--- name: "Whit Bissell" canonical: "https://film.one/person/whit-bissell" roles: ["Actor"] born: "25 October 1909" died: "5 March 1996" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 69 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-20T05:21:49.512220+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." --- # Whit Bissell Actor. Born 25 October 1909 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 5 March 1996. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 25 October 1909, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 5 March 1996 - **Active:** 1954–1970 - **Also known as:** Whitner Nutting Bissell, Whitner Bissell, Whitt Bissell, Whit Bissel - **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 75 (2), 1970s 56 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 65 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Thriller 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1, War 1 - **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $122m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whit_Bissell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q329156, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000946/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13786 ## Streaming the US now - **The Roku Channel:** [*The Defiant Ones*](https://film.one/film/the-defiant-ones.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Whit Bissell was an American character actor, born Whitner Nutting Bissell in New York City on 25 October 1909. He died on 5 March 1996 in Woodland Hills, California. He began his film career with *Holy Matrimony* (1943) and appeared in hundreds of films and television episodes. His credits include *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (1954), *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (1956), *The Defiant Ones* (1958) as Lou Gans, *The Time Machine* (1960), *The Magnificent Seven* (1960), *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962) and *Soylent Green* (1973). On television he appeared in episodes of *Star Trek* (1966), *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965) and *The Incredible Hulk* (1977). Bissell trained with the Carolina Playmakers at the University of North Carolina and had stage experience on Broadway before entering films. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Airport* (1970), Fi1m 56, as Mr. Davidson — [page](https://film.one/film/airport.md) - *The Defiant Ones* (1958), Fi1m 74, as Lou Gans — [page](https://film.one/film/the-defiant-ones.md) - *The Caine Mutiny* (1954), Fi1m 76, as Lt. Comdr. Dickson M.D. — [page](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) ## Complete filmography (236) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Time Machine: The Journey Back* (1993), as Walter Kemp - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Lurry — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) - *Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook* (1991), as Prof. Frankenstein (archive footage) - *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Mr. Hobson - *Darkroom* (1981), series, as Arthur - *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, Actor - *Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter* (1979), as Dr. Henry Blodgett - *The Night Rider* (1979), as Richards - *Ike* (1979), series, as Admiral - *The Time Machine* (1978), as Ralph Branly - *Donner Pass: The Road to Survival* (1978), as Uncle Billy Graves - *Casey's Shadow* (1978), as Dr. Williamson - *The Incredible Rocky Mountain Race* (1977), as Simon Hollaway - *Last of the Mohicans* (1977), as Gen. Webb - *The Incredible Hulk* (1977), series, as Prof. Williams - *The Lincoln Conspiracy* (1977), as Sen. John Conness - *Flood!* (1977), as Dr. Ted Horne - *Archie* (1976), as Hiram Lodge - *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, Actor - *The Tony Randall Show* (1976), series, Actor - *The Bionic Woman* (1976), series, Actor - *Psychic Killer* (1975), as Dr. Paul Taylor - *Matt Helm* (1975), series, as Rollins - *The Swiss Family Robinson* (1975), series, Actor - *Barbary Coast* (1975), series, Actor - *Nick and Nora* (1975), Actor - *The F.B.I. Story: The FBI Versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One* (1974), as Senator McKellar - *Harry O* (1974), series, Actor - *The Manhunter* (1974), series, as Mr. Beale - *Lincoln* (1974), series, as William Seward - *Cry Rape* (1973), as Judge Newcombe - *Kojak* (1973), series, as Sentman — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md) - *Soylent Green* (1973), as Gov. Santini - *Pete 'n' Tillie* (1972), as Funeral Minister - *Search* (1972), series, as St. Clair - *The Salzburg Connection* (1972), as Jim Newhart - *Justin Morgan Had a Horse* (1972), as Mr. Mays - *In Broad Daylight* (1971), as Capt. Moss - *A Tattered Web* (1971), as Mr. Harland - *Cannon* (1971), series, as Billingsley - *City Beneath the Sea* (1971), as Prof. Holmes - *The Andersonville Trial* (1970), as Doctor Ford - *Airport* (1970), as Mr. Davidson — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/airport.md) - *McCloud* (1970), series, Actor - *Once You Kiss a Stranger...* (1969), as Dr. David Haggis - *Marcus Welby, M.D.* (1969), series, as Dr. Arnold Winnick - *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, Actor - *Here's Lucy* (1968), series, as Ted Driscoll - *Land of the Giants* (1968), series, as Dr. Krane - *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Donald Merrick, Wainwright - *The Outsider* (1968), series, Actor - *5 Card Stud* (1968), as Dr. Cooper - *It Takes a Thief* (1968), series, as James Jenkins - *Mannix* (1967), series, Actor - *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor - *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor - *A Covenant with Death* (1967), as Bruce Donnelly - *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Col. Harris - *Jericho* (1966), series, Actor - *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor - *The Time Tunnel* (1966), series, as General Heywood Kirk - *Star Trek* (1966), series, as Lurry — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-1966.md) - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Carter - *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965), series, as Horace - *The Loner* (1965), series, as Ab Nichols - *Hogan's Heroes* (1965), series, as Gen. Kammler - *Camp Runamuck* (1965), series, Actor - *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor - *Fluffy* (1965), as Dr. Braden - *The Hallelujah Trail* (1965), as Hobbs - *The Final Hour* (1965), as Whit Parsons - *Profiles in Courage* (1964), series, as Myles, Woodrow Wilson - *Where Love Has Gone* (1964), as Professor Bell - *Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.* (1964), series, Actor - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Stogie the Trapper - *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Prof. Harvey Glomm - *Advance to the Rear* (1964), as Capt. Queeg - *Seven Days in May* (1964), as Sen. Frederick Prentice - *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Gus Hickman - *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Benjamin Silliman - *Glynis* (1963), series, Actor - *Petticoat Junction* (1963), series, as Ralph Denton - *Mr. Novak* (1963), series, as Karl Bellini - *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Dr. Freestone - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as John Gibson — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *The Outer Limits* (1963), series, as Commanding General - *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, Actor - *Hud* (1963), as Mr. Burris - *Spencer's Mountain* (1963), as Dr. Campbell - *The Dakotas* (1963), series, Actor - *The Manchurian Candidate* (1962), as Medical Officer - *Going My Way* (1962), series, Actor - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Adam Driscoll - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Burns, Andrew Cass, Whit Parsons - *Birdman of Alcatraz* (1962), as Dr. Ellis - *Third of a Man* (1962), as Maxwell - *Exercise No. One* (1962), Actor - *Straightaway* (1961), series, Actor - *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor - *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor - *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Dr. Kenneth Kline - *Daniel Boone: And Chase the Buffalo* (1960), as Gov. Tryon - *The Roaring 20's* (1960), series, Actor - *The Magnificent Seven* (1960), as Chamlee - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *Surfside 6* (1960), series, Actor - *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Harmony Bell - *Guestward, Ho!* (1960), series, Actor - *The Brothers Brannagan* (1960), series, as Sanford - *The Time Machine* (1960), as Walter Kemp - *Never So Few* (1959), as Capt. Alofson, Psychiatrist - *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor - *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, as Arthur Dane - *Philip Marlowe* (1959), series, Actor - *Bourbon Street Beat* (1959), series, Actor - *Johnny Ringo* (1959), series, as Sheriff Arson - *Men Into Space* (1959), series, Actor - *Lock-Up* (1959), series, Actor - *The DuPont Show with June Allyson* (1959), series, as Henry - *Tightrope* (1959), series, Actor - *Warlock* (1959), as Petrix - *The Black Orchid* (1959), as Harmon - *No Name on the Bullet* (1959), as Pierce - *One Step Beyond* (1959), series, as Capt. Will Fielding - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Doc Taggert - *Monster on the Campus* (1958), as Dr. Oliver Cole - *Lawman* (1958), series, Actor - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, Actor - *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor - *The Donna Reed Show* (1958), series, Actor - *Peter Gunn* (1958), series, Actor - *The Defiant Ones* (1958), as Lou Gans — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-defiant-ones.md) - *Destination Nightmare* (1958), as Dr. Will Madison - *Shirley Temple's Storybook* (1958), series, Actor - *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, Actor - *The Veil* (1958), series, Actor - *I Was a Teenage Frankenstein* (1957), as Prof. Frankenstein - *The Tall Stranger* (1957), as Adam Judson - *Zorro* (1957), series, Actor - *Trackdown* (1957), series, Actor - *The Real McCoys* (1957), series, Actor - *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, as Chris Wallis - *Maverick* (1957), series, Actor - *The Wayward Girl* (1957), as Ira Molson - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Larry Sands, Max Pompey, Laurence Barlow, Dennison Groody - *The Thin Man* (1957), series, Actor - *M Squad* (1957), series, as Tommy Hatch - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Albert Sykes - *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, Actor - *I Was a Teenage Werewolf* (1957), as Dr. Alfred Brandon - *Johnny Tremain* (1957), as Josiah Quincy - *Gunfight at the O.K. Corral* (1957), as 'Tombstone Epitaph' Editor John P. Clum - *Code 3* (1957), series, Actor - *Panic!* (1957), series, Actor - *The Comedian* (1957), as Otis Elwell - *The Young Stranger* (1957), as Grubbs - *Man from Del Rio* (1956), as Breezy Morgan - *Rendezvous in Black* (1956), Actor - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Major Ralph McConnell - *Playhouse 90* (1956), series, as Elwell - *State Trooper* (1956), series, Actor - *The Adventures of Jim Bowie* (1956), series, Actor - *Dakota Incident* (1956), as Mark Chester - *The Proud Ones* (1956), as Mr. Sam Bolton - *Invasion of the Body Snatchers* (1956), as Emergency Room Psychiatrist - *At Gunpoint* (1955), as Clem Clark - *The Miracle on 34th Street* (1955), as Dr. Pierce - *Shack Out on 101* (1955), as Eddie - *Trial* (1955), as Sam Wiltse - *The Desperate Hours* (1955), as FBI Agent Carson - *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, Actor - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Mr. Bliss - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor - *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955), series, Actor - *The Naked Street* (1955), as Dist. Atty. Blaker - *Not as a Stranger* (1955), as Dr. Dietrich - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as James Mahoney - *The Atomic Kid* (1954), as Dr. Edgar Pangborn - *Target Earth* (1954), as Tom - *Three Hours to Kill* (1954), as Deke - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Mr. Grubbs, Whitfield Cook - *Father Knows Best* (1954), series, as Sinclair Bruder - *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor - *The Shanghai Story* (1954), as Paul Grant - *The Caine Mutiny* (1954), as Lt. Comdr. Dickson M.D. — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-caine-mutiny.md) - *Public Defender* (1954), series, as Peter Stone - *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (1954), as Dr. Edwin Thompson - *Riot in Cell Block 11* (1954), as Guard Snader - *It Should Happen to You* (1954), as Robert Grau - *City Detective* (1953), series, Actor - *Devil's Canyon* (1953), as Virgil Gates - *A Tale of Two Cities* (1953), as Host - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Paul Wells, Dolph, Joseph Goebbels, Czadek - *You Are There* (1953), series, as John Adams - *The Turning Point* (1952), as Buck (uncredited) - *The Sellout* (1952), as Wilfred Jackson - *Hoodlum Empire* (1952), as Pickpocket - *Boots Malone* (1952), as Lou Dyer - *Tales of Robin Hood* (1951), as Will - *The Family Secret* (1951), as Joe Elsner - *The Red Badge of Courage* (1951), as Wounded Officer (uncredited) - *Lost Continent* (1951), as Stanley Briggs - *Red Mountain* (1951), as Miles - *Night Into Morning* (1951), as Monument Salesman (uncredited) - *Sealed Cargo* (1951), as Schuster - *Wyoming Mail* (1950), as Sam - *The Killer That Stalked New York* (1950), as Sid Bennet - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Rev. Trumbull - *A Life of Her Own* (1950), as Rental Agent (uncredited) - *Convicted* (1950), as States Attorney Owens (uncredited) - *Side Street* (1950), as Harold Simpson (chief teller) - *Perfect Strangers* (1950), as Defense Attorney (uncredited) - *When Willie Comes Marching Home* (1950), as Lt. M.J. Hanley - Psychiatrist (uncredited) - *Tokyo Joe* (1949), as Capt. Winnow (uncredited) - *Anna Lucasta* (1949), as Stanley - *The Crime Doctor's Diary* (1949), as Pete Bellem - *He Walked by Night* (1949), as Paul Reeves - *Chicken Every Sunday* (1949), as Robby - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Prof. Geoffrey Crawford, Denton - *That Lady in Ermine* (1948), as Giulio - *Canon City* (1948), as Heilman - *Raw Deal* (1948), as Murderer - *Another Part of the Forest* (1948), as Jugger - *The Senator Was Indiscreet* (1947), as Robert Oakes - *A Double Life* (1947), as Dr. Stauffer - *Brute Force* (1947), as Tom Lister - *The Sea of Grass* (1947), as Ted - the Clerk (uncredited) - *It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog* (1946), as Chester Frye (uncredited) - *Somewhere in the Night* (1946), as John (uncredited) - *Cluny Brown* (1946), as Archie - *The Horn Blows at Midnight* (1945), as Heavenly Piccolo Player (uncredited) - *Winged Victory* (1944), as Lt. Hudson - *Destination Tokyo* (1943), as Yo Yo (uncredited) - *Holy Matrimony* (1943), as Harry Leek (uncredited) - *Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon* (1942), as London Bobbie (uncredited) - *The Sea Hawk* (1940), as Gate Guard at Palace Entrance ## Gallery - ![Erin O'Brien-Moore & Whit Bissell in the John Patrick's Play The Hasty Heart - publicity still (original image cropped : see source) (1946)](https://film.one/media/person/1237950/gallery-2e747c355273.jpg) Erin O'Brien-Moore & Whit Bissell in the John Patrick's Play The Hasty Heart - publicity still (original image cropped : see source) (1946) — John E. Reed, Hollywood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Erin_O%27Brien_Moore-Whit_Bissel_in_The_Hasty_Heart.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Whit Bissell](https://film.one/media/person/1237950/gallery-2bc45856cca0.jpg) Whit Bissell — John E. Reed, Hollywood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Whit_Bissel_%281946%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Whit Bissell, star of "The Hasty Heart", read company, appears in his first important film role-- a convict Mark Hellinger's "Brute Force". He appears opposite (1947)](https://film.one/media/person/1237950/gallery-b969e0ba665a.jpg) Whit Bissell, star of "The Hasty Heart", read company, appears in his first important film role-- a convict Mark Hellinger's "Brute Force". He appears opposite (1947) — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Whit_Bissell_1947_Brute_Force.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Whit Bissell](https://film.one/media/person/1237950/gallery-49f9f5e61106.jpg) Whit Bissell — 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/whit-bissell