fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Sherman Jess Thordsen (January 19, 1917 – January 23, 1978) was an American film and television actor.[3][4]

Kelly Thordsen
Thordsen in Frontier Doctor, 1959
Born	Sherman Jess Thordsen[1] (1917-01-19)January 19, 1917 Deadwood, South Dakota, U.S.
Died	January 23, 1978(1978-01-23) (aged 61) Sun Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film and television actor
Years active	1956–1978
Spouse(s)	Lucille Baumgartner ​ ​ (m. 1935, divorced)​ [2]
Children	4[2]

Life and career

Thordsen was born in Deadwood, South Dakota.[1][2] He served in the United States Navy during World War II before which Thordsen had worked as a police officer at the Los Angeles Police Department for twelve years.[2] He also was a veteran of the Korean War.[5] Thordsen began his career in 1956, first appearing in the film The Desperados Are in Town, where he played the role of "Tobe Lapman".[3] He then played the uncredited role of "Jayhawker" in the 1957 film The True Story of Jesse James.[3] In the same year, Thordsen played the of "Sgt. Bruce" in the film Invasion of the Saucer Men.[3]

Later in his career, Thordsen guest-starred in numerous television programs, including, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Deputy, Tales of Wells Fargo, Cheyenne, The Andy Griffith Show, Rawhide, Perry Mason, The Time Tunnel, The Fugitive, The Rockford Files and Cimarron Strip.[6] He played the recurring role of "Colorado Charlie" for five episodes of the action and adventure television series Yancy Derringer.[7] In his film career, Thordsen played the role of "Detective Sgt. Hank Johnson" in the 1959 film City of Fear.[3] He played the role of a sheriff in the 1962 film Sweet Bird of Youth.[8] Thordsen also played the uncredited role of a burly man in the film To Kill a Mockingbird.[3]

Thordsen played the role of "Officer Carmody" in the 1966 film The Ugly Dachshund.[3] He also played the role of "Tough Hombre" in the 1967 film Good Times.[3] In 1972, Thordsen played the role of "Lt. Driscoll" in the sitcom television series Sanford and Son for two episodes. He played the role of "Sheriff L. D. Wicker" in the 1974 film The Parallax View.[3][9] His final credit was from the action and adventure television series Switch.

Death

Thordsen died in January 1978 of cancer at his home in Sun Valley, California, at the age of 61.[1][2] He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.[1]

References

External links

• Kelly Thordsen at IMDb
• Kelly Thordsen at the TCM Movie Database
• Kelly Thordsen at AllMovie
• Rotten Tomatoes profile

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