Ted de Corsia

Ted de Corsia (Edward Gildea De Corsia, September 29, 1903 – April 11, 1973) was an American actor whose career spanned the golden age of radio, the classic era of Hollywood film, and the early days of television. Born in New York City, he entered the entertainment world in the late 1920s, mastering a deep, resonant voice that quickly made him a staple of the dramatic radio landscape. He appeared in popular series such as Blackstone Plantation, took the title role on Mike Hammer, and portrayed Sergeant Velie on The Adventures of Ellery Queen, while also lending his talents to iconic programs like The Shadow and Gang Busters. His ability to convey menace and authority through sound alone laid the groundwork for the character types that would define his on‑screen legacy.

When he transitioned to film, de Corsia made a startling impact with his debut in Orson Welles’ The Lady from Shanghai (1947), where his chilling performance hinted at the dark, complex villains he would later portray. In The Naked City (1948) he embodied the brutish ex‑wrestler murderer Willie Garzah, a role that cemented his reputation as a formidable on‑screen threat. Throughout the 1950s he became a go‑to character actor for noir and crime dramas, delivering memorable turns in The Enforcer (1951), Crime Wave (1954), The Big Combo (1955), and The Killing (1956). His imposing presence and distinctive voice made him an ideal choice for gangsters, henchmen, and hardened detectives, often adding a layer of unsettling authenticity to the films’ moral landscapes.

As television rose to prominence, de Corsia adapted seamlessly, guest‑starring in a slew of westerns, courtroom dramas, and science‑fiction series. Notable appearances include multiple episodes of Perry Mason, roles on The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits, as well as a memorable part in The Lone Ranger. In his final feature, The Outside Man (1972), he portrayed mobster Victor, whose corpse is dramatically displayed with a cigar—a fittingly macabre image for a man whose career was built on portraying the underworld’s shadows. He passed away in Los Angeles on April 11, 1973, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be celebrated by classic film aficionados and noir scholars alike.