Albert Salmi: Movies & Box Office

Albert Salmi (March 11, 1928 – April 22, 1990) was an American actor of stage, film, and television with a career that spanned over three decades from 1955 to 1990. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, as the son of Finnish immigrant parents, Salmi studied acting at the Actors Studio in Manhattan after a stint in the United States Army. Best known for his work as a character actor, Salmi appeared in over 150 film and television productions. He began his career on stage, starring as Bo Decker in the Broadway play Bus Stop in 1955, a role that received critical acclaim. Despite his success, however, Salmi turned down offers to work in film and television, viewing these roles as 'inferior' to stage work. One of his first television appearances was in the live adaptation of the novel Bang the Drum Slowly in 1956, and he went on to have memorable roles on CBS's The Twilight Zone. He co-starred in the NBC legal drama Petrocelli from 1974-76. Albert won a Western Heritage Award for his performance in an episode of Gunsmoke in 1967. In his later life, Salmi moved to Spokane, Washington, where he went into semi-retirement, taking occasional acting roles and teaching acting to others. Sadly, he and his estranged wife Roberta were found dead in their home in Spokane on April 23, 1990. He was adored by his fans and will be long remembered for his contribution to the acting world, both on and off the big screen.