Norman Stevans(1916-1980)
- Actor
Norman Stevans began in the Screen Extras Guild in 1943. This period turned out to be the perfect time for Screen Extras Guild members because the studios were spending a lot of money on big-budget productions and constantly needed extras. It didn't matter whether you were a soldier type, a dignitary, or a cowboy.
Like many extras, Stevans found his niche first as a soldier during the era in which World War 2 films were made to increase the morale of the general public. As he aged, Stevans purchased a wide variety of clothes so he could get cast more often as a dress extra.
By the 1950s, Stevans started to develop a reputation as one of the most dependable dress extras. His appearance led him to appear as a socialite or a businessman in many of the dramas but, he would also play bartenders and government officials in television westerns. Stevans effortlessly transitioned over to television and appeared in most of the major television shows of the period.
The coming of television seemed to be a good thing on the surface but for Stevans and extras like him, it caused the big-budget productions to be filmed elsewhere. What may have been steady work on a production for a month now turned into just a day or two. This made it much harder to make a living as a film extra.
Throughout the 1970s, the lack of steady work came to a head. Stevans became president of the Screen Extras Guild. By 1971, there was a depression in the motion picture industry and Stevans tried to lead the Screen Extras Guild and all of its members through the depression. By the middle of June that year, Stevans had only worked 27 days of that year.
Norman Stevans continued working until he passed away because of lung cancer. He leaves behind a few credited roles in television but more importantly, he leaves behind a legacy of being one of the leaders who led the Screen Extras Guild members through their roughest period.
Like many extras, Stevans found his niche first as a soldier during the era in which World War 2 films were made to increase the morale of the general public. As he aged, Stevans purchased a wide variety of clothes so he could get cast more often as a dress extra.
By the 1950s, Stevans started to develop a reputation as one of the most dependable dress extras. His appearance led him to appear as a socialite or a businessman in many of the dramas but, he would also play bartenders and government officials in television westerns. Stevans effortlessly transitioned over to television and appeared in most of the major television shows of the period.
The coming of television seemed to be a good thing on the surface but for Stevans and extras like him, it caused the big-budget productions to be filmed elsewhere. What may have been steady work on a production for a month now turned into just a day or two. This made it much harder to make a living as a film extra.
Throughout the 1970s, the lack of steady work came to a head. Stevans became president of the Screen Extras Guild. By 1971, there was a depression in the motion picture industry and Stevans tried to lead the Screen Extras Guild and all of its members through the depression. By the middle of June that year, Stevans had only worked 27 days of that year.
Norman Stevans continued working until he passed away because of lung cancer. He leaves behind a few credited roles in television but more importantly, he leaves behind a legacy of being one of the leaders who led the Screen Extras Guild members through their roughest period.
