- published: 20 Apr 2015
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John Hoyt (October 5, 1905 – September 15, 1991) was an American film, stage, and television actor.
Hoyt was born John McArthur Hoysradt. Before becoming an actor with Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre, the Yale University graduate worked as a history instructor, acting teacher and even (under his birth name) a nightclub comedian.[citation needed] In the latter activity, Hoyt performed impressions of famous entertainers. His impersonation of Noël Coward was so remarkable that he was hired for the original cast of the Broadway comedy The Man Who Came to Dinner, in which he played Beverley Carlton.[citation needed] Hoyt soon shortened his surname when he began his movie career.
Hoyt had a number of memorable roles - as Darwin Norland in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Libelous Locket", an industrialist in When Worlds Collide, in a number of guest roles on Hogan's Heroes, and as Dr. Philip Boyce in a pilot episode of Star Trek ("The Cage"). Hoyt appeared twice during the second season of The Twilight Zone, in the episodes "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up" and "The Lateness of the Hour". He also appeared as the KAOS agent Conrad Bunny in the Get Smart episode, "Our Man in Toyland", as General Beeker in the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea episode "Hail to the Chief" and as Dr. Mendoza in The Monkees episode "I Was a Teenage Monster". He was also a guest player in an episode of the "George Burns and Gracie Allen [television] Show." Because of his stentorian demeanor, the writers had him play opposite the usual conceit—where most strangers became befuddled by Gracie's convoluted behavior. In the teleplay, Hoyt simply would not put up with Gracie's antics and immediately removed himself from the room—twice. His last screen role was as Grandpa in Nell Carter's TV series Gimme a Break!.
Actors: Richard Linklater (director), Simon Atherton (miscellaneous crew), Steve Christian (producer), Richard Linklater (producer), Eddie Marsan (actor), John Sloss (producer), Jools Holland (actor), Claire Danes (actress), Zac Efron (actor), Chris Wilson (actor), Michael Brandon (actor), Greg Bennett (actor), Garrick Hagon (actor), Matt Curtis (miscellaneous crew), Libbie Barr (miscellaneous crew),
Plot: In November 1937, high school student and aspiring thespian Richard Samuels takes a day trip into New York City. There, he meets and begins a casual friendship with Gretta Adler, their friendship based on a shared love and goal of a profession in the creative arts. But also on this trip, Richard stumbles across the Mercury Theatre and meets 'Orson Welles' (qv), who, based on an impromptu audition, offers Richard an acting job as Lucius in his modern retelling of Julius Caesar, which includes such stalwart Mercury Theatre players as 'Joseph Cotten (I)' (qv) and 'George Coulouris' (qv). Despite others with official roles as producer 'John Houseman (I)' (qv), this production belongs to Welles, the unofficial/official dictator. In other words, whatever Welles wants, the cast and crew better deliver. These requests include everything, even those of a sexual nature. Welles does not believe in conventions and will do whatever he wants, which includes not having a fixed opening date, although the unofficial opening date is in one week's time. In turn, Welles realizes that his name will either be strengthened or ruined in the theater community by this production. Richard is taken under the wing by the production's Jane-of-All-Trades, Sonja Jones. Known as the Ice Queen by the male cast, Sonja deflects much of the unwanted sexual attention by jokingly implying that she and Richard are having a fling, which Richard wants nothing more than to be the truth. As the end of the week and opening night approaches, Richard, having seen Welles' behavior, has to decide if acting in this production is worth it at any cost.
Keywords: 17-year-old, 1930s, actor, actors'-equity-association, actress, ambition, ambulance, ambulance-siren, apology, applause