Brad Olson(1926-1981)
- Actor
Brad Olson was a professional actor--a member of SAG, AFTRA and Actors
Equity--with 35 years of professional experience, beginning in the
Theatre Arts Department of Texas University. His extensive theater
background includes leading and principal roles in approximately 400
plays, ranging from classical theater to musical comedy, appearing with
Arthur Treacher,
Uta Hagen,
Basil Rathbone,
Diana Barrymore,
Mae West and
Alan Alda, among others. He acted and directed
at Margo Jones Theatre, performed at National Classic Theatre, Pasadena
Playhouse and Theatre-By-The-Sea, later touring extensively as a
principal with The John Kenley Players. His TV appearances include
guest-starring roles on such shows as
The Andy Griffith Show (1960),
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956),
Manhunt (1959),
Stage 13 (1950) and
Danger (1950), among others. He has
made 24 Class "A" commercials, which have been shown on such early
series as Studio One (1948),
The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956)
and
Westinghouse Preview Theatre (1961).
He has been a television announcer, radio announcer, hosted symphonic
broadcasts and wrote program notes, hosted his own symphonic program
and created other music formats and copy, as well as news broadcasts.
"To Ricki - With Pride" series, with
Eddie Dowling. He was a comedy writer for
Paul Lynde on
The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965).
He operated his own photography studio and darkroom, doing professional
portrait photography, and was published in Bazaar and Vogue magazines.
He was an expert marksman, horseman and, early on, professional jazz
musician. He enjoyed writing songs, plays and working on a book in his
spare time. He is survived by a daughter who is following in her
father's footsteps to become an actor and a singer.