Norman Alden, born Norman Adelberg on September 13, 1924, was an American character actor who entertained audiences for nearly 50 years with his diverse and memorable performances. Standing at a height of 5 feet 11 inches (1.80m), he possessed a presence that could be both commanding and warm, depending on the role.
Alden discovered his passion for acting while attending Texas Christian University, where he participated in on-campus theater productions. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he pursued a career in acting, landing his first television appearance in 1957 on The 20th Century Fox Hour.
Throughout his career, Alden amassed an impressive filmography, appearing in dozens of television shows and films. He became known for a wide range of roles, showcasing his versatility and adaptability. Some of his most notable performances include Kranix and Arblus in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), Dr. Linstrom in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), the voice of Kay in The Sword in the Stone (1963), and guest appearances in popular shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone.
Alden continued to work steadily until his retirement in 2006. He left behind a legacy of diverse and memorable performances, proving his talent as a true character actor.
Movies
Ed Wood
Cameraman Bill (uncredited)
Sunday Drive
Norman
The Transformers: The Movie
Kranix (voice)
Borderline
Willie Lambert
The Sword in the Stone
Kay (voice)
The Wild Angels
Medic
Man's Favorite Sport?
John Screaming Eagle
The Nutty Professor
Football Player
All the Loving Couples
Mitch Burnett
The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children
Sheriff Glenn
The Walking Target
Sam Russo
Looking Back to the Future
Self
Operation Bottleneck
Cpl. Lester 'Merc' Davenport
Back to the Future
Lou
Kansas City Bomber
Horrible Hank Hopkins
The Trackers
Pete Dilworth
Secret of Deep Harbor
Barney Haines
Portrait of a Mobster
Bo Wetzel
Cloud Dancer
Dr. Putman
Cannon
Mitchell
Destination: America
Tom Beller
Red Line 7000
Pat
Good Times
Warren
First to Fight
Sergeant Schmidtmer
Flamingo Road
Pete
They Live
Foreman
Stand Up and Be Counted
Businessman
Off the Mark
Coach Elam
Andy
Andy Chadakis
Killers Three
Guthrie
Looking Back at the Future
Himself
California Girls
Mr. Pegem
Lady Mobster
Sal Borolo
Back to the Planet of the Apes
Zako
Fever Heat
Herbert Hupgrove
Cry Panic
Doc Potter
Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story
Ray Arcel
Ben
Policeman
Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders
Chief of Police
Samurai
Lt. Al DeNisco
Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force
Bartender
Ring of Passion
Max Machon
Cutting Class
Officer Fondulac
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Major Truman Landon
Semi-Tough
Coach Alvin Parks
Night of the Wolf
Carl Casey
Terror on the 40th Floor
Capt. Parker
Where Does It Hurt?
Katzen
No Other Love
Les Hollister
Man Against the Mob
Capt. Necker
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
McPherson
The Patsy
Bully at the Gym
The Devil's Brigade
MP Lieutenant
The Pigeon
Carl
Desperate Lives
Coach
The Great Bank Robbery
The Great Gregory - Balloonist
Shows
Planet of the Apes
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Coach Leroy Fedders
Falcon Crest
Det. Bitterman
Murder, She Wrote
Mercer Hawthorne
The Andy Griffith Show
Tom Strongbow
Alice
Hardcastle and McCormick
Family Affair
Sledge Hammer!
Roscoe
Super Friends
Burke's Law
Mark Hodges
Cain's Hundred
Fred Jackson
The Rookies
Trapper John, M.D.
The A-Team
Ed Maloney
Starsky & Hutch
My Three Sons
The Facts of Life
The F.B.I.
Norman Frome
The Love Boat
Ralph
Mr. Lucky
Silver Spoons
Batman
Henchman #1
Hawaii Five-O
Cameron
Quincy, M.E.
The Streets of San Francisco
Tracey Takes On...
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
Broken Mouth
Webster
Charlie's Angels
Louis Fluellen
Mannix
Hill Street Blues
The Mod Squad
Kojak
Foster
Medical Center
Hogan's Heroes
Sergeant Krebs
Gunsmoke
Purlie Loftus
Perry Mason
Darrel Reed
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Professor Frank Heflin
Cagney & Lacey
Dan Cobbin
Combat!
Pfc. Cooper
Dallas
Senator Orloff
Cannon
Lassie
Eight Is Enough
JAG
Mr. Platt
California Fever
Man with a Camera
The Hogan Family
Saints and Sinners
Frank Donelli
Hunter
Jerry Walsh
The Fall Guy
Leave It to Beaver
Water Dept. Worker
Everglades
Run, Buddy, Run
Philip Marlowe
The Lawless Years
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
McMillan and Wife
Randy Baine
To Rome with Love
Vega$
Switch
Barney
Hennesey
The All-New Super Friends Hour
Young Dan'l Boone
Matt Houston
The Thin Man
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Ben Regan
The Big Valley
Jeff Bowden
Enos
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
The Dakotas
Ben Casey
The Guns of Will Sonnett
Fay
Al Cassidy
The Manhunter
Devlin
The Cara Williams Show
Honey West
Ben Fancher
Rango
Nero Wolfe
Love, American Style
Paul
Dr. Kildare
Bernie (uncredited)
Panic!
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Johnny Ringo
Stone
Hunter
What Really Happened To the Class Of '65?
Not for Hire
Bronk
Bodies of Evidence
The Untouchables
Barry Carlton
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Black Cloud
Murder, She Wrote
Bart Klapper
Hunter
Mike, Missing Persons
The Texan
Ryan
Love, American Style
Barry
Mr. Lucky
Devil
The F.B.I.
Worth
Combat!
Pvt. Buford
The Jack Benny Program
Man with iron bar
The Untouchables
John Henry Whitmore
The Andy Griffith Show
Hank
Gunsmoke
Deke Franklin
Gunsmoke
Berber
Gunsmoke
Amos Potter
Gunsmoke
Tom Hart
Adam-12
Sgt. Hardwick
Temple Houston
Carlton Owens
Adam-12
Charley Baker
Love, American Style
Bernie
Honey West
Artie Dixon
Code Red
Robert Melton
Dan August
Benjamin Marsh
The Rifleman
Duff
Kung Fu
Sheriff Crossman
Mannix
Travers
The A-Team
Mickey Stern
The Rockford Files
Roland Eddy
TV 101
Ralphie
The Danny Thomas Hour
Marshak
21 Jump Street
The Mod Squad
Parker
My Favorite Martian
Detective Harris
Charlie's Angels
P. J. Wilkes
Charlie's Angels
Jake Barnett
Hunter
Mike, Missing Persons (uncredited)
77 Sunset Strip
Rene
Lawman
Charley - Townsman
One Day at a Time
Bonanza
Teller
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Henry Grover
Super Friends
Aquaman (voice)
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Frank Fallom
The Streets of San Francisco
Sgt. Dan Healy