Neville Brand joined the US Army in 1939 meaning to make a career in the military. It was while he was in the Army that he made his acting debut, in Army training films, and this experience apparently changed the direction of his life. Once a civilian again, he used his GI Bill education assistance to study drama with the American Theater Wing, then appeared in several Broadway plays. His first mo ...
show all Neville Brand joined the US Army in 1939 meaning to make a career in the military. It was while he was in the Army that he made his acting debut, in Army training films, and this experience apparently changed the direction of his life. Once a civilian again, he used his GI Bill education assistance to study drama with the American Theater Wing, then appeared in several Broadway plays. His first movie was 1950's "The D.O.A. (1950)". Among his earliest films was the Oscar-winning "Stalag 17 (1953)". His heavy features and gravelly voice made Brand a natural tough guy: "With this kisser, I knew early in the game I wasn't going to make the world forget Clark Gable", he once told a reporter. He played Al Capone" in "George Raft Story (1961)", "Scarface Mob, The (1959) (TV)", and TV's "Untouchables, The" (1959)". Among his other memorable roles are the sympathetic guard in "Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)" and the representative of rioting convicts in "Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)". Perhaps his best-loved role was that of the soft-hearted, loud-mouthed, none-too-bright-but-very-effective Texas Ranger Reese Bennett of "Backtrack! (1969)", "Three Guns for Texas (1968)", and TV's "Laredo" (1965)".
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