Michael Ansara

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BIRTHDAY

April 15, 1922

Syria

RECENT CREDITS

Star Trek: Voyager (TV) Sep. 11, 1996

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV) Apr. 29, 1996

Assassination (FILM) Jan. 9, 1987

Knights of the City (FILM) Feb. 14, 1986

The Manitou (FILM) Jan. 1, 1978

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BIOGRAPHY

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Though best known for his Native American characterizations, Michael Ansara is actually of Lebanese extraction. Ansara, born in Syria and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, entered Los Angeles City College in 1941, planning to become a doctor. His shyness in class prompted his professor to suggest that Ansara take a dramatics course to bolster his self-confidence. The medical profession's loss turned out to be the acting community's gain: after training at Pasadena Playhouse, Ansara blossomed as a classical actor with such groups as the Hollywood Players' Ring. The role that brought Ansara to the attention of Hollywood's higher-ups was his brief, uncredited appearance as the tormented Judas in The Robe (1953). He went on to be cast as Cochise in the 1956 TV series version of the 1950 20th Century-Fox feature Broken Arrow; while the role brought him fame and fortune, Ansara noted that "the acting range was rather limited. Cochise could do one of two things--stand with his arms folded, looking noble; or stand with his arms at his sides, looking noble." He was allowed a more flexible acting range, as well as a wider vocabulary, in his next Indian assignment, that of Harvard-educated federal marshal Sam Buckhart in the 1959 western series Law of the Plainsman. In both this assignment and Broken Arrow, the rather hirsute Ansara was required to keep his chest shaven at all times. More recently, Ansara has been active in the lucrative world of TV cartoon voiceover work. Michael Ansara was married for several years to actress Barbara Eden.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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Headlines

Barbara Eden's adult son dead

Jun. 26, 2001

The son of actress Barbara Eden and actor Michael Ansara, Matthew Michael Ansara, was found dead Monday night in a vehicle parked at a gasoline station in Monrovia, Calif. According to City News Service, the 35-year-old's death was just announced by the L.A. County Coroner's Office. The cause of death is undergoing investigation, but Scott Carrier, of the coroner's office said:...

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