Richard Basehart | |
|---|---|
 Basehart in 1969 | |
| Born | John Richard Basehart August 31, 1914 Zanesville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 17, 1984 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1942–1984 |
| Spouses | Stephanie Klein
(m. 1940; died 1950)Diana Lotery (m. 1962) |
| Children | 3, including Jackie |
John Richard Basehart[citation needed] (August 31, 1914 – September 17, 1984) was an American actor. He starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson in the television science-fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–68). He also portrayed Wilton Knight in the pilot episode of the TV series Knight Rider (1982), and provided the narration that was heard during the opening credits throughout the entire series.
Basehart was equally active in cinema, receiving National Board of Review Awards for his performances in Fourteen Hours (1951) and Moby Dick (1956). He was further nominated for a BAFTA Award for his role in Time Limit (1957), the only film directed by Karl Malden. He appeared in a number of British and Italian films in the mid-1950s, including Fellini's La Strada and Il Bidone.