Harry Townes(1914-2001)
- Actor
Harry Townes was born and died in Huntsville, Alabama, where he served
as an ordained Episcopal priest. Aside from Huntsville and the
priesthood, he had a distinguished, prolific, and quite long career as
a character actor in movies and on television. He attended the
University of Alabama in the 1930s, but moved to New York, before
finishing, in order to study acting. He found his niche at Columbia
University where he also received his undergraduate degree. From there,
it was on to roles on stage -- his first in 1936 playing Captain Tim in
"Tobacco Road". A two-year run in the part of a leprechaun in "Finian's
Rainbow" came next -- a role that also took him to London. After a
spattering of roles in the movies, Townes found his greatest presence
on television, amassing a very large portfolio of roles for his handbag
of characters. Studio One (1948), Playhouse 90 (1956) and Kraft Television Theatre (1953) all enjoyed his
contributions. The more popular Gunsmoke (1955), Perry Mason (1957), Star Trek (1966), Rawhide (1959) and
Bonanza (1959) also benefited from Townes' acting skills. Though he continued
to perform occasionally into old age, he quit his Beverly Hills home
and lifestyle, entered the priesthood, and settled back into his
hometown of Huntsville in the 1970s.
