Stephen Elliott

He died only one day after J.D. Cannon, with whom he had appeared in the Law & Order (1990) episode Law & Order: The Secret Sharers (1991).

Gruff, exacting, manly American character actor best remembered on film for playing Dudley Moore's wealthy, animal trophy-displaying father-in-law-to-be in the hit comedy Arthur (1981).

Played the part of William Randolph Hearst twice, in 1979's "The Ordeal of Patty Hearst", and in 1981's "Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years". Played Joseph Kennedy Sr. twice, in 1977's "Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy", and in 1981's "Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy".

A Drama Desk Award-winning actor ("A Whistle in the Dark" [1969] ) and a Tony Award nominee (as "Monsieur Colmier", "Marat/Sade" [1967] ), he began his career as a member of New York's Neighborhood Playhouse from 1940 to 1942, where he studied with noted acting instructor, Sanford Meisner, before joining the U. S. Merchant Marine during World War II.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1967 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Feature Actor (Dramatic) for a revival of "Marat/Sade."

Second wife, Nancy Chase, was a stage actress. They had two children: Jency and Jon. Third wife was also an actress, Alice Hirson, whom he met on Broadway in 1964, but did not marry until 1980. He became the stepfather of her two children: David Hirson and Christopher Hirson. He was survived by three grandchildren at the time of his death in 2005.

Most of his acting successes in films came after he reached the age of fifty, although he was a pioneering actor in the days of early television, notably as the third actor, though he had the longest tenure (1950-55),after Bram Nossen and Hal Conklin to play "Dr.

Pauli", nemesis of "Captain Video" on the daily TV series, _"Captain Video and His Video Rangers" (1949-1955) over the DuMont Television Network.

Upon his return, he made his Broadway debut in 1945 in "The Tempest". His stepson, David Hirson, told the Los Angeles Times in an interview that his stepfather was always proudest of his stage work.

Studied with prominent acting coach Sanford Meisner from 1940-1942.

His mother died soon after his birth, during the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, and he was raised by his father, who was a textile worker, and his stepmother.