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Men Of Character Character Actors
S John Launer
Perry Mason (TV)/ Judge Ryder
Creature With The Atom Brain/ Capt. Dave Harris
Marne/ Sam Ward
The Werewolf/ Dr. Emory Forrest
S. John Launer was an American character actor who appeared in films and on television.
He was born Saul John Launer in 1919 at Cleveland, Ohio.
His career in films and television ran from 1954 until 1987 with a total of 109 credits in these mediums.
Launer was probably best know for his many appearances on the Perry Mason TV series in which he appeared many times as Judge Ryder.
His first acting assignment was on the TV program Meet Corliss Archer in 1954. His final appearance was in the film Billionaire's Boys Club in 1987.
The film roles of Mr. Launer were:
Creature With The Atom Brain (1955) as Capt. Dave Harris
Uranium Boom (1956) as Mac
The Werewolf (1956) as Dr. Emory Forrest
Crime Of Passion (1957) as Chief Of Police
I Was A Teenage Werewolf (1957) as Bill Logan
Jailhouse Rock (1957) as Judge
Sing Boy Sing (1958) as Tailor/Manufacturer
I Want To Live (1958) as San Quentin Officer
Ice Palace (1960) as Chairman
The Crowded Sky (1960) as Police Officer
Marnie (1964) as Sam Ward
Apache Rifles (1964) as General Nelson
The Venetian Affair (1968) as Mr. Pennyman
Speedway (1968) as Mayor Fiergol
Pendulum (1969) as Judge Kinsella
Crosscurrent (1971-TV) as Doctor
Trapped Beneath The Sea (1974-TV) as Capt. Osborn
Gable And Lombard (1976) as The Judge
The Amazing Howard Hughes (1977-TV) as Doctor
Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977-TV Miniseries) as Senator Morgan
The Girl Called Hatter Fox (1977-TV) as Mr. Winton
A Question Of Love (1978-TV) as The Judge
The Last Song (1980-TV) as Milliken
Inmates: A Love Story (1981-TV) as Chairman
Mommie Dearest (1981) as Pepsi Chairman
M A D D: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (1983-TV) as Judge Sheldon Grossfeld
Dempsey (1983-TV) as Speaker
Billionaire Boys Club (1987-TV) as Judge
As you can see Mr. Launer played quite a few judges in his film career which definitely qualified him for a judge on the Perry Mason TV series. He also tended to play authority figures as well.
. Launer was quite active on television appearing in such programs as Meet Corliss Archer, Damon Runyon Theater, Cavalcade Of America, Father Knows Best, Big Town, Medic, Playhouse 90, Telephone Time, Wire Service, The George Burns And Gracie Allen Show, The Ford Television Theater, Richard Diamond Private Detective, The George Sanders Mystery Theater, The Adventures Of Jim Bowie, The Walter Winchell File, Casey Jones, Zane Grey Theater, State Trooper, The Court Of Last Resort, The Millionaire, Have Gun Will Travel, The Lineup, U S Marshal, The Texan, Frontier Doctor, Target, The Restless Gun, Markham, Tightrope, This Man Dawson, M Squad, Tales Of Wells Fargo, Laramie, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, The Man From Blackhawk, Hawaiian Eye, The Untouchables, Target-The Corrupters, Frontier Circus, 87th Precinct, Alcoa Playhouse, Kraft Mystery Theater, Bonanza, Sam Benedict, Stoney Burke, Dr. Kildare, Saints And Sinners, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Breaking Point, The Eleventh Hour, Death Valley Days, Peyton Place, Slattery's People, Kraft Suspense Theater, Ben Casey, Honey West, The Wild Wild West, Batman, Perry Mason -Judge Ryder-33 episodes), Run For Your Life, The felony Squad, The FBI, Dragnet 1967, The Big Valley, The Bold Ones- The Protectors , The Interns, The Bold Ones-The Senator, Cade's County, The Sixth Sense, The Rookies, Mod Squad, Harry O, Marcus Welby MD, Petrocelli, Kingston Confidential and The White Shadow.
He was married to Estelle Schwartz and the couple had two children.
S. John Launer passed away in 2006
I enjoyed this actor as a judge on Perry Mason, but I also enjoyed him in the films The Werewolf, Creature With The Atom Brain, I Was A Teenage Werewolf, Crime Of Passion, jailhouse Rock and Marnie.
Louie The Movie Buff