Melville Ruick
Encyclopedia
Actor Melville Ruick was born in Boise, Idaho
on July 8, 1898. He studied law at the University of California, but World War I changed him from a student lawyer to a student pilot. Ruick won his wings in the Air Service, Signal Corps, two weeks before the end of the war.
During the lean years of the Depression, Ruick doubled as a bandleader and as an actor in theatrical stock. An offer came from CBS
to work as a local radio announcer while Ruick was leading a dance band in Los Angeles. He later won an audition for the spot of announcer on the CBS radio show Lux Radio Theater
, staying with the show for 6 years.
During World War II, Ruick returned to uniform as a captain in the USAFF, attached to the Radio Production Unit as a producer-director. After the war, Ruick reentered show business, touring with Leo Carillo in a revival of The Bad Man. While trying his luck on Broadway, Ruick received an offer to direct Paul Whiteman
’s radio show for the National Guard.
Finally, came TV. Ruick starred as Dr. Barton Crane on the dramatic CBS series City Hospital
in 1951. Ruick also guest-starred in a number of popular 1960s shows such as The Fugitive
, The Wild Wild West
and The Invaders
.
He was married to actress Lurene Tuttle
and is the father of actress Barbara Ruick
. He was also the father-in-law of composer-conductor John Williams
.
Ruick died in Los Angeles on December 24, 1972.
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
on July 8, 1898. He studied law at the University of California, but World War I changed him from a student lawyer to a student pilot. Ruick won his wings in the Air Service, Signal Corps, two weeks before the end of the war.
During the lean years of the Depression, Ruick doubled as a bandleader and as an actor in theatrical stock. An offer came from CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
to work as a local radio announcer while Ruick was leading a dance band in Los Angeles. He later won an audition for the spot of announcer on the CBS radio show Lux Radio Theater
Lux Radio Theater
Lux Radio Theater, a long-run classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network ; CBS and NBC . Initially, the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences...
, staying with the show for 6 years.
During World War II, Ruick returned to uniform as a captain in the USAFF, attached to the Radio Production Unit as a producer-director. After the war, Ruick reentered show business, touring with Leo Carillo in a revival of The Bad Man. While trying his luck on Broadway, Ruick received an offer to direct Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
’s radio show for the National Guard.
Finally, came TV. Ruick starred as Dr. Barton Crane on the dramatic CBS series City Hospital
City Hospital
City Hospital was a medical drama series that aired on the CBS television network Tuesday nights from 1951 through 1953. The show starred Anne Burr as Dr. Kate Morrow and Mel Ruick as Dr. Barton Crane....
in 1951. Ruick also guest-starred in a number of popular 1960s shows such as The Fugitive
The Fugitive (TV series)
The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
, The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West
The Wild Wild West is an American television series that ran on CBS for four seasons from September 17, 1965 to April 4, 1969....
and The Invaders
The Invaders
The Invaders, a Quinn Martin Production , is an ABC science fiction television program created by Larry Cohen that ran in the United States for two seasons, from January 10, 1967 to March 26, 1968...
.
He was married to actress Lurene Tuttle
Lurene Tuttle
Lurene Tuttle was a character actress, who made transitions from vaudeville to radio, to films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's most versatile actresses...
and is the father of actress Barbara Ruick
Barbara Ruick
-Youth:Ruick was the daughter of actors Lurene Tuttle and Melville Ruick. She grew up acting out scenes with dolls, employing her mother as an audience. She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School , Burbank High School , and North Hollywood High School. She did little acting in high school but...
. He was also the father-in-law of composer-conductor John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
.
Ruick died in Los Angeles on December 24, 1972.