--- name: "Edward Binns" canonical: "https://film.one/person/edward-binns" fi1m_id: "edward-binns" imdb_id: "nm0083081" tmdb_id: 2651 wikidata_id: "Q1291706" roles: ["Actor"] born: "12 September 1916" died: "4 December 1990" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 86 average_as: "actor" average_over: 5 updated: "2026-09-17T17:19:43.900704+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Edward Binns ## Identity Edward Binns - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/edward-binns - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** edward-binns - **IMDb ID:** nm0083081 - **TMDB ID:** 2651 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1291706 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Binns, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1291706, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083081/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2651 Actor. Born 12 September 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 4 December 1990. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 12 September 1916, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - **Died:** 4 December 1990 - **Active:** 1957–1982 - **Also known as:** Ed Binns, Eddie Binns, Edwards Binns, Edwared Binns - **Frequently works with:** [Sidney Lumet](https://film.one/person/sidney-lumet.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 86, as actor, over 5 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 90 (2), 1960s 82 (1), 1970s 82 (1), 1980s 84 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 86 to 81 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 4, History 2, Adventure 1, Thriller 1, War 1 - **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $171m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Binns, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1291706, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083081/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2651 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*12 Angry Men*](https://film.one/film/12-angry-men.md) (91) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Edward Binns > Edward Binns gives men with jobs to do a convincing authority, helped by a gravelly voice that needs little emphasis. We rate his dependable supporting work most highly in ensembles, particularly when Sidney Lumet is directing. The gravel in Edward Binns's voice is useful in *12 Angry Men* (1957): Juror 6 sounds as though he belongs in the discussion. Binns is convincing as one member of the jury, without needing to become its centre. We were gripped by the deliberations because Sidney Lumet and his ensemble make the responsibility of listening feel urgent. The writing sometimes arranges the disagreements too neatly, but the actors give us reason to attend to each man. His film work began in the early 1950s and repeatedly put him in positions of practical authority. As Captain Junket, he is a police detective in *North by Northwest* (1959); television gave him a leading role in *Brenner* (1959–1962). Yet supporting parts remained the main business of his film career. That suits an actor whose firm delivery can establish a man's competence quickly, leaving a scene free to get on with something else. Colonel Jack Grady, the bomber pilot in *Fail Safe* (1964), and Major General Walter Bedell Smith in *Patton* (1970) continue that pattern. These are credible uses of Binns, though the repeated military roles suggest the limitation too. We come to expect a purposeful man who knows his job, and dependability alone cannot make every appearance worth seeking out. Lumet directed him in four films, putting that reliability to good use in the ensembles of *12 Angry Men* and *The Verdict*. *The Verdict* (1982) casts him as Bishop Brophy, in a film whose strongest claim on our attention remains Paul Newman's worn-down Frank Galvin. We would not pretend Binns is the reason to choose it. He belongs to a superb cast that makes a familiar redemption story moving, although the solemn pace sometimes becomes self-important. It is a useful later stop after *12 Angry Men*, provided there is no hurry to get to bed. ## Biography Edward Binns was an American stage, film and television actor. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 12 September 1916, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University and trained at the Cleveland Playhouse and the Actors Studio, of which he was an early member. He began appearing on Broadway in the late 1940s and in films in the early 1950s. Binns is known for his roles in *12 Angry Men* (1957) as Juror 6, *North by Northwest* (1959), *Judgment at Nuremberg* (1961), *Fail Safe* (1964), *Patton* (1970) as Major General Walter Bedell Smith, and *The Verdict* (1982). He appeared in numerous television series, including *Brenner* (1959–1962) as Lieutenant Roy Brenner, and episodes of *M*A*S*H*, *The Twilight Zone* and *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*. Binns died of a heart attack on 4 December 1990, aged 74. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, nytimes.com.* ## On Fi1m (5) - *The Verdict* (1982), Fi1m 84, as Bishop Brophy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-verdict.md) - *Patton* (1970), Fi1m 82, as Major General Walter Bedell Smith — [page](https://film.one/film/patton.md) - *Judgment at Nuremberg* (1961), Fi1m 82, as Senator Burkette — [page](https://film.one/film/judgment-at-nuremberg.md) - *North by Northwest* (1959), Fi1m 89, as Captain Junket — [page](https://film.one/film/north-by-northwest.md) - *12 Angry Men* (1957), Fi1m 91, as Juror 6 — [page](https://film.one/film/12-angry-men.md) ## Complete filmography (122) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *After School* (1988), as Monsignor Frank Barrett - *Whatever it Takes* (1986), as Mr. Kingsley - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Father Martin O'Donohugh - *The Verdict* (1982), as Bishop Brophy — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-verdict.md) - *The Pilot* (1980), as Larry Zanoff - *F.D.R.: The Last Year* (1980), as General 'Pa' Watson - *The Murder That Wouldn't Die* (1980), as Allan Battles - *The Power Within* (1979), as Gen. Tom Darrow - *Stubby Pringle's Christmas* (1978), as Red - *Oliver's Story* (1978), as Phil Cavilleri - *Lucan* (1977), series, Actor - *Just an Old Sweet Song* (1976), as Mr. Claypool - *Alice* (1976), series, Actor - *Diary of the Dead* (1976), as Mr. McNulty - *Night Moves* (1975), as Joey Ziegler - *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Everet Alton Benson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *Police Woman* (1974), series, as John Solvana - *The Manhunter* (1974), series, Actor - *Lovin' Molly* (1974), as Mr. Frye - *The First Woman President* (1974), as Joe Tumulty - *Police Story* (1973), series, Actor - *Hunter* (1973), as Owen Larkdale - *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as General Korshak — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md) - *The Brian Keith Show* (1972), series, Actor - *Fireball Forward* (1972), as Corps Commander - *Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones* (1971), as Pedro - *Cannon* (1971), series, Actor - *The Sheriff* (1971), as Paulsen - *The Tell-Tale Heart* (1971), Actor - *The Bold Ones: The Senator* (1970), series, as Arthur Beresford - *McCloud* (1970), series, Actor - *Patton* (1970), as Major General Walter Bedell Smith — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/patton.md) - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Mills - *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Dan Borden - *Chubasco* (1968), as Judge North - *It Takes a Thief* (1968), series, as Wally Powers, Wallie Powers - *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor - *Ironside* (1967), series, as Charlie Culver - *This Is Marshall McLuhan: The Medium Is The Massage* (1967), as Narration - *Captain Nice* (1967), series, Actor - *The Price of a Life* (1967), as Narrator - *Tarzan* (1966), series, Actor - *The Plainsman* (1966), as Lattimer - *Blue Light* (1966), series, Actor - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Bill Hollis, Barney Simms - *The Loner* (1965), series, as Manet - *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Colonel Roper - *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor - *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Colonel Delaney - *The Americanization of Emily* (1964), as Admiral Thomas Healy - *Fail Safe* (1964), as Col. Jack Grady - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Seth Jennings - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as George Savano, Josh Kovaks, Angstrom — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *The Dakotas* (1963), series, Actor - *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, Actor - *The Nurses* (1962), series, as Dr. Anson Kiley - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Colonel John Briscoe, Mike McCormick, Pa McRae - *Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man* (1962), as Brakeman - *A Public Affair* (1962), as Sen. Fred Baines - *Judgment at Nuremberg* (1961), as Senator Burkette — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/judgment-at-nuremberg.md) - *The Investigators* (1961), series, as Jim Corbin - *The New Breed* (1961), series, as Crafts - *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Ben Laney, Peter De Gravio - *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Capt. Ernest Lemoyne - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Victor Fergusson, District Attorney Wolf - *The Asphalt Jungle* (1961), series, Actor - *Desire in the Dust* (1960), as Luke Connett - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor - *Checkmate* (1960), series, as Harl Stoner - *The Aquanauts* (1960), series, as Ed Barron - *Thriller* (1960), series, as Lt. Giddeon - *Heller in Pink Tights* (1960), as Sheriff Ed McClain - *Curse of the Undead* (1959), as Sheriff - *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor - *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Dr. Samuels - *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Bob Donlin, General Walters — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md) - *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Colonel Baldwin - *North by Northwest* (1959), as Captain Junket — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/north-by-northwest.md) - *The Man in the Net* (1959), as State Police Capt. Green - *Brenner* (1959), series, as Roy Brenner - *Compulsion* (1959), as Tom Daly - *One Step Beyond* (1959), series, as Fred Graham - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, as Keely Thompson - *Young and Dangerous* (1957), as Dr. Price - *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, as Captain Posen, Major Robert Fielding - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Lloyd Castle, Charles Griffin - *The Thin Man* (1957), series, Actor - *M Squad* (1957), series, as Wally Gardner - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Sheriff Bill Strode, Jud Steele, Major Starbuck - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, Actor - *Portland Exposé* (1957), as George Madison - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Lieutenant Larrabee - *12 Angry Men* (1957), as Juror 6 — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/12-angry-men.md) - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Abel McHugh, Sam Tompkins - *State Trooper* (1956), series, as Frederick Walden, Harley Bender - *Conflict* (1956), series, Actor - *Beyond a Reasonable Doubt* (1956), as Lt. Kennedy - *Telephone Time* (1956), series, Actor - *The Scarlet Hour* (1956), as Sgt. Allen - *Patterns* (1956), as Elevator Starter - *Tragedy in a Temporary Town* (1956), as Anderson - *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, Actor - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Mr. Brown - *Navy Log* (1955), series, Actor - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Bill Strapp - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Lieutenant Lewis - *Inner Sanctum* (1954), series, Actor - *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Governor Jim Pierson - *Vice Squad* (1953), as Al Barkis - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Harry Wilson - *Without Warning!* (1952), as Lt. Pete Hamilton - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Red - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Daniels - *Teresa* (1951), as Sgt. Brown - *Halls of Montezuma* (1951), as First Soldier in Final Tracking Shot (uncredited) - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Silas, Prosecutor - *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Dan Thompson - *Suspense* (1949), series, Actor - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Joe Doyle - *The Philco Television Playhouse* (1948), series, Actor - *Kraft Television Theatre* (1947), series, Actor ## Gallery - ![Edward Binns. Watercolour by A. Taylor, 1838. Iconographic Collections Keywords: binns, edward, d. 1851; portrait prints; Edward Binns](https://film.one/media/person/59302/gallery-139a39f2b41d.jpg) Edward Binns. Watercolour by A. Taylor, 1838. Iconographic Collections Keywords: binns, edward, d. 1851; portrait prints; Edward Binns — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Edward_Binns._Watercolour_by_A._Taylor%2C_1838._Wellcome_V0000551.jpg/1280px-Edward_Binns._Watercolour_by_A._Taylor%2C_1838._Wellcome_V0000551.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Edward Binns](https://film.one/media/person/59302/gallery-6ff0a208de22.jpg) Edward Binns — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/edward-binns