Neville Brand

Lawrence Neville Brand (August 13, 1920 – April 16, 1992) was an acclaimed American soldier and actor, born and raised in Griswold, Iowa, with a professional career that stretched from 1949 to 1985. He served in the 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning multiple meritorious citations including the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. In his acting career, Brand was often typecast into villainous or antagonistic roles in Westerns, crime dramas, and films noir. One of his most well-known performances can be seen in Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954), which earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award. He had a distinct on-screen presence, marked by his hulking physique, rough-hewn, craggy-faced looks and gravelly voice.

After his military discharge, Brand pursued acting, enrolling at the American Theatre Wing and later attended the Geller Drama School in Los Angeles on the G.I. Bill. Alongside his film work, he made numerous appearances on popular television shows such as The Twilight Zone, Laredo and The Untouchables. He was notably the first actor to portray the outlaw Butch Cassidy on screen. Off-screen, Brand was a passionate reader, amassing a collection of 30,000 books, one of the largest private libraries in Los Angeles. However, his experiences in wartime led to struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. He passed away from emphysema in 1992.