Norman Alden

Acting

Norman Alden

Born
Died
(aged 87)
Birthplace
Forth Worth, Texas, USA
Credits
181 titles

Biography

Norman Alden (né Adelberg; September 13, 1924 – July 27, 2012) was an American character actor. His career lasted nearly 50 years, including many diverse and memorable performances. Some of his notable roles include the voice of Sir Kay in The Sword in the Stone (1963), Dr. Linstrom in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), diner owner Lou in Back to the Future (1985), the voice of Kranix in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), the construction foreman in They Live (1988), and cameraman Bill in Ed Wood (1994). Alden also made numerous guest appearances in popular shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone.

Alden first discovered his passion for acting while attending Texas Christian University, where he participated in on-campus theater productions. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he pursued a career in acting, making his first television appearance in 1957 on The 20th Century Fox Hour. Alden continued to work steadily until his retirement in 2006.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 180

YearTitleRole
2009 Looking Back to the Future Film Self
2006 Looking Back at the Future Film Himself
2002 Night of the Wolf Film Carl Casey
2001 K-PAX Film Babbling Man
1998 Patch Adams Film Truck Driver
1996 Tracey Takes On... TV (1 ep)
1995 JAG TV Mr. Platt (1 ep)
1994 Ed Wood Film Cameraman Bill
1992 Bodies of Evidence TV (1 ep)
1991 Rugrats TV Plastic Piggy (voice) (1 ep)
1989 Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force Film Bartender
1989 Cutting Class Film Officer Fondulac
1989 Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders Film Chief of Police
1988 TV 101 TV Ralphie (1 ep)
1988 They Live Film Foreman
1988 Lady Mobster Film Sal Borolo
1988 Man Against the Mob Film Capt. Necker
1987 Off the Mark Film Coach Elam
1987 21 Jump Street TV (1 ep)
1987 Destination: America Film Tom Beller
1986 Sunday Drive Film Norman
1986 Sledge Hammer! TV Roscoe (1 ep)
1986 The Transformers: The Movie Film Kranix (voice)
1986 The Hogan Family TV (1 ep)
1985 Back to the Future Film Lou
1985 Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story Film Ray Arcel
1985 California Girls Film Mr. Pegem
1984 Murder, She Wrote TV Mercer Hawthorne, Bart Klapper (1 ep)
1984 Hunter TV Jerry Walsh, Mike, Mike, Missing Persons (uncredited) (1 ep)
1983 The Rousters TV Jackson Cobb (13 ep)
1983 Hardcastle and McCormick TV (1 ep)
1983 Webster TV (1 ep)
1983 The A-Team TV Ed Maloney, Mickey Stern (1 ep)
1982 Matt Houston TV Sheriff Tim Keeler (2 ep)
1982 Silver Spoons TV (1 ep)
1982 Victor/Victoria Film Man in Hotel with Shoes (uncredited)
1982 Cagney & Lacey TV Dan Cobbin (1 ep)
1982 Desperate Lives Film Coach
1981 Nero Wolfe TV (1 ep)
1981 Falcon Crest TV Det. Bitterman (3 ep)
1981 The Fall Guy TV (2 ep)
1981 Code Red TV Robert Melton (1 ep)
1981 Foul Play TV (1 ep)
1981 Hill Street Blues TV Art Eastland (1 ep)
1980 Borderline Film Willie Lambert
1980 Back to the Planet of the Apes Film Zako
1980 Enos TV (1 ep)
1980 Cloud Dancer Film Dr. Putman
1980 Flamingo Road Film Pete
1980 Stone TV (1 ep)
1979 California Fever TV (1 ep)
1979 Trapper John, M.D. TV (1 ep)
1979 The Facts of Life TV (1 ep)
1979 Samurai Film Lt. Al DeNisco
1979 No Other Love Film Les Hollister
1978 Vega$ TV (2 ep)
1978 Dallas TV Senator Orloff (1 ep)
1978 Ring of Passion Film Max Machon
1977 What Really Happened to the Class of '65? TV (1 ep)
1977 Semi-Tough Film Coach Alvin Parks

Crew credits 1

YearTitleJob
1972 Two for the Money Film Producer's Assistant
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