Scott Beach
| Scott Beach | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Alvin Scott Beach January 13, 1931 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died |
February 13, 1996 (aged 65) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, DJ, writer |
| Years active | 1968–1996 |
Scott Beach (January 13, 1931 – February 13, 1996) was an American actor, writer, and disc jockey, best known for his performance in the 1950s-themed 1973 film American Graffiti.
Life and career
Born Alvin Scott Beach, he appeared in numerous motion pictures, most notably as a German scientist patterned after Wernher von Braun in The Right Stuff. His deep voice was often heard in films. He once said that director George Lucas liked his voice and often used him in his films, beginning with THX 1138.[1] Beach also appeared as Mr. Gordon in American Graffiti and provided an uncredited stormtrooper voice in Star Wars.
Scott was an early and beloved performer at the original Renaissance Pleasure Faires in Agoura and Novato, California, where for many years he portrayed the Lord Mayor of the Shire and was a mentor and an inspiration to many aspiring actors. Along with his acting career, Beach was a natural for radio and was on the staff of KSFO in San Francisco, California. During a radio broadcast on January 28, 1973, he reported that the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam had been signed on the previous day in Paris, France. That agreement, also known as the Paris Peace Accords, ended direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. Beach concluded his report about the peace agreement by stating, "I fear that the last U.S. soldier to die in Vietnam is still alive." He was correct; the last American death in Vietnam was not until April 29, 1975. See McMahon and Judge.
Beach twice served as the narrator in performances of Arthur Honegger's King David with the Masterworks Chorale of San Mateo, California. He also narrated other performances of the oratorio in both the original French and the English translation used by the Masterworks Chorale. He was the host of the San Francisco Opera broadcasts over KKHI during the early 1970s.[2] Beach also provided the voice of the comic strip cat "Garfield" in the character's first television appearance; he was later replaced in that role by Lorenzo Music.
Film credits
- Bullitt (1968) (uncredited) – Man
- THX 1138 (1971) (voice) – Announcer
- One Is a Lonely Number (1972; as A. Scott Beach) – Amy's lawyer
- American Graffiti (1973) – Mr. Gordon
- The Second Coming of Suzanne (1974) – Reporter
- The Grizzly and the Treasure (1975) – Narrator
- Star Wars (1977) (voice) (uncredited) – Stormtrooper
- You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (1979) (TV) – Announcer (voice)
- She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (1980) (TV) – Coach/Announcer (voice)
- Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!) (1980) – various voices
- Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981) – Harry
- Out (1982) – Sailor
- The Right Stuff (1983) – Chief Scientist (modeled after Wernher Von Braun)
- To Be or Not to Be (1983) – Narrator
- Stand by Me (1986) – Mayor Grundy
- Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) – Floyd D. Cerf, Banker
- Midnight Caller – Vinnie Delano (1 episode, 1990)
- Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) – Judge
- Psychic Detective (1994) (video game) – Drunk Inmate
- Getting Even with Dad (1994) – Wino (final screen appearance)[3]
References
- ↑ Interview with Scott Beach
- ↑ Eyewitness account by Robert E. Nylund, member of Masterworks Chorale, 1970-85.
- ↑ Scott Beach at the Internet Movie Database
External links
- Scott Beach at the Internet Movie Database
- Scott Beach at AllMovie
- Photographs of Scott Beach may be found at Broadcast Legends.