Listed: William F. Nolan, Cloris Leachman, Arte Johnson, Earl Hamner Jr., Jason Wingreen, George Clayton Johnson, Richard Bare, Don Keefer, Arlene Martel, John Tomerlin, Jack Klugman, Richard Matheson, Anne Francis, Del Reisman, Kevin McCarthy, Lamont Johnson, Bill Erwin, Lois Nettleton, Burgess Meredith, Robert McCord.
These are just some of the people who helped make The Twilight Zone extraordinary.
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William F. Nolan, 1928-2021
Perhaps most famous for co-authoring “Logan’s Run” with TZ alumnus George Clayton Johnson, Nolan was a member of the informal writers’ group Southern California Sorcerers, which included Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson. Nolan published roughly 2000 pieces, to include biographies, short stories, poetry, and novels—beginning with Ray Bradbury Review in 1952, a book of art, fiction and articles.
Cloris Leachman, 1926-2021
Bill Mumy (with Leachman above, in “It’s a Good Life”): I had the great privilege and pleasure of working closely with Cloris Leachman four times in my acting career. I played her son in all four of those projects which were starring roles for both of us. We worked on “The Loretta Young Show”, “Going My Way” (with Gene Kelly) and “The Twilight Zone” (in the classic episode, “It’s A Good Life” and the sequel 40 years later, “It’s Still A Good Life” which also starred my daughter, Liliana Mumy). I’ve been fortunate to work with many iconic talents over the course of my life, but NONE were better than Cloris. She was an amazing talent. … I’m sorry she’s gone but I am grateful she was here for so long and left us so much. … Thinking Real Good thoughts for you, “Mom”… You had a good life… A Real Good life.
Arte Johnson, 1929-2019
- Punched his boss Jack Carson (above, right) in “The Whole Truth”
- Versatile comic best known for Laugh-In
- Wikipedia listing
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Earl Hamner, Jr. 1923–2016
- Writer of eight classic Twilight Zone episodes, including “The Hunt.”
- Oh, and he created “The Waltons” about his own childhood.
- New York Times biography
- Tony Albarella: Earl Hamner: The Forgotten TZ Writer
Jason Wingreen, 1920-2015
- Appeared in The Twilight Zone’s “A Stop at Willoughby” and “The Midnight Sun,” Night Gallery’s “The Nature of the Enemy,” and Rod’s final original script to be produced during his lifetime, “The Sad and Lonely Sundays.”
- Wikipedia
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
George Clayton Johnson, 1929-2015
- Author of early & seminal Twilight Zone episodes
- Member of California Sorcerers Twilight Zone writers
- Remembrance from friend/editor Christopher Conlon
- Wikipedia
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Richard Bare, 1913-2015
- Directed seven Twilight Zone episodes, including “To Serve Man,” “Nick of Time,” “The Purple Testament,” and “Third From the Sun.”
- Also known for directing every episode of “Green Acres”—an achievement that is truly out of the Twilight Zone!
- Wikipedia
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Don Keefer in “It’s a Good Life”
Don Keefer, 1916-2014
- Memorable in “It’s a Good Life.”
- A versitile actor on stage and television, in both high drama and comedy.
- New York Times obituary
Arlene Martel, 1936–2014
- In “Twenty-Two” and “What You Need”.
- Best known as Spock’s bride T’Pring in Star Trek’s “Amok Time”
- Wikipedia
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
John Tomerlin scripted “Number 12 Looks Just Like You”
John Tomerlin, 1930–2014
- A member of the legendary writers group California Sorcerers, Tomerlin adapted a Charles Beaumont story into “Number 12 Looks Just Like You.” He wrote many other TV series episodes and SF novels.
- 2003 Filmfax Interview
- Wikipedia entry
Klugman in “A Game of Pool”
Jack Klugman, 1922-2012
- Starred in “A Passage for Trumpet,” “A Game of Pool,” “Death Ship,” and “In Praise of Pip”
- From friend Tony Albarella:
Meeting a Famous Everyman and “Klugman’s Twilight Times” in Filmfax - New York Times obit
- Wikipedia
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Richard Matheson and son share a 1980s magazine cover
Richard Matheson, 1926–2013
- Southern California Sorcerers pillar
- NPR obit includes videos of movies and “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”
- Matheson discusses his Twilight Zone scripts on YouTube
Anne Francis, 1930-2011
- Starred in “Jess-Belle” and “The After Hours,” one of TZ’s iconic episodes
- Best known for 1960s TV show Honey West and 1950s movie Forbidden Planet
- More in the Tony Albarella article One for the Recent Angels
Del Reisman
Del Reisman, 1924-2011
- President and vice-president of the Writers Guild of America, West,
- Veteran of the Golden Age of Television. In his capacity as story editor on Playhouse 90
- Associate producer of The Twilight Zone
- Interview for the Archive of American Television
- Tony’s 2008 FilmfaxPlus article about Del Reisman
- More in the Tony Albarella article One for the Recent Angels
Kevin McCarthy, 1914-2010
- Played the lead in “Long Live Walter Jameson”
- Starred in the original version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers
- More in the Tony Albarella article One for the Recent Angels
Lamont Johnson, 1922-2010
- Winner of multiple Emmy awards
- Directed “The Shelter,” “Nothing in the Dark,” “Kick the Can,” and “Five Characters in Search of an Exit”
- More in the Tony Albarella article One for the Recent Angels
William Self, 1921-2010
- Credits as a TV producer and production manager include shows like Twelve O’Clock High, Batman, The Green Hornet. Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants, Daniel Boone, Peyton Place, and, of course, The Twilight Zone.
- More in the Tony Albarella article One for the Recent Angels
Bill Erwin, 1914-2010
- Played characters in “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?,” “Mute,” “Mr. Denton on Doomsday,” and was left on the cutting room floor in “Walking Distance”
- More in the Tony Albarella article One for the Recent Angels
- IMDB listing
Lois Nettleton, 1927-2008
- Starred in “The Midnight Sun“
- Extensive TV career from 1953 until her death
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB) listing
- Wikipedia listing
Burgess Meredith, 1907-1997
- Starred in “Time Enough At Last,” “The Obsolete Man,” “Mr. Dingle, the Strong,” and “Printer’s Devil”
- Narrated Twilight Zone: The Movie
- Played a villainous senator in The Man
- Also known for his roles in 60’s TV Batman and Rocky movies
Robert McCord, 1915-1980
- Background character (no lines) in at least 72 Twilight Zone episodes.
- His 1947-1969 TV career included multiple appearances in Mike Hammer, Yancy Derringer, Twilight Zone and Wild Wild West, as well as numerous solo appearances.
- Above: an extra in “In Praise of Pip”
- Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry
- Pictorial tribute at TwilightZoneMuseum.com, and…
- Comprehensive list of his 72 (and maybe more) TZ appearances
WHO SHOULD WE ADD? Send us your suggestions here, as a Comment.
–the webmaster
Lois Nettleton from the episode “The Midnight Sun”. Her portrayal was as genuine as it gets
Done. Thanks so much for the excellent suggestion.