Murray Matheson (1 July 1912 – 25 April 1985), born Sidney Murray Matheson was an actor who had appeared on stage and in films and television programs until 1983.His first principal stage performance was in Roberta at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne Australia in 1934. His London debut was at the Palladium in Band Wagon (1939), and his New York debut was as Captain Worthy in The Relapse, as part of the Theatre Guild (1950). Matheson performed in dozens of plays, including some major tours, until 1982.Matheson's first film appearance was as Joe Lawson in The Way to the Stars, a.k.a. Johnny in the Clouds (1945). He played the clown in the classic The Twilight Zone episode Five Characters in Search of an Exit. He made guest appearances in two 1964 episodes of CBS's Perry Mason: murder victim P.K. Doran in "The Case of the Accosted Accountant." and murderer Howard Hopkins in "The Case of the Wooden Nickels."His most remembered film and television roles include:Felix Mulholland in the NBC Banacek seriesMr. Ovington in the movie How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingThe Clown in the The Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit"Mr. Agee in the "Kick the Can" segment of The Twilight Zone: The MovieDr. John Keith in the film Love Is a Many-Splendored ThingStephanie's much older husband in CBS's NewhartTalbot in the "Why Wait Until Uncle Kevin Dies" episode of Hawaii Five-O (1968)In "The Reversed Blade" (February 4, 1961), Matheson portrays John Tundall, the employer of Billy the Kid (Clu Gulager) in the NBC western television series, The Tall Man. The real employer is rancher John Tunstall. In the story line, Tundall grows indignant when the con-man Ben Webster (John Archer), who stole Tundall's wife and $10,000 eight years earlier, arrives in Lincoln, New Mexico, the setting of The Tall Man. Jeanne Cooper plays Tundall's former wife, now Mrs. Elmira Webster. John Tunstall died at twenty-four, but Matheson was forty-nine when he assumed the role as the employer of Billy the KidIn 1960 and 1961, he was cast as Geoffrey Carey in "The Archer's Ring" and as the High Priest in "The Perils of Penrose", respectively, on the ABC series, Adventures in Paradise, starring Gardner McKay. In 1961, he played the lead guest-starring role in the episode "A Rope for Charlie Munday" on another ABC adventure series, The Islanders, co-starring William Reynolds. In 1970, he appeared in an episode of the ABC crime drama The Silent Force.Matheson's ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
Murray is most known for playing The Clown in the memorable 1961 Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters In Search Of An Exit". Murray was astounding in his role and had most of the screen time. He was a funny and intelligent clown and the audience really cared for his character.
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His first feature film was a small role in 1945's "The Way to the Stars". Murray also played the captain in the Frank Sinatra film: "Assault on a Queen", from 1966.
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Murray played The Clown in the memorable 1961 Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit". Matheson's last appearance was in the "Kick the Can" segment of Twilight Zone: The Movie (1985).
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He once served in the RAF.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Newhart
1983
TV Series
Carl
Twilight Zone: The Movie
1983
Mr. Agee (Segment #2)
The Facts of Life
1982
TV Series
Prof. Henry Clayton
Tucker's Witch
1982
TV Series
Three's Company
1981
TV Series
Roger
The Million Dollar Face
1981
TV Movie
Sir Douglas Devereaux
Angel on My Shoulder
1980
TV Movie
The Stranger
Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith
1979
TV Movie
Zacharias
Hart to Hart
1979
TV Series
Martin Hyde-Jones
Battlestar Galactica
1978-1979
TV Series
Statesman Geller
Specter
Vega$
1979
TV Series
Phillip Grayson
Rabbit Test
1978
Dr. Mario Lowell
Charlie's Angels
1978
TV Series
Leland Swinnerton
Sugar Time!
1977
TV Series
DeForest
ABC Weekend Specials
1977
TV Series
Clifford
Meeting of Minds
1977
TV Series
Charles Darwin
Tail Gunner Joe
1977
TV Movie
Publisher
Family
1977
TV Series
Sandor Pratt
The Tony Randall Show
1976
TV Series
Burnside
Phyllis
1976
TV Series
Charles Plunkett
S.W.A.T.
1975
TV Series
Armand / Cyrus Porter
Hawaii Five-O
1973-1975
TV Series
Lord Charles Danby / Talbot
Marcus Welby, M.D.
1971-1975
TV Series
Edward Liddell / Dr. Stoddard
The Manhunter
1975
TV Series
Major Markley
McMillan & Wife
1973-1975
TV Series
Aaron Hildreth / Angus McFee
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
1974
TV Series
Mr. Lane-Marriot
Banacek
1972-1974
TV Series
Felix Mulholland
The Magician
1974
TV Series
Walter Moran
Arnold
1973
Lord Arnold Dwellyn (voice, uncredited)
Night Gallery
1973
TV Series
Dr. Strang
Circle of Fear
1973
TV Series
Mathews
Here's Lucy
1973
TV Series
Professor Dietrich
Banyon
1972
TV Series
Charles Troy
Mannix
1972
TV Series
Snowy Bartlett
Hec Ramsey
1972
TV Series
Lionel Harlock
Lieutenant Schuster's Wife
1972
TV Movie
Abbott
The Woman I Love
1972
TV Movie
Walter Monckton
A Fan's Notes
1972
Clarke Institute doctor
Miss Stewart, Sir
1972
TV Movie
Principal Prentis
McCloud
1970-1971
TV Series
Peter Lincoln / Grantley
The Silent Force
1970
TV Series
It Takes a Thief
1970
TV Series
Harry Fulham
The F.B.I.
1967-1970
TV Series
Murray Elders / Henry Dodd
Explosion
1969
Owner of Jaguar
Bewitched
1969
TV Series
John Van Millwood
The Name of the Game
1969
TV Series
Dave Rogers
In Enemy Country
1968
uncredited
Star!
1968
Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)
Tarzan
1967
TV Series
Judge James Lawrence
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1967
TV Series
Dr. Merek
The Invaders
1967
TV Series
Dr. Reynard
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
1967
Benjamin Ovington
Assault on a Queen
1966
Captain
Get Smart
1966
TV Series
Devonshire
My Favorite Martian
1965
TV Series
Filbert
Profiles in Courage
1965
TV Series
The Defenders
1965
TV Series
Sir Tony Beardsley
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1965
TV Series
The Maharajah
12 O'Clock High
1964
TV Series
Nicholas Redgrave
Perry Mason
1964
TV Series
Howard Hopkins / B. K. Doran
Signpost to Murder
1964
Dr. Graham
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1964
TV Series
Douglas Henderson
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1964
TV Series
Charles Justin
Playdate
1963-1964
TV Series
George Radfern
The Fugitive
1963
TV Series
Earl Morehead
Wall of Noise
1963
Jack Matlock
Naked City
1961-1963
TV Series
Martin Hilliard / Harold Lowenson / Colley
Armstrong Circle Theatre
1963
TV Series
Dr. Ellsworth Dill
Route 66
1961-1962
TV Series
John Bridenbaugh / Leigh Adams
Sam Benedict
1962
TV Series
Larry Wallencott
The DuPont Show of the Week
1962
TV Series
Commissioner Thompson
The Notorious Landlady
1962
Neighbour (uncredited)
Theatre '62
1962
TV Series
Frank Crawley
Festival
1962
TV Series
King Magnus
Quest
1962
TV Series
Barry Enterprise
The Twilight Zone
1961
TV Series
The Clown
Thriller
1961
TV Series
Andrew Lawrence / Thomas Edward Griffith
The Islanders
1961
TV Series
Charlie Munday
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1958-1961
TV Series
Cyril Hardeen / Oliver Teleton / James St. George Bernard Bowlby
Encounter
1954-1961
TV Series
Stuart Marlowe / Alexander Biscoe / George Radfern