Kenneth Tobey

Biography

Kenneth Tobey was an American actor whose career ran from the 1940s into the 1990s and covered more than 200 film, television, and stage credits. Born in Oakland, California, he entered the University of California, Berkeley, intending to study law before acting at the school theater led him to the Neighborhood Playhouse. He worked on Broadway and in summer stock before his 1947 Hollywood debut in the Western Dangerous Venture. His best-known role came as Captain Patrick Hendry in The Thing from Another World (1951), and it led to other 1950s science fiction parts, notably It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). He also appeared in The Vampire (1957) and The Wings of Eagles (1957), starred in the television series Whirlybirds from 1957 to 1960, and returned to Broadway in Golden Boy in 1964. Later films included MacArthur (1977), The Howling (1981), and Big Top Pee-wee (1988). He died in 2002.

85years old at death

Born March 23, 1917Oakland
Died December 22, 2002Rancho Mirage
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Also credited as Kenneth Jesse Tobey and Jesse Kenneth Tobey

Movie Career

Films: 31
Career span: 42 years1950 to 1992

Genres

Drama45%, 14 films
Adventure23%, 7 films
Comedy19%, 6 films
Crime19%, 6 films
Horror19%, 6 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Early training
Kenneth Tobey trained at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse on a drama scholarship for a year and a half, in a class that included Gregory Peck, Eli Wallach and Tony Randall.
Big break
After a brief comedy bit in the 1949 film I Was a Male War Bride, Tobey drew the notice of director Howard Hawks, who said he would give the 32-year-old actor something more substantial.
Beyond film
Tobey started a lengthy Broadway engagement in 1964, appearing alongside Sammy Davis Jr. in the musical adaptation of Clifford Odets' play Golden Boy.
A change of course
Tobey enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was a rear gunner on a B-25 bomber and served in the Pacific.

Kenneth Tobey movies on Netflix

Honey, I Blew Up the Kid1992IMDb rating 4.9as Smitty
Single White Female1992IMDb rating 6.4as Desk Clerk
Big Top Pee-wee1988IMDb rating 5.2as Sheriff
Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9as Man in Restroom
Strange Invaders1983IMDb rating 5.4as Arthur Newman
The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5as Older Cop
MacArthur1977IMDb rating 6.5as Admiral Halsey
Gus1976IMDb rating 5.7as Asst. Warden
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry1974IMDb rating 6.6as Donahue
Ben1972IMDb rating 5.3as Engineer
Rage1972IMDb rating 6.3as Col. Alan A. Nickerson
The Candidate1972IMDb rating 7.0as Floyd J. Starkey
Marlowe1969IMDb rating 6.4as Fred Beifus
40 Guns to Apache Pass1967IMDb rating 5.8as Cpl. Bodine
A Time for Killing1967IMDb rating 5.4as Sgt. Cleehan
Seven Ways from Sundown1960IMDb rating 6.8as Lieutenant Herly
Cry Terror!1958IMDb rating 6.7as Agent Frank Cole
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral1957IMDb rating 7.1as Bat Masterson
The Vampire1957IMDb rating 5.8as Buck Donnelly
The Wings of Eagles1957IMDb rating 6.6as Capt. Herbert Allen Hazard
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates1956IMDb rating 6.6as Jocko
The Great Locomotive Chase1956IMDb rating 6.8as Anthony Murphy
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier1955IMDb rating 6.8as Col. Jim Bowie
It Came from Beneath the Sea1955IMDb rating 5.9as Cmdr. Pete Mathews
Rage at Dawn1955IMDb rating 6.0as Monk Claxton
Down Three Dark Streets1954IMDb rating 6.6as Zack Stewart
Angel Face1953IMDb rating 7.2as Bill Crompton
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms1953IMDb rating 6.6as Col. Jack Evans
The Bigamist1953IMDb rating 6.8as Tom Morgan, Defense Attorney
The Thing from Another World1951IMDb rating 7.0as Captain Patrick Hendry
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye1950IMDb rating 7.1as Detective Tobey

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Thing from Another World1951 Horror, Sci-Fias Captain Patrick Hendry
IMDb rating 7.036K votes
It Came from Beneath the Sea1955 Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fias Cmdr. Pete Mathews
IMDb rating 5.97.3K votes
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms1953as Col. Jack Evans
IMDb rating 6.69.8K votes
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry1974as Donahue
IMDb rating 6.68.7K votes
Angel Face1953as Bill Crompton
IMDb rating 7.210K votes
The Bigamist1953as Tom Morgan, Defense Attorney
IMDb rating 6.85.5K votes
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier1955as Col. Jim Bowie
IMDb rating 6.85.7K votes
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates1956as Jocko
IMDb rating 6.62.8K votes

Most often with

Joe Dante directed two of these films, Randal Kleiser two and Norman Foster two. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Dick Miller

William Schallert

Fess Parker

Ward Bond

Fred Aldrich

Michael Lerner

Joe DanteDirector, 2 films

Randal KleiserDirector, 2 films

Norman FosterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Dick Miller3 films together, 1967 to 1987
Dick Miller's page
- Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9Tobey as Man in RestroomMiller as Cab Driver
- The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5Tobey as Older CopMiller as Walter Paisley - Bookstore Owner
- A Time for Killing1967IMDb rating 5.4Tobey as Sgt. CleehanMiller as Zollicoffer
William Schallert3 films together, 1954 to 1987
William Schallert's page
- Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9Tobey as Man in RestroomSchallert as Dr. Greenbush
- Cry Terror!1958IMDb rating 6.7Tobey as Agent Frank ColeSchallert as Henderson, Bank Representative
- Down Three Dark Streets1954IMDb rating 6.6Tobey as Zack StewartSchallert as Ben
Fess Parker3 films together, 1955 to 1956
Fess Parker's page
- Davy Crockett and the River Pirates1956IMDb rating 6.6Tobey as JockoParker as Davy Crockett
- The Great Locomotive Chase1956IMDb rating 6.8Tobey as Anthony MurphyParker as James J. Andrews
- Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier1955IMDb rating 6.8Tobey as Col. Jim BowieParker as Davy Crockett
Ward Bond2 films together, 1950 to 1957
Ward Bond's page
- The Wings of Eagles1957IMDb rating 6.6Tobey as Capt. Herbert Allen HazardBond as John Dodge
- Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye1950IMDb rating 7.1Tobey as Detective TobeyBond as Inspector Charles Weber
Fred Aldrich2 films together, 1953 to 1956
Fred Aldrich's page
- Davy Crockett and the River Pirates1956IMDb rating 6.6Tobey as JockoAldrich as Townsman
- The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms1953IMDb rating 6.6Tobey as Col. Jack EvansAldrich as Radio Operator
Michael Lerner2 films together, 1972 to 1983
Michael Lerner's page
- Strange Invaders1983IMDb rating 5.4Tobey as Arthur NewmanLerner as Willie Collins
- The Candidate1972IMDb rating 7.0Tobey as Floyd J. StarkeyLerner as Paul Corliss
Joe DanteDirector, 2 films, 1981 to 1987
All films by Joe Dante
- Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9Tobey as Man in Restroom
- The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5Tobey as Older Cop
Randal KleiserDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 1992
All films by Randal Kleiser
- Honey, I Blew Up the Kid1992IMDb rating 4.9Tobey as Smitty
- Big Top Pee-wee1988IMDb rating 5.2Tobey as Sheriff
Norman FosterDirector, 2 films, 1955 to 1956
All films by Norman Foster
- Davy Crockett and the River Pirates1956IMDb rating 6.6Tobey as Jocko
- Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier1955IMDb rating 6.8Tobey as Col. Jim Bowie
Also two films together22 more actors
- Robert PicardoInnerspace (1987) and The Howling (1981)
- Gertrude AstorAngel Face (1953) and The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
- Lee Van CleefGunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
- Kevin McCarthyInnerspace (1987) and The Howling (1981)
- Slim PickensThe Howling (1981) and The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
- Jack ChefeAngel Face (1953) and The Bigamist (1953)
- Hank WordenDavy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
- Audie Murphy40 Guns to Apache Pass (1967) and Seven Ways from Sundown (1960)
- Dabbs GreerRage (1972) and The Vampire (1957)
- Chuck RobersonThe Wings of Eagles (1957) and The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
- Jack KruschenSeven Ways from Sundown (1960) and Cry Terror! (1958)
- Steve BrodieThe Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950)
- Frances BaySingle White Female (1992) and Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
- John DierkesRage (1972) and The Thing from Another World (1951)
- Raymond GreenleafThe Vampire (1957) and Angel Face (1953)
- William BakewellDavy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
- Buddy EbsenDavy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
- Fiona LewisInnerspace (1987) and Strange Invaders (1983)
- Jeff YorkDavy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)
- Inger StevensA Time for Killing (1967) and Cry Terror! (1958)
- Paul StevensRage (1972) and Marlowe (1969)
- Don MegowanThe Great Locomotive Chase (1956) and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.