Whit Bissell

Whitner Nutting Bissell, known as Whit Bissell, was born on October 25, 1909. An outstanding American character actor, Bissell's career ranged from Broadway theatre to numerous roles in film and television. Notably associated with science fiction and horror genres, Bissell left an unforgettable mark with his portrayal of a mad scientist in films like I Was a Teenage Werewolf and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein. He also played the attending psychiatrist in the cult classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. His prolific television appearances included The Lone Ranger, Crossroads, Going My Way, multiple episodes of Perry Mason, and the Star Trek episode The Trouble with Tribbles. Bissell developed a niche for playing silver-haired figures of authority, seen clearly in his role as General Heywood Kirk on The Time Tunnel. His impressive body of work was recognized posthumously in 1994 with a life career award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.

Bissell was born to an educated family in New York City, with a father who was a renowned surgeon and a heritage that traced back to a badge of military merit recipient of the American Revolutionary War. His early education took place at Allen-Stevenson School & Dalton School before he majored in English and Drama at the University of North Carolina. The roots of his acting career were planted with Carolina Playmakers, a prominent theatrical organization. His offscreen life was equally eventful, married three times and having four children. A practitioner of Unitarianism, Bissell also served as the representatives for board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild. His acting career lasted from 1933 until 1991, a remarkable timespan of nearly six decades. On March 5, 1996, Bissell passed away due to Parkinson's disease.