Model/The Dear Departed/An Act of Chivalry, originally aired December 1, 1971
Bonanza, episode Face of Fear, originally aired November 7, 1971
Medical Center, episode The Shattered Man, originally aired October 27, 1971
The F.B.I., episode The Mastermind: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired October 17 and 24, 1971
Longstreet, episode Pilot, originally aired February 23, 1971
The Virginian, episode The Legacy of Spencer Flats, originally aired January 27, 1971
Ironside, episode This Could Blow Your Mind, originally aired December 17, 1970
Dan August, episode In the Eyes of God, originally aired October 21, 1970
Medical Center, episode Assailant, originally aired October 7, 1970
The F.B.I., episode The Traitor, originally aired September 27, 1970
Ironside, episode Good Will Tour, originally aired March 26, 1970
Marcus Welby, M.D., episode The Chemistry of Hope, originally aired December 16, 1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, episode Crisis, originally aired December 7, 1969
The Name of the Game, episode The Taker, originally aired October 4, 1968
Mission: Impossible, episode Recovery, originally aired March 17, 1968
The F.B.I., episode Southwind, originally aired March 3, 1968
Judd for the Defense, episode Fall of a Skylark: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired January 5, and 12, 1968
The Wild Wild West, episode The Night of the Cut-Throats, originally aired November 17, 1967
The Big Valley, episode A Noose Is Waiting, originally aired November 13, 1967
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., episode The Prince of Darkness Affair: Parts I and II, originally aired October 2 and 9, 1967
Felony Squad, episode The 30-Gram Kill, originally aired September 20, 1967
The F.B.I., episode Sky on Fire, originally aired February 26, 1967
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, episode The Lady Is My Wife, originally aired February 1, 1967
The Big Valley, episode Day of the Comet, originally aired December 26, 1966
Shane, episode The Great Invasion: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired December 17 and 24, 1966
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, episode Crazier Than Cotton, originally aired October 12, 1966
Hawk, episode Death Comes Full Circle, originally aired October 6, 1966
The F.B.I., episode The Divided Man, originally aired March 20, 1966
12 O'Clock High, episode Twenty Fifth Mission, originally aired February 14, 1966
Dr. Kildare, episode Never So Happy, originally aired January 18, 1966
Dr. Kildare, episode The Next Thing to Murder, originally aired January 17, 1966
Dr. Kildare, episode The Last to Believe in Miracles, originally aired January 11, 1966
Dr. Kildare, episode A Sort of Falling in Love, originally aired January 10, 1966
Dr. Kildare, episode The Atheist and the True Believer, originally aired January 3, 1966
Dr. Kildare, episode Night of the Beast, originally aired April 23, 1964
Insight, episode Trial by Fire, originally aired January 1, 1966
Profiles in Courage, episode Edmund G. Ross, originally aired March 21, 1965
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, episode Isabel, originally aired June 5, 1964
Breaking Point, episode Shadow of a Starless Night, originally aired March 16, 1964
Ben Casey, episode The Bark of a Three-Headed Hound, originally aired February 12, 1964
The Doctors and the Nurses, episode Credo, originally aired January 9, 1964
Wagon Train, episode The Kitty Pryer Story, originally aired November 18, 1963
Kraft Suspense Theatre, episode The Case Against Paul Ryker: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired October 10 and 17, 1963
The Greatest Show on Earth, episode Don't Look Down, Don't Look Back, originally aired October 8, 1963
Espionage, episode A Covenant with Death, originally aired October 2, 1963
Kraft Mystery Theater, episode Catch Fear by the Throat, originally aired July 10, 1963
The Virginian, episode Echo of Another Day, originally aired March 27, 1963
Alcoa Premiere, episode Chain Reaction, originally aired February 21, 1963
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, episode To Catch a Butterfly, originally aired February 1, 1963
Naked City, episode Her Life in Moving Pictures, originally aired January 2, 1963
The Eleventh Hour, episode Eat Little Fishie Eat, originally aired December 5, 1962
Alcoa Premiere, episode The Voice of Charlie Pont, originally aired October 25, 1962
Climax!, episode A Matter of Life and Death, originally aired November 21, 1957
Hallmark Hall of Fame, episode There Shall Be No Night, originally aired March 17, 1957
Kraft Theatre, episode A Night to Remember, originally aired March 28, 1956
Ponds Theater, episode The Kingdom of Andrew Jones, originally aired May 26, 1955
Kraft Theatre, episode Strangers in Hiding, originally aired December 30, 1954

bradford dillman trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Bradford Dillman's 1974 drama Chosen Survivors

bradford dillman film now showing

Watch Bradford Dillman's 1974 made-for-TV film The Disappearance of Flight 412
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