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Joe Maross
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Joseph Raymond Maross (February 7, 1923 – November 7, 2009)[1] was an American stage, film, and television actor whose career spanned over four decades. Working predominantly on television in supporting roles or as a guest star, Maross performed in a wide variety of series and made-for-television movies between the early 1950s and mid-1980s.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Born in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania, Maross served in the Marine Corps during World War II and was stationed in Hawaii.[1] He attended Yale University after the war and received his theater arts degree there in 1947.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Maross's Broadway credits include Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath (1949) and The Innkeepers (1955).[3] The first feature film in which he was cast is the 1958 World War II drama Run Silent, Run Deep. He can also be seen in subsequent productions such as Elmer Gantry, Zig Zag, Sometimes a Great Notion, The Salzburg Connection, and Rich and Famous.
Maross achieved greater acting success on television, where he became a familiar face to American audiences, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. He can be seen in episodes of assorted series originally broadcast during that period. He has roles in the 1959 episode "A Personal Matter" on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and in three episodes of Perry Mason: "The Case of the Crying Cherub" (1960), "The Case of the Lavender Lipstick", and "The Case of the Potted Planter" (1963). He also appears in supporting roles or as a guest star in Behind Closed Doors, Mission: Impossible, The Fugitive, The Outer Limits, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Invaders, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Twelve O'Clock High, Kentucky Jones, The Time Tunnel (in an episode in which he portrays George Armstrong Custer), Hawaii Five-O, the Mannix episode "Cry Silence", Hawkins, The Rockford Files, the Cannon episodes "Call Unicorn" and "Blood Lines", the Combat! episode "A Little Jazz", and the Bonanza episode "Escape to Ponderosa". Maross is a central character as well in two episodes of The Twilight Zone: "Third from the Sun" and "The Little People". While the frequency of his work on television began to decline by the late 1970s, Maross continued to perform into the 1980s. An example of this is his portrayal of Captain Mike Benton in the series Code Red, which aired for one season on ABC from 1981 to 1982.[4]
Support for film organizations
[edit]Maross was a founding member of "Projects 58", an acting, writing and directing group based in Los Angeles.[5] He was also a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[5]
Death
[edit]In November 2009, at age 86, Maross died of cardiac arrest at a convalescent hospital in Glendale, California.[5][2]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Run Silent, Run Deep | Chief Kohler | |
| 1958 | The Restless Gun | Kaleel | Episode: "Hang and be Damned" |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Joe Philips | Season 4 Episode 15: "A Personal Matter" |
| 1960 | Elmer Gantry | Pete | |
| 1960 | Bonanza | Jimmy Sutton | Episode: "Escape to Ponderosa" |
| 1960 | Perry Mason | Assistant District Attorney Ernest Helming | Episode: "The Case of the Lavender Lipstick" |
| 1960 | The Twilight Zone | Jerry Riden | Episode: "Third from the Sun" |
| 1961 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Tony Coe | Season 6 Episode 30: "You Can't Trust a Man" |
| 1962 | The Twilight Zone | Peter Craig | Episode: "The Little People" |
| 1962 | Gunsmoke | Dan Beard | Episode: "Coventry" |
| 1963 | The Virginian | Landegger | Episode: "Echo of Another Day" |
| 1965 | Kentucky Jones | Ned Scratch | Episode: "Bad Penny" |
| 1965 | Gunsmoke | Charlie Britton | Episode “Chief Joseph" |
| 1967-1973 | Mission Impossible | Sheriff Brad Owens, Frank Bates, Mark Walters, Clegg, Jay Braddock | Episodes: The Frame, The Widow, Homecoming, The Connection, The Fighter |
| 1970 | Zig Zag | Lieutenant Max Hines | |
| 1971 | Sometimes a Great Notion | Floyd Evenwrite | |
| 1972 | The Salzburg Connection | Chuck | |
| 1976 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Gustav Tokar | Episode 3-13: The Golden Pharaoh |
| 1977 | Sixth and Main | Peanuts | |
| 1978 | Wonder Woman | Shubert | Episode: "The Fine Art of Crime" |
| 1981 | Rich and Famous | Martin Fornam |
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Lentz, Harris M. III (2010). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786441747. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "PASSINGS/Joe Maross", obituary, archives of the Los Angeles Times, November 11, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Search results 'Joe Maross'". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ a b c "Actor Joe Maross dies at 86". Variety. November 9, 2009. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
External links
[edit]- Joe Maross at IMDb
- Joe Maross at the Internet Broadway Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
Joe Maross
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Early Life and Education
Birth and Upbringing
Joseph Raymond Maross was born on February 7, 1923, in Barnesboro, Pennsylvania, a small borough in Cambria County known for its bituminous coal mining industry that dominated the local economy since the late 19th century.[3][4] He was the son of Leon Joseph Marosz (1894–1964) and Helen Katherine Balcerek (1898–1986), whose surnames reflect their Polish heritage, as evidenced by the family's ties to Polish-American communities and burial in a Roman Catholic Polish cemetery.[5][6] Maross grew up in this working-class environment amid the town's mining operations, which shaped the daily lives of many residents through labor in the coal fields and related industries.[4] This formative period in rural Pennsylvania preceded his enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.[7]Military Service
Joe Maross served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.[7] He was stationed for a time in Hawaii during his service.[8]Education
Following his discharge from the U.S. Marines after serving in World War II, Joe Maross attended Yale University, where he pursued studies in theater arts.[2] He graduated in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in theater arts.[1] This formal training equipped him with essential skills in acting and dramatic production, fueling his early aspirations to establish a professional career on the stage.[9]Acting Career
Stage Work
Following his graduation from Yale University with a bachelor's degree in theater arts in 1947, Joe Maross moved to New York to pursue a career in professional theater.[2] Maross made his Broadway debut in the revival of the comedy Ladies Night in a Turkish Bath at the Selwyn Theatre, where he portrayed Mike Bonner.[10] The production, directed by Edward Sobol, opened on February 17, 1950, and ran for 23 performances through March 9, 1950.[11] Six years later, Maross returned to Broadway in the original drama The Innkeepers by Charles Martin at the John Golden Theatre, playing the role of Howard alongside Darren McGavin as David McGregor and Geraldine Page as Amy McGregor.[12] The play, directed by Jack Landau, premiered on February 2, 1956, but closed after only three performances on February 4, 1956.[13] Maross's documented stage work was limited to these two Broadway productions during the 1950s, a period when he honed his skills through the demands of live performance before shifting focus to television and film.Film Roles
Joe Maross began his film career with a supporting role in the submarine war drama Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), directed by Robert Wise, where he portrayed Chief Petty Officer Kohler, an experienced submariner serving under captains played by Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster.[2][14] His performance contributed to the film's tense depiction of naval conflict during World War II, highlighting the interpersonal dynamics aboard a U.S. submarine on a revenge mission against Japanese destroyers.[1] In 1960, Maross appeared in Richard Brooks's adaptation of Sinclair Lewis's novel Elmer Gantry, taking on the role of Pete, the sleazy companion to a prostitute character portrayed by Shirley Jones, in a story centered on a charismatic but corrupt evangelist played by Burt Lancaster.[8] This supporting part underscored themes of moral hypocrisy and exploitation in 1920s America, with Maross's character adding to the film's critique of religious fervor and personal vice.[1] Maross continued in supporting capacities through the 1960s and 1970s, notably as Floyd Evenwrite in Paul Newman's directorial debut Sometimes a Great Notion (1971), based on Ken Kesey's novel, where he played a union organizer clashing with the independent Stamper logging family led by Newman and Henry Fonda.[2] His role emphasized labor tensions and rugged individualism in the Pacific Northwest timber industry. Other notable films from this period include Zig Zag (1970), in which he played Lieutenant Max Hines in a crime thriller, and The Salzburg Connection (1972), a Cold War espionage drama. Maross's final film role was as Martin in Rich and Famous (1981), a comedy-drama directed by George Cukor.[8] Throughout his cinematic work from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, Maross specialized in character roles that often depicted authoritative or gritty figures—such as military personnel, law enforcement, or working-class antagonists—in genres dominated by war films and social dramas, amassing appearances in six feature films that showcased his reliable presence as a scene-stealing supporting actor.[1][15] These roles paralleled his extensive television output, solidifying his reputation as a versatile character performer in Hollywood's golden age of ensemble storytelling.[2]Television Roles
Joe Maross began his television career in 1952, appearing in live New York broadcasts of dramatic anthology series including Lux Video Theatre, Studio One, and Armstrong Circle Theatre, before transitioning to Hollywood in 1957. His work in this medium spanned over four decades, amassing more than 100 credits that showcased his versatility as a character actor.[16][1] One of Maross's most notable early television appearances was in the anthology series The Twilight Zone, where he played central roles in two iconic episodes. In "Third from the Sun" (1960), he portrayed Jerry Riden, a family man plotting an escape from a doomed world, contributing to the episode's tense, allegorical narrative. He reprised his presence in the series with "The Little People" (1962), as astronaut Peter Craig, whose encounter with diminutive beings explores themes of power and hubris. These performances highlighted Maross's ability to convey emotional depth in science fiction contexts. Throughout the 1960s, Maross frequently guest-starred in popular procedural and action dramas, including multiple appearances on Perry Mason, where he played characters such as Nelson Tarr in "The Case of the Potted Planter" (1963). He also featured in espionage thriller Mission: Impossible four times between 1967 and 1973, including as Mark Walters in "The Widow" (1967) and Sheriff Brad Owens in "Homecoming" (1970), often portraying authoritative or antagonistic figures. In the war series Combat!, Maross appeared as Will, a musician entangled in wartime intrigue, in the 1967 episode "A Little Jazz."[17] Maross secured regular roles later in his career, notably as General George Armstrong Custer in the time-travel adventure The Time Tunnel episode "Massacre" (1966), where he depicted the historical figure during the Battle of Little Bighorn.[18] His most sustained television commitment came in the early 1980s with Code Red (1981–1982), in which he portrayed Captain Mike Benton, a firefighter navigating emergencies alongside the Rorchek family unit.[19] This role marked a shift toward ensemble action dramas. Maross's television trajectory evolved from the introspective anthology formats of the 1950s, like The Twilight Zone, to more ensemble-driven action series in the 1980s, such as Code Red, reflecting the changing landscape of broadcast television. His prior film experience further enhanced his adaptability across these genres.[8][16]Personal Life and Contributions
Marriage and Family
Joe Maross married actress Carol Kelly on June 23, 1958.[3] The couple had one son, Michael, during their marriage, which ended in divorce on November 23, 1962.[7] Public records provide limited information on the specific circumstances surrounding the end of the marriage. Maross later entered a second marriage with Lucille Rita Everin on April 9, 1973, though it too concluded in divorce the following year.[5] During his acting career, Maross maintained residences in California, where he continued to live following his retirement in 1986.[8]Involvement in Film Organizations
Joe Maross was a founding member of Projects 58, a collaborative group focused on acting, writing, and directing that supported independent filmmakers in Los Angeles during the late 1950s.[2] This initiative provided a platform for creative professionals to develop original projects outside traditional studio systems, reflecting the era's growing interest in experimental and low-budget productions.[1] In addition to his work with Projects 58, Maross held voting membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), granting him influence in the selection of Oscar nominees and winners.[2] He was known for his diligent engagement with the annual screener DVDs sent to members, demonstrating a sustained interest in evaluating contemporary films.[3] These organizational roles underscored Maross's commitment to the film industry beyond his on-screen performances, as he actively contributed to fostering collaboration among peers and upholding standards of excellence in cinema.[1]Death and Legacy
Final Years and Death
After his extensive career in the 1980s, including roles in series such as Dallas and Murder, She Wrote, Joe Maross's final credited television appearance was as Henry Vernon in an episode of Murder, She Wrote in 1986.[20] He resided in Glendale, California, during his later years.[8] He passed away at a convalescent hospital in Glendale on November 7, 2009, at the age of 86, due to cardiac arrest.[1][8] This event concluded a professional journey that had encompassed over four decades in film, television, and stage.[2]Posthumous Recognition
Following his death, Joe Maross received tributes in major industry publications that underscored his enduring reputation as a reliable character actor in mid-20th-century American media. The Los Angeles Times obituary described him as a "prolific character actor whose film and television career spanned the 1950s to the 1980s," emphasizing his versatility in supporting roles across genres.[1] Similarly, Variety highlighted his four-decade career beginning with live television, noting appearances in iconic series that cemented his status as a familiar face in ensemble casts.[2] As a founding member of the Los Angeles-based Projects 58 acting collective and a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Maross's legacy endures through his foundational role in collaborative theater and film efforts that supported emerging talent in the postwar period.[2][1]Filmography
Films
Joe Maross's feature film career spanned from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, with supporting roles that often portrayed tough, authoritative, or working-class characters in dramas and thrillers. His credits reflect a shift from war-themed stories in the early years to more diverse character-driven narratives later on.- 1958: Run Silent, Run Deep, directed by Robert Wise; role: Chief Kohler. Maross played an experienced chief petty officer on a World War II submarine, contributing to the tense crew dynamics amid a vengeful captain's mission against Japanese destroyers.[21]
- 1960: Elmer Gantry, directed by Richard Brooks; role: Pete. He portrayed the sleazy pimp associated with a vulnerable young woman drawn into the orbit of a charismatic but fraudulent evangelist.[22]
- 1970: Zigzag, directed by Richard A. Colla; role: Lt. Max Hines. Maross appeared as a determined police lieutenant aiding a man faking his death to catch a killer in this crime thriller.[23]
- 1971: Sometimes a Great Notion, directed by Paul Newman; role: Floyd Evenwrite. He depicted a militant union organizer confronting an independent logging family defying a strike in rural Oregon.[24]
- 1972: The Salzburg Connection, directed by Lee H. Katzin; role: Chuck. Maross played a CIA operative assisting an unwitting American in exposing a postwar Nazi smuggling ring in Austria.[25]
- 1977: Sixth and Main, directed by Christopher Cain; role: Adair. In this independent drama about homelessness, he portrayed a compassionate figure among skid-row inhabitants discovered by a writer researching urban poverty.[26]
- 1981: Rich and Famous, directed by George Cukor; role: Martin Fornam. Maross appeared as a supportive literary agent in the story of two women's evolving friendship across class and career divides.