Ted Bessell
Biography
Ted Bessell was an American actor and director whose career centered on television. Born in Flushing, New York, he grew up in Manhasset and trained in acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse after first preparing for a classical music career. He appeared in the off-Broadway production The Power of Darkness and went on to further off-Broadway work. He received strong notices in a West Coast staging of Look Homeward, Angel, then took minor parts in The Outsider and Lover Come Back (1961). He became known for playing Donald Hollinger on the TV series That Girl from 1966 to 1971. His other screen credits included Don't Drink the Water (1969) and Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973), plus the Peabody-winning TV film Your Money or Your Wife. He later directed episodes for The Tracey Ullman Show and Sibs and shared an Emmy as a producer on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1989.
61years old at death
- Born Flushing
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: PiscesLast day of the sign, on the Aries cusp
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 12 years1961 to 1973
Every film, newest first
- 1973Scream, Pretty PeggyIMDb rating 6.1
- 1969Don't Drink the WaterIMDb rating 5.5
- 1961Lover Come BackIMDb rating 7.1
Genres
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A change of course
Ted Bessell was a child piano prodigy who performed a recital at Carnegie Hall when he was 12, before he turned to acting.
Early training
Bessell studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner, and he also learned dance and dramatic movement from Martha Graham and Louis Horst.
First role
Bessell was cast in The Power of Darkness, an off-Broadway production, and this led to more off-Broadway work with the Blackfriars Guild.
Behind the award
Bessell shared an Emmy in 1989 as a producer on Fox's The Tracey Ullman Show, which won best variety or comedy program.
Ted Bessell movies on Netflix
Worked with
Ted Bessell shares two films with Howard St. John, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Howard St. John's page
Bette Davis's page
Fred Aldrich's page
Rock Hudson's page
Doris Day's page
Charles Drake's page
Delbert MannDirector, 1 film, 1961
All films by Delbert Mann
Gordon HesslerDirector, 1 film, 1973
All films by Gordon Hessler
All films by Howard Morris
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.