Men Of Character Character Actors
Edward Binns
Per Quinlan's Character Stars:
Everything about this impassive, thin lipped, light haired, reliable looking American actor was square. His build, his shoulders, his face, even his characters. You could rely on a man played by Binns, even if he looked slightly worried most of the time and worn at the edges. At the same time he could vanish in the crowd, like the policeman on your trail - which he frequently was.
Edward Binns was born at Philadelphia, PA in 1916.
He served in World War Two as a wireless officer.
Binns studied acting at the Cleveland Playhouse and made his Broadway debut in 1949 in the production of Command Decision.
Binns made his film debut in 1951 in the film Hall Of Montezuma in an uncredited role as a soldier. His television debut came in the TV series Actors Studio in 1948.
Probably his best known role was that of Juror #6 in the film Twelve Angry Men.
Some of the film roles of Edward Binns were:
Halls Of Montezuma (1951) as A Soldier
Teresa (1951) as Sgt. Brown
Vice Squad (1953) as Al Barkis
Patterns (1956) as Elevator Starter
The Scarlet Hour (1956) as Allen
Beyond A Reasonable Doubt (1956) as Lt. Kennedy
12 Angry Men (1957) as Juror #6
Portland Express (1957) as George Madison
Young And Dangerous (1957) as Dr. Price
Compulsion (1959) as Tom Daly
The Man In The Net (1959) as State Police Captain Green
Curse Of The Undead (1959) as Sheriff
North By Northwest (1959) as Capt. Junket
Heller In Pink Tights (1960) as Sheriff Ed McClain
Desire In The Dust (1960) as Luke Connect
Judgment At Nurenberg (1961) as Senator Burkette
A Public Affair (1962) as Sen. Fred Baines
Hemingway's Adventures Of A Young Man (1962) as Brakeman
Fail Safe (1964) as Colonel Grady
The Americanization Of Emily (1964) as Adm. Thomas Healy
The Plainsman (1966) as Lattimer
Chubasco (1967) as Judge North
Patton (1970) as Maj. General Walter bedell Smith
The Sheriff (1971-TV) as Paulsen
Fireball Forward (1972-TV) as Corps Commander
Hunter (1973-TV) as Owen Larkdale
The First Woman President (1974-TV) as Joe Turnulty
Lovin' Molly (1974) as Mr. Fry
Night Moves (1975) as Joey Ziegler
Diary Of The Dead (1976) as Mr. McNulty
Just An Old Sweet Song (1976-TV) Mr. Claypool
Oliver's Story (1978) as Phil Cavillieri
Stubby Pringles Christmas (1978-TV) as red
The Power Within (1979-TV) as Gen. Tom Darrow
Battles: The Murder That Would Not Die (1980-TV) as Allen Battles
F D R The Last Year (1980-TV) as Gen. Pa Watson
The Pilot (1980) as Larry Zanoff
The Verdict (1982) as Bishop Brophy
A Conflict Of Interest (1982-TV) as President William Maxwell
The Leatherstocking Tales (1984-TV Miniseries) as Sgt. Durnham
Whatever It Takes (1986) as Mr. Kingley
After School (1988) Monsignor Frank Barrett
Mr. Binns was very active on televisions appearing in such programs asActor Studio, The Big Story, Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, The Web, Omnibus, Danger, Suspense, Inner Sanctum, You Are There, Robert Montgomery Presents, The Elgin Hour, Big Town, Ponds Theater, Climax, Lux Video Theater, Schlitz Playhouse Of Stars, Studio One In Hollywood, The United States Steel Hour,Goodyear Playhouse, Justice, Front Row Center, The Alcoa Hour, Conflict, Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Navy Log, M Squad, Have Gun Will Travel, The Court Of Last Resort, The Thin Man, Telephone Time, Richard Diamond Private Detective, Whirlybirds, Target, Suspicion, Matinee Theater, Kraft Theater, The Loretta Young Show, The Rifleman, State Trooper, Alcoa Theater, One Step Beyond, Armstrong Circle Theater, Outlaws, The Detectives, The Dupont Show With June Allyson, Boris Karloff's Thriller, The Deputy, Zane Gray, Stagecoach West, The Asphalt Jungle, Perry Mason, The Investigators, The New Breed, General Electric Theater, Cain's Hundreds, Checkmate, The Law And Mr. Jones, Stoney Burke, The Dakotas, Route 66, The Dick Powell Theater, The Untouchables, Death Valley Days, The Twilight Zone, The Defenders, Wagon Train, Combat, Suspense, Brenner, Slattery's People, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, 12 O'Clock High, Daniel Boone, A Man Called Shenandoah, The Fugitive, The Loner, Dr. Kildare, Hawk, Run For Your Life, Laredo, Captain Nice, Tarzan, The Wild Wild West, Judd For The Defense, Bonanza, The FBI, It Takes A Thief, The Virginian The Bold Ones - The Senator, The Name Of The Game, The Bold Ones - The New Doctors, Ironside, Hawaii-Five O, McCloud, Cannon, Caribe, The Blue Knight, Police Woman, Police Story, M A S H, The Rockford Files, Alice, Spenser For Hire and (believe it or not) among others.
Mr. Binns was married twice. His second wife was Elizabeth Franz and the couple were married from 1964 until his death.
Edward Binns passed away in 1990 from a heart attack.
I enjoyed Mr. Binns especially in the film 12 Angry Men. I also enjoyed his performances in the films Portland Expose, Beyond A Reasonable Doubt, Curse Of The Undead, Judgment At Nurenberg, Fail Safe, Patton, F D R - The Last Year and The Verdict.
Louie The Movie Buff