WILLIAM TALMAN: Film Menace

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Issue Number 445
July 2012

“The best way to deal with [Hamilton] Burger’s proclivity for absorbing punishment was to develop a sense of pride in the consistency of his endeavors. If you can’t win for losing, learn to love that losing streak!”

An unforgettable “B” level bad guy of early to mid-1950’s film noir, craggy faced, crinkle-haired WILLIAM TALMAN (1915-1968) was a magnetic, grave-looking actor with a knack for creating downright scary characters that seldom survived by the ending credits. Especially notable for his evil work in ARMORED CAR ROBBERY (1950) and THE HITCHHIKER (1953), he later became a household name as Raymond Burr’s luckless legal opponent, prosecutor Hamilton Burger, on the TV courtroom hit PERRY MASON (1957-1966). Off stage, Talman battled divorces, alcohol abuse, drug scandals and a fatal cigarette addiction, making a frail, lasting impression on a ground-breaking anti-smoking TV ad.

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