---
name: "Kenneth Tobey"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/kenneth-tobey"
fi1m_id: "kenneth-tobey"
imdb_id: "nm0864851"
tmdb_id: 103069
wikidata_id: "Q925911"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "23 March 1917"
died: "22 December 2002"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-25T05:27:19.514122+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."
---

# Kenneth Tobey

## Identity

Kenneth Tobey

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/kenneth-tobey
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** kenneth-tobey
- **IMDb ID:** nm0864851
- **TMDB ID:** 103069
- **Wikidata ID:** Q925911
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Tobey, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q925911, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864851/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/103069

Actor. Born 23 March 1917 in Oakland, California, USA. Died 22 December 2002.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 23 March 1917, Oakland, California, USA
- **Died:** 22 December 2002
- **Active:** 1949–1980
- **Also known as:** Ken Tobey, Kenneth Toby, Kenneth Jesse Tobey
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 83 (1), 1950s 76 (2), 1980s 84 (2)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Action 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Romance 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $87m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Tobey, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q925911, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0864851/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/103069

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Bigamist*](https://film.one/film/the-bigamist.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Kenneth Tobey was an American actor whose career spanned more than five decades. He appeared in nearly 100 films and numerous television productions, often in supporting roles as military officers, lawmen or dependable authority figures.

Born in Oakland, California, Tobey trained at the University of California, Berkeley and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York before making his film debut in the late 1940s. He gained prominence with his leading role as Captain Patrick Hendry in *The Thing from Another World* (1951) and starred as one of the helicopter pilots in the Desilu series *Whirlybirds* (1957–1960). Other notable credits include *Angel Face* (1953) as Bill Crompton, *It Came from Beneath the Sea* (1955), *Airplane!* (1980) and later appearances in *Gremlins* (1984) and *Honey, I Blew Up the Kid* (1992). Tobey died in Rancho Mirage, California, in 2002.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, latimes.com, catalog.afi.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *Airplane!* (1980), Fi1m 89, as Air Controller Neubauer — [page](https://film.one/film/airplane.md)
- *Angel Face* (1953), Fi1m 78, as Bill Crompton — [page](https://film.one/film/angel-face.md)
- *The Bigamist* (1953), Fi1m 74, as Tom Morgan, Defense Attorney — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bigamist.md)
- *Twelve O'Clock High* (1949), Fi1m 83, as Sgt. Keller — [page](https://film.one/film/twelve-oclock-high.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Gremlins* (1984), Fi1m 80, as Mobil Gas Station Attendant (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)

## Complete filmography (179)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Naked Monster* (2005), as Col. Patrick Hendry
- *The Angry Beavers* (1997), series, as Scientist / General (voice)
- *Hellraiser: Bloodline* (1996), as Hologram Priest (uncredited)
- *Body Shot* (1994), as Arthur Lassen
- *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Rurigan — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md)
- *Bob* (1992), series, Actor
- *Honey, I Blew Up the Kid* (1992), as Smitty
- *Desire and Hell at Sunset Motel* (1992), as Captain Holiday
- *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990), as Projectionist
- *Ghost Writer* (1989), as Cop #2
- *Freeway* (1988), as Monsignor Kavanaugh
- *Big Top Pee-wee* (1988), as Sheriff
- *Innerspace* (1987), as Man in Restroom
- *Starman* (1986), series, as Conrad Bennett
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Kent Watson
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Sheriff Haskin (segment "A Day in Beaumont")
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Father Cusack
- *The Lost Empire* (1984), as Capt. Hendry
- *Gremlins* (1984), as Mobil Gas Station Attendant (uncredited) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/gremlins.md)
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Harrison Kemp
- *Strange Invaders* (1983), as Arthur Newman
- *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Judge Randolph Winthrop
- *The Howling* (1981), as Older Cop
- *Airplane!* (1980), as Air Controller Neubauer — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/airplane.md)
- *The Murder That Wouldn't Die* (1980), as Chuck Parks
- *Hero at Large* (1980), as Firechief Palmer
- *The Horror Show* (1979), as (archive footage)
- *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor
- *Goodbye, Franklin High* (1978), as Police Captain
- *Wild and Wooly* (1978), as Mark Hannah
- *Nowhere to Run* (1978), as Mohr
- *Don't Push, I'll Charge When I'm Ready* (1977), as Oliver
- *MacArthur* (1977), as Admiral Halsey
- *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, Actor
- *Gibbsville* (1976), series, Actor
- *Gus* (1976), as Asst. Warden
- *Baby Blue Marine* (1976), as Buick Driver
- *W.C. Fields and Me* (1976), as Parker
- *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), series, as Andy Wilkins
- *The Wild McCullochs* (1975), as Larry Carpenter
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Captain, University Police Chief Max Kilmore — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Little House on the Prairie* (1974), series, as Barrett
- *Petrocelli* (1974), series, as Jason Strafford
- *Homebodies* (1974), as Construction Boss
- *Dirty Mary Crazy Larry* (1974), as Carl Donahue
- *Chopper One* (1974), series, as Sergeant Reardon
- *The Death Squad* (1974), as Hartman
- *The Alpha Caper* (1973), as Police Captain
- *Coffee, Tea or Me?* (1973), as Captain
- *Walking Tall* (1973), as Augie McCullah
- *Barnaby Jones* (1973), series, as Sheriff Tommy Allen, Sheriff, Ron Hagarty
- *Rage* (1972), as Col. Alan A. Nickerson
- *The Crooked Hearts* (1972), as Fisherman
- *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Sheriff Ingram
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, as Sheriff Holloway, Sheriff Kenney, Commander Judd
- *The Rookies* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Candidate* (1972), as Floyd J. Starkey
- *Ben* (1972), as Engineer
- *Fireball Forward* (1972), as Gen. Dawson
- *Lassie: Peace Is Our Profession* (1972), as Col. Bill Morgan
- *Emergency!* (1972), series, as Capt. Gordon Trigg, Doug Barton · Crane Operator
- *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, as Sgt. Halliday
- *Terror in the Sky* (1971), as Capt. Wilson
- *Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law* (1971), series, as Tony Alexander
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Police Commissioner — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Cannon* (1971), series, Actor
- *Billy Jack* (1971), as Deputy Mike
- *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor
- *Night Gallery* (1970), series, as Warden
- *Breakout* (1970), as Ranger
- *The Andersonville Trial* (1970), as Board of Military Judges
- *Marlowe* (1969), as Fred Beifus
- *The Outcasts* (1968), series, Actor
- *Adam-12* (1968), series, as Lt. King, Don Bates, Sgt. Bert Strong
- *The Outsider* (1968), series, as Joe Kester
- *It Takes a Thief* (1968), series, as Captain
- *Mannix* (1967), series, as Sheriff, Ted Bailey, Sheriff Wells
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor
- *A Time for Killing* (1967), as Sgt. Cleehan
- *40 Guns to Apache Pass* (1967), as Cpl. Bodine
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Mahoney, Lt. Reynolds
- *Family Affair* (1966), series, Actor
- *A Man Called Adam* (1966), as Club Owner
- *Daktari* (1966), series, as Col. Simon Tredwell
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Barstow
- *I Spy* (1965), series, as Russ Conway
- *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Taggart
- *Temple Houston* (1963), series, as Dan Powers
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Bill Latham
- *The Lieutenant* (1963), series, as Sergeant Baker
- *Stark Fear* (1962), as Kane
- *Stoney Burke* (1962), series, as Ryan
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Sheriff Dan Porter, Sheriff Kirby, Sheriff Howard Acton, Joe Pierce
- *Sam Benedict* (1962), series, Actor
- *X-15* (1961), as Col. Craig Brewster
- *Target: The Corruptors!* (1961), series, Actor
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Blakey
- *The Americans* (1961), series, Actor
- *Seven Ways from Sundown* (1960), as Lieutenant Herly
- *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Major Quincy Bannister
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Josiah Heath, Notary
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Coach Jarech
- *Bat Masterson* (1958), series, as Reed Amherst
- *Lawman* (1958), series, as Duncan Clooney, Tom Bishop
- *Behind Closed Doors* (1958), series, as Colonel Pete Kellogg
- *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor
- *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Vince Slater
- *Cry Terror!* (1958), as Agent Frank Cole
- *Jefferson Drum* (1958), series, as John Wallach
- *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, as Pete Butler
- *Jet Pilot* (1957), Actor
- *The Restless Gun* (1957), series, as Sheriff Cash Harcourt
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Deputy D.A. Jack Alvin, Asst. District Attorney Alvin
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Tim Decker
- *The Vampire* (1957), as Buck Donnelly
- *Gunfight at the O.K. Corral* (1957), as Bat Masterson
- *Panic!* (1957), series, Actor
- *The Wings of Eagles* (1957), as Capt. Herbert Allen Hazard
- *Whirlybirds* (1957), series, as Chuck Martin
- *The Search for Bridey Murphy* (1956), as Rex Simmons
- *Davy Crockett and the River Pirates* (1956), as Jocko
- *The Great Locomotive Chase* (1956), as Anthony Murphy
- *Behind the Scenes with Fess Parker* (1956), Actor
- *The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit* (1956), as Lt. Hank Mahoney (uncredited)
- *The Steel Jungle* (1956), as Dr. Lewy
- *Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race* (1955), as Jocko
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Jeff
- *Frontier* (1955), series, Actor
- *Navy Log* (1955), series, Actor
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Spadden, Fickett, Bob Mathison, Ed Terrall
- *Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier* (1955), as Col. Jim Bowie
- *It Came from Beneath the Sea* (1955), as Cmdr. Pete Mathews
- *Science Fiction Theatre* (1955), series, Actor
- *Rage at Dawn* (1955), as Monk Claxton
- *Davy Crockett at the Alamo* (1955), as James Bowie
- *Captain Fathom* (1955), as Jack Clyde
- *Davy Crockett* (1954), series, Actor
- *The Steel Cage* (1954), as Steinberg, Convict Painter, segment "The Face"
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as James Bowie, Jocko, Anthoney Murphy, Shorty
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Captain Coppedge
- *Father Knows Best* (1954), series, as Jack Bramer
- *Lassie* (1954), series, as Chuck Martin, Dan Fuller, Tom Anderson, Luke Moran, Jim Dixon, Colonel Bill Morgan
- *Down Three Dark Streets* (1954), as Zack Stewart
- *Ring of Fear* (1954), as Shreveport
- *The Lone Wolf* (1954), series, as Johnny Martin
- *Public Defender* (1954), series, as Patrolman Don Nelson, Sgt. Angel
- *The Bigamist* (1953), as Tom Morgan, Defense Attorney — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bigamist.md)
- *Fighter Attack* (1953), as George
- *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as David Whitney, Harry Potter
- *The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms* (1953), as Col. Evans
- *Angel Face* (1953), as Bill Crompton — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/angel-face.md)
- *Biff Baker U.S.A.* (1952), series, as Tommy Allen
- *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, Actor
- *Cavalcade of America* (1952), series, Actor
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Miles Standish
- *Dragnet* (1951), series, Actor
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Sergeant Tim Vernon, Lt. Lambert
- *The Thing from Another World* (1951), as Captain Patrick Hendry
- *Rawhide* (1951), as Lt. Wingate (uncredited)
- *The Company She Keeps* (1951), as Rex Fisher (uncredited)
- *The Flying Missile* (1950), as Pete McEvoy
- *Three Secrets* (1950), as Officer (uncredited)
- *Right Cross* (1950), as Reporter #3
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, Actor
- *Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye* (1950), as Detective Tobey
- *My Friend Irma Goes West* (1950), as Pilot
- *The Gunfighter* (1950), as Swede (uncredited)
- *One Way Street* (1950), as Cop at Second Accident (uncredited)
- *When Willie Comes Marching Home* (1950), as Lt. K. Geiger (uncredited)
- *Twelve O'Clock High* (1949), as Sgt. Keller — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/twelve-oclock-high.md)
- *The File on Thelma Jordon* (1949), as Police Photographer (uncredited)
- *Free For All* (1949), as Pilot
- *The Lone Ranger* (1949), series, as Deputy Gil Jackson
- *Task Force* (1949), as Capt. Ken Willliamson (uncredited)
- *I Was a Male War Bride* (1949), as Red (uncredited)
- *The Great Sinner* (1949), as Cabbie (uncredited)
- *He Walked by Night* (1949), as Detective Questioning Pete (uncredited)
- *Beyond Glory* (1948), as Bit Role (uncredited)
- *Dangerous Venture* (1947), as Red

## Gallery

- ![Kenneth Tobey in Stark Fear - cropped screenshot (1962)](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-f796e269671d.jpg) Kenneth Tobey in Stark Fear - cropped screenshot (1962) — Film screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Kenneth_Tobey_in_Stark_Fear_%281962%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![William Phipps & Kenneth Tobey in Rage at Dawn - cropped screenshot (1955)](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-53d56d748ce3.jpg) William Phipps & Kenneth Tobey in Rage at Dawn - cropped screenshot (1955) — film screenshot (RKO Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/William_Phipps-Kenneth_Tobey_in_Rage_at_Dawn.jpg/1280px-William_Phipps-Kenneth_Tobey_in_Rage_at_Dawn.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![William Phipps & Kenneth Tobey in Rage at Dawn - cropped screenshot (1955)](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-2c5c3145de93.jpg) William Phipps & Kenneth Tobey in Rage at Dawn - cropped screenshot (1955) — film screenshot (RKO Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Kenneth_Tobey_in_Rage_at_Dawn.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Kenneth Tobey](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-78e5f583e011.jpg) Kenneth Tobey — Image via TMDB
- ![Kenneth Tobey](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-bafd719ea27e.jpg) Kenneth Tobey — Image via TMDB
- ![Kenneth Tobey](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-4f774c831a56.jpg) Kenneth Tobey — Image via TMDB
- ![Kenneth Tobey](https://film.one/media/person/362496/gallery-d00f7a0ef751.jpg) Kenneth Tobey — 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/kenneth-tobey