O.Z. Whitehead
Biography
Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead, known as O.Z., was an American character actor who worked in theater, film, and television. Born in New York City and educated at Harvard, he made his Broadway debut in The Lake in 1933, with Katharine Hepburn encouraging his early career. By 1939 he had appeared in eleven other plays, and in 1940 he acted opposite Lillian Gish in Life with Father in Chicago. His film debut came in The Scoundrel, and he became widely known as Al Joad in John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and as Basil Rathbone's son in The Last Hurrah (1958). Whitehead was among the last surviving members of Ford's stock company. He made his television debut on Cavalcade of America in 1953 and later appeared on Perry Mason as a murderer. After moving to Ireland he won the Best Supporting Actor prize at the 1966 Dublin Theatre Festival for Hughie, and his final screen role was in Biological Maintenance Department.
87years old at death
- Born Manhattan
- Died Dublin
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Oothout Zabriskie Whitehead (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 28 years1940 to 1968
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First role
Whitehead made his Broadway debut in the 1933 production of The Lake, which was Katharine Hepburn's first Broadway leading role; he appeared in 55 performances from December 1933 to February 1934.
First role
Whitehead's film debut came in The Scoundrel, written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, which won a 1936 Oscar for Best Original Story.
Behind the award
For his work in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie, Whitehead took the Best Supporting Actor award at the 1966 Dublin Theatre Festival. He went on to reprise that part at the Peacock until 1989.
A first
Whitehead belonged to the John Ford Stock Company, a group of character actors, and was among its last surviving members.
Behind the camera
After moving to Ireland, Whitehead started the O. Z. Whitehead Award in 1966 to support theater. Dr. Michael McDonnell was among the first year's winners, honored for his play All Gods Die on Friday.
O.Z. Whitehead movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
John Ford directed three of these films. Willis Bouchey appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Willis Bouchey's page
John Carradine's page
John Wayne's page
John Qualen's page
Denver Pyle's page
Strother Martin's page
All films by John Ford
Also two films together6 more actors
- Hank WordenThe Horse Soldiers (1959) and Comin' Round the Mountain (1951)
- Ida LupinoBeware, My Lovely (1952) and Road House (1948)
- Carleton YoungThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and The Horse Soldiers (1959)
- Russell SimpsonComin' Round the Mountain (1951) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
- Eddie QuillanSummer Magic (1963) and The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
- Norman LeavittSummer Magic (1963) and Comin' Round the Mountain (1951)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.