THE HAT SQUAD: GLENN FORD

Another of the great classic screen actors has passed away.

Glenn Ford, who played strong, thoughtful protagonists in films such as "Blackboard Jungle," "Gilda" and "The Big Heat," died yesterday, police said. He was 90.

Ford appeared in scores of films during his 53-year Hollywood career. (The Film Encyclopedia lists 85 films from 1939 to 1991.)

He was cast usually as the handsome tough, but his acting talents ranged from romance to comedy. His other famous credits include "Superman," "The Teahouse Of The August Moon," "The Gazebo," "Pocketful of Miracles" and "The Rounders." He made quite a few Westerns, including "3:10 To Yuma", which was produced by David Heilweil, my college screenwriting teacher.

On television, he appeared in "Cade's County," "The Family Holvak," "Once an Eagle" and "When Havoc Struck."

He starred in the feature film "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," which later became a TV series featuring Bill Bixby. (Another connection to Bixby today in the Hat Squads - Joseph Stefano wrote the screenplay for Bixby's pilot of 'The Magician'.)

Director Ricardo Cortez told Ford he would never amount to anything.

Now who remembers Ricardo Cortez?

TV SERIES
"The Family Holvak" (1975) TV Series .... Rev. Tom Holvak
"Cade's County" .... Sam Cade (1971-1972)
"The Faith of Our Children" (1953) TV Series (producer)
"Friends of Man" (1974) TV Series (voice) .... Narrator

TV MINI-SERIES
"Once an Eagle" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... George Caldwell

TV PREQUELS & SEQUELS
The Greatest Gift (1974) (TV) .... Rev. Holvak

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Police Story"
- No Margin for Error (1978) TV Episode .... Hayes
"The Dick Powell Show"
- The Rage of Silence (1963) TV Episode .... Guest Host

TV SPECIALS
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion (1979) (TV) .... Himself

TV MOVIES
Final Verdict (1991) (TV) .... Rev. Rogers
Law at Randado (1989) (TV)
My Town (1986) (TV) .... Lucas Wheeler
The Gift (1979) (TV) .... Billy Devlin
Beggarman, Thief (1979) (TV) .... David Donnelly
The Sacketts (1979) (TV) .... Tom Sunday
Evening in Byzantium (1978) (TV) .... Jesse Craig
No Margin for Error (1978) (TV)
The 3,000 Mile Chase (1977) (TV) .... Paul Dvorak/Leonard Staveck
Punch and Jody (1974) (TV) .... Peter 'Punch' Travers
The Disappearance of Flight 412 (1974) (TV) .... Colonel Pete Moore
Jarrett (1973) (TV) .... Sam Jarrett
The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970) (TV) .... Prof. Andrew Patterson

TOOBWORLD RELATED MOVIES
The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) .... Tom Corbett

Earlier this summer, an onscreen tribute was given to Mr. Ford in the movie "Superman Returns" when his picture (as Jonathan Kent) was seen in the Kent Family home. For me, his final scene in the original "Superman" movie is still one of the most moving moments I've ever seen in film.

BCnU.....
Tele-Toby