Simon Oakland: Movies & Box Office

Simon Oakland (born Simon Weiss on August 28, 1915) was an American actor and classically trained violinist whose career spanned over three decades of stage, film, and television work. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was the eldest of three sons of Jacob Weiss, a Romanian‑born plasterer, and Ethel Oaklander, who emigrated from the Russian Empire; his stage surname was taken from his mother’s maiden name. Although he occasionally claimed a later birth year, official records confirm the 1915 date, and he remained active in the entertainment industry from 1951 until his death in 1983. Oakland first pursued music, performing as a concert violinist throughout the 1940s, before turning to acting on Broadway in productions such as Light Up the Sky, The Shrike, and the acclaimed Inherit the Wind. His film debut arrived in 1955 with an uncredited role in The Desperate Hours, and he quickly became a recognizable character actor, often cast as tough authority figures or compelling villains. Notable screen appearances include the psychiatrist Dr. Richmond in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), the police detective Schrank in West Side Story (1961), and Captain Sam Bennett in Bullitt (1968). On television he amassed more than 130 credits, guest‑starring in series like The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Hawaii Five‑O, and The Rockford Files, and holding regular roles as General Thomas Moore in Baa Baa Black Sheep and newspaper editor Tony Vincenzo in Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Off‑screen, Oakland married Lois Lorraine Porta in 1943, and the couple had a daughter, Barbara. He continued to work up to his final months, with his last credited performance in the 1983 episode of Tucker’s Witch. Simon Oakland succumbed to colon cancer on August 29, 1983, in Cathedral City, California, one day after his 68th birthday, leaving behind a rich legacy of memorable character work across multiple media.