Howard Petrie - Wikipedia

Howard Alexander Petrie (November 22, 1906 - March 24, 1968) was an American radio, television, and film actor.

Early Life
Howard Petrie was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on November 22, 1906. When Howard was three years old his family moved to Concord. The Petries later lived in Arlington and then Somerville, where Petrie received his secondary school education. A talented musician, he conducted his high school glee club and played with various instrumental groups. He was a member of the debating team, a captain in the School Regiment and Chairman of the Senior Night Committee. He appeared in school dramatic productions including a starring role as "Marquis de la Seigliere" in the senior class play and the Jules Sandeau three-act comedy, Mademoiselle de la Seigliere.

Radio career
After he graduated from Somerville High School in 1924, Petrie worked briefly as a bank clerk and a securities salesman. While on a sales call to a radio station, his sonorous bass voice landed him a job. He joined WBZ Radio in Boston in 1929 as a junior announcer.[1] After ten months at the WBZ studios, Petrie left for New York City in June, 1930 where he joined the staff of NBC.[2]

Petrie soon became the head announcer for many of the network's shows. His first major network assignment was on Everything Goes, starring Garry Moore. He was the announcer for scores of shows including Abie's Irish Rose,[3] Big Sister, Camel Caravan, Blondie, The Ray Bolger Show, The Judy Canova Show, The Jimmy Durante Show, and The Garry Moore Show.

In 1936, Petrie won the Batten, Barten and Durstine Award for Good Announcing.[2] In 1942 he was the recipient of the H.P. Davis Memorial Announcers' Award for "personality, adaptability, diction, voice and versatility". He moved to California in 1943 to become the announcer for The Judy Canova Show. As a "personality announcer", he became a character in the show.

Film and television career
In 1947, a movie producer who was looking for a tall man for a character role, saw Petrie on the radio stage and offered him the part. At 6 feet four and 240 pounds, Petrie played numerous "big man" roles. He worked as a character actor in over thirty feature films and forty television shows. He often appeared in Westerns in both mediums.

Personal life
On April 21, 1933, Petrie married Alice Wood, whom he met when he worked at NBC, where she was a hostess[4] between 1931 and 1936.[citation needed] She had been an actress.[4] The Petries had one son.

Later years and death
Howard Petrie had been living in semi-retirement at his home, Autumn Hill, in Walpole, New Hampshire, when he died in Keene, New Hampshire, on March 24, 1968.

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1947 The Hal Roach Comedy Carnival George Baxter, in "Fabulous Joe"
The Fabulous Joe George Baxter
1950 Fancy Pants Secret Service Man Uncredited
Walk Softly, Stranger Bowen
Rocky Mountain Cole Smith / California Beal
1951 No Questions Asked Franko
Cattle Drive Cap
The Racket The Governor Uncredited
The Golden Horde Tugluk Alternative title: The Golden Horde of Genghis Khan
1952 Bend of the River Tom Hendricks Alternative title: Where the River Bends
The Wild North Brody
Carbine Williams Sheriff
Red Ball Express Major General Lee Gordon
Woman of the North Country Rick Barton
Pony Soldier Insp. Frazer
1953 Fair Wind to Java Reeder
Trouble Along the Way Marvin Adams Uncredited
Fort Ti Maj. Rogers
The Veils of Bagdad Karsh
1954 Border River Newlund
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Pete Perkins
The Bounty Hunter Sheriff Brand
The Bob Mathias Story Dr. Charles Mathias
Sign of the Pagan Gundahar
1955 Timberjack 'Axe-Handle' Ole
Rage at Dawn Lattimore, Prosecuting Attorney Alternative title: Seven Bad Men
How to Be Very, Very Popular Desk Sergeant
The Return of Jack Slade Joseph Ryan
1956 The Maverick Queen Butch Cassidy
A Kiss Before Dying Howard Chesser, Chief of Police
Johnny Concho Joe Helguson, Blacksmith
1957 The Tin Star Mayor Harvey King
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1954 Waterfront Hugh Perry 1 episode
1955 The Ford Television Theatre Baker 1 episode
1956 Gunsmoke Abe Brant 1 episode "Yorky"
1957 Broken Arrow Sam Carson 1 episode
Letter to Loretta Scoutmaster 1 episode
Casey Jones George Newsome 1 episode
1958 The Californians Stryker 1 episode
Alcoa Theatre Lieutenant Gifford 1 episode
Cheyenne Burt Wrangel 1 episode "Wagon-Tongue North"
1959 Frontier Justice Kroll 1 episode
Bonanza Major Ormsby 1 episode
Lawman Hal Mead 1 episode
Maverick Mike Burke 1 episode
Colt .45 John Porter 1 episode
The DuPont Show with June Allyson Abbott 1 episode
1960 Shotgun Slade Major Kennedy 1 episode
M Squad Mr. Patrick - Head of heist team 1 episode
Have Gun – Will Travel Jack Foster 1 episode
Mr. Lucky John Dort 1 episode
Johnny Ringo Ed Blanchard 1 episode
Bat Masterson Hugh Blaine 4 episodes
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Governor Gibbs 2 episodes
Bronco Rigby 1 episode
Hennesey Admiral Wright 1 episode
Peter Gunn Lockland 1 episode
1960–1962 Death Valley Days Joseph Hooker 2 episodes, (final appearance)
1961 National Velvet Bjorensen 1 episode
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Col. McCurdy 1 episode
1964–1965 The Edge of Night Otto Zimerman Unknown episodes