Ned Wever (born Edward Hooper Weaver; April 27, 1902 – May 6, 1984) was an actor on stage and on old-time radio. Garyn G. Roberts wrote in his book, Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context, "Wever's most famous role was probably that of H.C. McNeile's British detective and adventurer Bulldog Drummond for the program of the same name."
Early life The son of a New York attorney, Wever was born on April 27, 1902, in New York City.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 281. He graduated from the Pawling School and Princeton University, where he was president of the Triangle Club dramatic organization in his senior year and was a member of the staff of The Daily Princetonian newspaper and the Nassau Literary Magazine.
Radio Wever's roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below. Program Role Betty and Bob Al BishopTerrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 36. Big Sister Jerry Miller Bulldog Drummond Bulldog Drummond Dick Tracy Dick Tracy Her Honor, Nancy James District Attorney Kate Hopkins, Angel of Mercy Tom Hopkins Lady Counsellor Tony Howard Little Italy Nicholas Lora Lawton Peter Carver Two on a Clue Jeff Spencer Under Arrest Captain Jim Scott Valiant Lady Colin Kirby Young Widder Brown Anthony Loring
He also had leads on True Detective, The True Story Hour, Angel of Mercy and Manhattan Mother and was heard frequently on The Wonder Show, Grand Central Station, Perry Mason and The Cavalcade of America.
Stage Wever's initial professional stage work came with Stewart Walker's stock theater company in Indianapolis, Indiana. His Broadway credits include Days to Come (1936), The Second Little Show (1930) and The Grab Bag (1924).
Musical composition In his book, The Great Radio Soap Operas, Jim Cox called Wever "as talented a musician as he was an actor". Cox added, "He composed show tunes for Broadway productions featuring Billy Rose and Ed Wynn." Wever's compositions included "Spellbound", "I Can't Resist You", "Trouble in Paradise" and "Trust in Me".
Television Wever was credited with more than 70 appearances on television programs, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Get Smart and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.
Selected filmography Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 22: "The End of Indian Summer") as Saunders Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 31: "The Night the World Ended") as Joe Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962) (Season 7 Episode 34: "The Twelve Hour Caper") as Hargis
Personal life Wever and his wife, Carla, had two daughters, Patricia and Pamela.
Death Wever died of heart failure May 6, 1984, in a convalescent home in Laguna Hills, California.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1957 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue Captain Sid Wallace 1957 The Joker Is Wild Dr. Pierson Uncredited1958 High School Confidential Police Commissioner Walter Burroughs / Narrator Uncredited1958 The Fiend Who Walked the West Prosecutor Coyne Uncredited1958 Ride a Crooked Trail Attorney Clark 1958 Some Came Running Smitty 1959 The Shaggy Dog FBI Chief E.P. Hackett 1959 These Thousand Hills Link Gorham Uncredited1959 Anatomy of a Murder Dr. Raschid 1959 The Big Fisherman Minor Role Uncredited1960 One Foot in Hell Royce City Official Uncredited1961 Tammy Tell Me True Dr. Stach
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