---
name: "Leif Erickson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/leif-erickson"
fi1m_id: "leif-erickson"
imdb_id: "nm0002063"
tmdb_id: 9865
wikidata_id: "Q1232794"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 October 1911"
died: "29 January 1986"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-24T06:37:15.167633+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."
---

# Leif Erickson

## Identity

Leif Erickson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/leif-erickson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** leif-erickson
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002063
- **TMDB ID:** 9865
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1232794
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erickson_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1232794, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002063/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9865

Actor. Born 27 October 1911 in Alameda, California, USA. Died 29 January 1986.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 October 1911, Alameda, California, USA
- **Died:** 29 January 1986
- **Active:** 1948–1959
- **Also known as:** Leif Erikson, Glenn Erickson, Glen Erickson, Glenn Erikson, William Wycliffe Anderson
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 76 (1), 1950s 89 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erickson_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1232794, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002063/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9865

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*On the Waterfront*](https://film.one/film/on-the-waterfront.md) (89)

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

## Biography

Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson) was an American stage, film and television actor. He was born on 27 October 1911 in Alameda, California, and died on 29 January 1986 in Pensacola, Florida.

Erickson began his career as a band vocalist and trombone player before appearing in Max Reinhardt productions and vaudeville. Initially billed as Glenn Erickson, he started in Westerns, including films with Buster Crabbe. During the Second World War he served in the US Navy as a photographer in the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, rising to Chief Petty Officer; he was shot down twice and received two Purple Hearts.

His film roles include Glover in *On the Waterfront* (1954), Pete in *Show Boat* (1951) and Bill Reynolds in the film version of *Tea and Sympathy* (1956), a part he had played on stage. He is also known for portraying Big John Cannon in the television series *The High Chaparral* (1967–1971) and for appearances in *The Snake Pit* (1948), *Sorry, Wrong Number* (1948) and *Invaders from Mars* (1953).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *On the Waterfront* (1954), Fi1m 89, as Glover — [page](https://film.one/film/on-the-waterfront.md)
- *The Snake Pit* (1948), Fi1m 76, as Gordon — [page](https://film.one/film/the-snake-pit.md)

## Complete filmography (127)

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

- *Wild Times* (1980), series, as John Tyree
- *Twilight's Last Gleaming* (1977), as Ralph Whittaker - CIA Director
- *The Fantastic Journey* (1977), series, as Ben Wallace
- *The Fantastic Journey* (1977), as Ben Wallace
- *Winterhawk* (1975), as Guthrie
- *Medical Story* (1975), series, as Dr. Taussing
- *Abduction* (1975), as Prescott
- *Force Five* (1975), as Cal Newkirk
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Carl Colton 'C.C.' Calloway — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Harry O* (1974), series, Actor
- *The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping* (1973), as William Henry Cameron
- *The Magician* (1973), series, as Nicholas Olson
- *The Evil Touch* (1973), series, Actor
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Daughters of Joshua Cabe* (1972), as Amos Wetherall
- *The Family Rico* (1972), as Mike Lamont
- *The Rookies* (1972), series, Actor
- *The New Healers* (1972), as Dr. Victor Briggs
- *The Sixth Sense* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Deadly Dream* (1971), as Dr. Harold Malcolm
- *Terror in the Sky* (1971), as Marty Treleavan
- *Cannon* (1971), series, Actor
- *Man and Boy* (1971), as Sheriff Mossman
- *Night Gallery* (1970), series, as Charlie Wheatland
- *Medical Center* (1969), series, Actor
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, Actor
- *Mannix* (1967), series, Actor
- *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as Big John Cannon
- *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor
- *Mirage* (1965), as The Major
- *I Saw What You Did* (1965), as Dave Mannering
- *Branded* (1965), series, Actor
- *Roustabout* (1964), as Joe Lean
- *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Aaron Burr, Bill Sedley
- *The Carpetbaggers* (1964), as Jonas Cord Sr.
- *Strait-Jacket* (1964), as Bill Cutler
- *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as General
- *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Abel Parrish, President Grover Cleveland
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Jason Hayes
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, Actor
- *A Gathering of Eagles* (1963), as Gen. Hewitt
- *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Paul White, Doctor Hellyer
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Peterson, Charlie Ryan, Bill King
- *Shootout at Big Sag* (1962), as Sam Barbee
- *The New Breed* (1961), series, as Dr. Eric Thor
- *The Shape of the River* (1960), as William Dean Howells
- *The Rebel* (1959), series, as Dave Blaine
- *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Andrew Middleton
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Tom Caine, Josh Tatum
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Frank Travis
- *The Rifleman* (1958), series, Actor
- *Once Upon a Horse...* (1958), as Granville "Granny" Dix
- *Twilight for the Gods* (1958), as Harry Hutton
- *Kiss Them for Me* (1957), as Eddie Turnbill
- *Panic Button* (1957), as Paul Henderson
- *The Vintage* (1957), as Louis Morel
- *One Coat of White* (1957), as Ben Riggs
- *Istanbul* (1957), as Charlie Boyle
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Jim Lewis, Cash Wilson
- *Tea and Sympathy* (1956), as Bill Reynolds
- *The Fastest Gun Alive* (1956), as Lou Glover
- *Star in the Dust* (1956), as George Ballard
- *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, Actor
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Wayne Phillips
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Virgil Powell
- *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Brian Hendricks, Norman Conover
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Robert Eunson, Richard Carmichael, Doug Randell, Richard Moore
- *On the Waterfront* (1954), as Glover — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/on-the-waterfront.md)
- *Inner Sanctum* (1954), series, Actor
- *Paris Model* (1953), as Edgar Blevins
- *Captain Scarface* (1953), as Sam
- *Fort Algiers* (1953), as Kalmani
- *Invaders from Mars* (1953), as Mr. George MacLean
- *A Perilous Journey* (1953), as Richards
- *Trouble Along the Way* (1953), as Father Provincial aka Ed
- *Born to the Saddle* (1953), as Bob Marshall
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Man
- *Never Wave at a WAC* (1953), as Norbert 'Noisy' Jackson
- *Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd* (1952), as Morgan
- *My Wife's Best Friend* (1952), as Nicholas Reed
- *Carbine Williams* (1952), as Feder
- *With a Song in My Heart* (1952), as General (uncredited)
- *Sailor Beware* (1952), as Commander Lane
- *The Cimarron Kid* (1952), as Marshal John Sutton
- *Reunion in Reno* (1951), as B. Frederick Linaker
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Dan, Sam Sargent
- *The Tall Target* (1951), as Stranger
- *Show Boat* (1951), as Pete
- *Fourteen Hours* (1951), as Bit Part (uncredited)
- *Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration* (1951), as Pilate
- *Dallas* (1950), as U.S. Marshal Martin Weatherby
- *Three Secrets* (1950), as Bill Chase
- *The Showdown* (1950), as Big Mart
- *Stella* (1950), as Fred Anderson Jr.
- *Mother Didn't Tell Me* (1950), as Dr. Bruce Gordon
- *The Lady Gambles* (1949), as Tony
- *Johnny Stool Pigeon* (1949), as Pringle
- *Joan of Arc* (1948), as Dunois, Bastard of Orleans
- *Miss Tatlock's Millions* (1948), as Dr. Mason
- *The Snake Pit* (1948), as Gordon — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-snake-pit.md)
- *Sorry, Wrong Number* (1948), as Fred Lord
- *The Gay Intruders* (1948), as Dr. Harold Matson
- *The Gangster* (1947), as Beaumont
- *Blonde Savage* (1947), as Steve Blake
- *Arabian Nights* (1942), as Kamar (as Leif Erikson)
- *Night Monster* (1942), as Laurie
- *Pardon My Sarong* (1942), as Whaba
- *Eagle Squadron* (1942), as Johnny M. Coe
- *Are Husbands Necessary?* (1942), as Bill Stone
- *The Fleet's In* (1942), as Jake
- *H.M. Pulham, Esq.* (1941), as Rodney 'Bo-Jo' Brown
- *The Blonde from Singapore* (1941), as Terry Prescott
- *Nothing but the Truth* (1941), as Tommy Van Dusen
- *Crisis* (1939), as Narrator (voice)
- *One Third of a Nation* (1939), as Peter Cortlant
- *Ride a Crooked Mile* (1938), as Johnny Simpkins
- *The Big Broadcast of 1938* (1938), as Bob Hayes
- *Thrill of a Lifetime* (1937), as Howard Nelson
- *Conquest* (1937), as Paul Lachinski
- *Waikiki Wedding* (1937), as Dr. Victor Quimby
- *College Holiday* (1936), as Dick Winters
- *Girl of the Ozarks* (1936), as Tom Bolton
- *Desert Gold* (1936), as Glenn Kasedon
- *Drift Fence* (1936), as Curley Prentice
- *Nevada* (1935), as Bill Ide
- *Wanderer of the Wasteland* (1935), as Lawrence
- *Air Tonic* (1933), as Band Singer

## Gallery

- ![Poster for Captain Scarface (1953) The copyright on Captain Scarface was not renewed and the film is in the public domain. See [1] Source: personal collection](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-8f95699e4080.jpg) Poster for Captain Scarface (1953) The copyright on Captain Scarface was not renewed and the film is in the public domain. See [1] Source: personal collection — Schmausschmaus at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Captainscarface.jpg/1280px-Captainscarface.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Photograph of members of the Group Theatre Subjects are Roman Bohnen, Luther Adler, Leif Erickson, Frances Farmer, Ruth Nelson, Sanford Meisner, Phoebe Brand, E (1938)](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-7393e6172854.jpg) Photograph of members of the Group Theatre Subjects are Roman Bohnen, Luther Adler, Leif Erickson, Frances Farmer, Ruth Nelson, Sanford Meisner, Phoebe Brand, E (1938) — Theatre Magazine Company; photograph by Alfredo Valente, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Group-Theatre-1938.jpg/1280px-Group-Theatre-1938.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Photo of Leif Erickson and Linda Cristal from the television program The High Chaparral (1970)](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-cde2e29a2f15.jpg) Photo of Leif Erickson and Linda Cristal from the television program The High Chaparral (1970) — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Leif_Erickson_Linda_Cristal_High_Chaparral_1970.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Leif Erickson as John Cannon and Yaphet Kotto as the leader of an all African-American group of cavalry soldiers from the television program The High C (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-d16aae49fe68.jpg) Photo of Leif Erickson as John Cannon and Yaphet Kotto as the leader of an all African-American group of cavalry soldiers from the television program The High C (1968) — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Leif_Erickson_Yaphet_Kotto_The_High_Chaparral_1968.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Leif Erickson](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-1537072ffe37.jpg) Leif Erickson — Image via TMDB
- ![Leif Erickson](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-720c0b791447.jpg) Leif Erickson — Image via TMDB
- ![Leif Erickson](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-c90b29bff3c9.jpg) Leif Erickson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ritz Theatre and Belair Drive-In advertisement for the American horror thriller film I Saw What You Did (1965). From the 1 September 1965 San Bernardino Sun.](https://film.one/media/person/59323/gallery-0bec7c0e70b1.jpg) Ritz Theatre and Belair Drive-In advertisement for the American horror thriller film I Saw What You Did (1965). From the 1 September 1965 San Bernardino Sun. — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Ritz_Theatre%2C_Belair_Drive-in_ad_-_1_September_1965%2C_CA.jpg/1280px-Ritz_Theatre%2C_Belair_Drive-in_ad_-_1_September_1965%2C_CA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© 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/leif-erickson