Edward Gildea De Corsia (September 29, 1903 – April 11, 1973) was an American radio, film, and television actor, best remembered for his chilling debut in The Lady from Shanghai (1947), as the ex-wrestler murderer Willie Garzah in the film The Naked City (1948), and as a gangster who turned state's evidence in the film The Enforcer (1951).

Early life Edward Gildea De Corsia was born on September 29, 1903, in New York City. He grew up in Manhattan and began his career as a radio performer in the late 1920s, working on various network dramas before transitioning to stage and film work. Before moving to Hollywood, de Corsia became known for his deep voice and commanding presence in crime and mystery radio programs, including The Shadow and Gang Busters.

Career Radio De Corsia was a member of the cast of Blackstone Plantation. He starred in the title role on Mike Hammer and played Sergeant Velie on The Adventures of Ellery Queen. He also voiced roles on Family Theater, The March of Time, Cavalcade of America, Gang Busters, and The Shadow.

Film

He made his film debut in Orson Welles' The Lady from Shanghai (1947) and went on to make a career playing villains and gangsters in 1940s and 1950s films, including The Naked City (1948), The Enforcer (1951), Crime Wave (1954), The Big Combo (1955), The Killing (1956), Baby Face Nelson (1957), Slightly Scarlet (1956), and The Joker is Wild (1957).

In his last feature, The Outside Man (1972) with Ann-Margret and Angie Dickinson, his character, the mobster Victor, is killed off early in the film, but he later appears as his embalmed corpse, posed in a chair, holding a cigar.

Television In the late 1950s and 1960s, he appeared in a number of television series, mostly westerns. He appeared in S2 E15 of "Wanted: Dead or Alive" playing George Winters in "Chain Gang" which aired 12/10/1959.

He was featured on three episodes of the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason, including the episodes "The Case of the Drifting Dropout" (1964), in which he played murder victim Mort Lynch, and "The Case of the Positive Negative" (1966), in the role of murder victim George Emory. Other notable television series appearances included The Lone Ranger; The Untouchables; The Twilight Zone; Sea Hunt; I Dream of Jeannie; The Outer Limits, and The Monkees

Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1947The Lady from Shanghai Sidney Broome 1948The Naked City Willie Garzah 1949The Life of Riley Norman Neptune's Daughter Lukie Luzette It Happens Every Spring Manager Jimmy Dolan Mr. Soft Touch Rainey 1950The Outriders Bye Cargo to Capetown Rhys Three Secrets Del Prince 1951The Enforcer Joe Rico Vengeance Valley Herb Backett A Place In The Sun Judge R.S. Oldendorff Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison Warden Ben Rickey New Mexico Acoma, Indian Chief Crazy Over Horses Duke 1952Captain Pirate Captain Easterling The Savage Iron Breast The Turning Point Harrigan 1953Man in the Dark Lefty Ride, Vaquero! Sheriff Parker Hot News Dino Rizzo Crime Wave 'Doc' Penny 195420,000 Leagues Under the Sea Captain Farragut 1955The Big Combo Ralph Bettini Man with the Gun 'Frenchy' Lescaux Kismet Police Sub-altern 1956The Conqueror Kumlek Slightly Scarlet Solly Caspar The Steel Jungle Steve Marlin The Kettles in the Ozarks Professor Mohawk Indian Chief Kowanen The Killing Patrolman Randy Kennan Showdown at Abilene Dan Claudius Dance with Me, Henry Big Frank 1957Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Shanghai Pierce The Lawless Eighties Grat Bandas The Midnight Story Lieutenant Kilrain The Joker is Wild Georgie Parker Gun Battle at Monterey Max Reno Man on the Prowl Detective Baby Face Nelson Rocca 1958Handle with Care Sam Lawrence South Seas Adventure Supplemental Narration VoiceEnchanted Island Captain Vangs The Buccaneer Captain Rumbo 1959Inside the Mafia Augie Martello 1960Oklahoma Territory Chief Buffalo Horn Noose for a Gunman Jack Cantrell From the Terrace Mr. Ralph W. Benziger Spartacus Legionnaire Uncredited1962It's Only Money Patrolman 1964The Quick Gun Jud Spangler Blood on the Arrow Jud 1965The Money Trap Police Captain Uncredited1966Nevada Smith Hudson, Bartender 1967The King's Pirate Captain McTigue 19685 Card Stud Eldon Bates 1970The Delta Factor Ames 1972The Outside Man Victor (final film role)

Selected television YearTitleRole Notes 1955 The Lone Ranger Sam Slater Season 4 Episode 34: "Gold Freight" 1957 Have Gun - Will Travel Chief Harry Blackfoot Season 1 Episode 13: "The Englishman" 1957Official Detective Lieutenant Evans Season 1 Episode 13: "Bombing Terror" 1958Official Detective Lieutenant Evans Season 1 Episode 39: "Bombing Terror"1959The Twilight ZoneMarty SallSeason 1 Episode 4: "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" 1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Police Inspector Salva Season 5 Episode 9: "Dead Weight" 1960 Wanted Dead or Alive Arthur Barchester Season 3, Episode 10 "The Medicine Man" 1961Alfred Hitchcock Presents Lieutenant Christensen Season 7 Episode 7: "You Can't Be a Little Girl All Your Life" 1961 Rawhide Sheriff Season 3 Episode 24: "Incident of the Lost Idol" 1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Police Lieutenant Herlie Season 2 Episode 13: "The Magic Shop" 1964The Twilight ZoneForeman DickersonSeason 5 Episode 33: "The Brain Center at Whipple's" 1966Get Smart Mr. Natz Season 1, Episode 19 "Back to the Old Drawing Board" 1967 Get Smart Spinoza Season 3, Episode 8 "When Good Fellows Get Together"Season 3 DVD 1967 The Monkees Frank Season 2 Episode 12: "Hitting the High Seas"

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