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Birthday: October 23, 1910
Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Birth Name: William Henry Rorke
Date of death: August 19, 1987
Cause of death: Multiple Myeloma
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A very solid character actor and a
very familiar face, he is best remembered for his role as the psychiatrist
Dr. Bellows, an Air Force officer, on the TV series “I Dream of
Jeannie.” Tall, well postured and handsome with a kindly face, wavy
graying hair, steely blue eyes and a friendly smile he was more prolific
in films and television than people remember. A suave, debonair type, you
wouldn’t see him as a thug or barroom brawler. He was best suited for
roles as military officers, clergymen, executives, fatherly or avuncular
types and the like. He was born William Henry Rorke on October 23, 1910 in
Brooklyn, New York. His mother was actress Margaret Rorke. He attended
school at Brooklyn Prep and college at Villanova. Somehow, somewhere the
acting bug bit him and he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
where he studied his craft. He began his acting career as a member of
Walter Hampden’s Classical Repertory Company touring the U.S. He made
his Broadway debut in 1932 in the play “If Booth Had Missed.” He
joined the Army during World War II and attained the rank of Sergeant.
While in the service he toured with a road show company and appeared in
“This Is the Army.” He also appeared in the film version in 1943, his
film debut. His other films include: “Lust for Gold” (1949)
uncredited, as Floyd Buckley; “Rope of Sand” (1949) as Ingram;
“Sword in the Desert” (1949) as Capt. Beaumont; “Kim” (1950)
uncredited, as Maj. Ainsley; “The Magnificent Yankee” (1950) with
Louis Calhern, as Graham; “Double Crossbones” (1951) as Malcolm Giles;
“Father’s Little Dividend” (1951) with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth
Taylor, as Dr. Andrew Nordell; “Francis Goes to the Races” (1951) as
Rogers; “An American in Paris” (1951) uncredited, as Tommy Baldwin;
“When Worlds Collide” (1951) as Dr. Emery Bronson; “Room for One
More” (1952) as The Doctor; “Wild Stallion” (1952) as Maj. Cullen;
“Above and Beyond” (1952) as Dr. Ramsey; “South Sea Woman” (1953)
as Lt. Fears; “Project Moon Base” (1953) as Gen. ‘Pappy’ Greene;
“The Story of Tree Loves” (1953) as Mr. Rorke in the
‘Mademoiselle’ segment; “Drum Beat” (1954) as President Grant;
“Superman in Exile” (1954) as Tom, Psychiatrist; “The Eternal Sea”
(1955) as Capt. William Buracker; “All That Heaven Allows” (1955) as
Dr. Hennessy; “Tip on a Dead Jockey” (1957) as J.R. Nichols; “This
Happy Feeling” (1958) as Mr. Booth; “The Restless Years” (1958) as
Mr. Booth; “Pillow Talk” (1959) as Mr. Conrad; “Midnight Lace”
(1960) as Dr. Garver; “Parrish” (1961) as Tom Weldon; “Back
Street” (1961) as Charley Claypoole; “Pocketful of Miracles” (1961)
with Bette Davis, as Police Capt. Moore; “Tammy Tell Me True” (1961)
as Joshua Welling; “Spencer’s Mountain” (1963) as Col. Coleman;
“The Thrill of it All” (1963) as Billings; “The Unsinkable Molly
Brown” (1964) with Debbie Reynolds, as Broderick; “I’d Rather be
Rich” (1964) as MacDougall; “Youngblood Hawke” (1964) as Mr. Givney
and “The Barefoot Executive” (1971) as Clifford, his last theatrical
film. On TV he was a regular in the series: “Mr. Adams and Eve”
(1957-58) as Steve; “No Time for Sergeants” (1964-65) as Col.
Farnsworth and his best known role on “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965-70)
as Dr. Alfred Bellows. He appeared in such TV movies as: “Johnny
Shiloh” (1963); “The Legend of Lizzie Borden” (1975); “Once an
Eagle” (1976) a mini-series, as Paul Sinclair and “Suddenly Love”
(1978). He also guest starred on such TV series as: “I Love Lucy”;
“The Lone Ranger”; “Sky King”; “The Adventures of Superman”;
“Cheyenne”; “Perry Mason”; “Twilight Zone”; “Mr. Ed”;
“Bonanza”; “The Beverly Hillbillies”; “The Andy Griffith Show”
and “Wonder Woman.” He was a breeder of dogs, most particularly Basset
hounds. He bred Champions and was considered an authority on the Basset
hound breed. He had two brothers: James Hayden Rorke and Edward Francis
Rorke. He died of stomach cancer on August 19, 1987 in Toluca Lake,
California at age 76. Played Col. Dr. Alfred Bellows on "I Dream of
Jeannie"
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