THE HAT SQUAD: REMEMBERING TERRY BECKER

At the end of December we lost actor/director Terry Becker.  Here is his entry from Wikipedia:

Terry Becker (August 5, 1921 – December 30, 2014) was an American film and television actor, Emmy-winning director and producer. He is best known for his role as Chief Francis Ethelbert Sharkey in seasons 2 through 4 of the television series 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'. Becker took the role after the death of actor Henry Kulky, who had played the submarine's Chief (Curly Jones) during the first season of the series. Terry Becker also made two guest appearances on 'Perry Mason'. In 1958 he played murder victim Philip Larkin in "The Case of the Prodigal Parent", and in 1960 he played Prosecuting Attorney Everett Ransome in "The Case of the Violent Village."

Becker's work behind the camera began with the TV series 'Room 222,' on which he was associate producer. He also directed eight episodes of the series. Becker went on to directing assignments on many other TV series, including 'Mission: Impossible', 'M*A*S*H', 'Love, American Style', 'The Brady Bunch' and others, plus a motion picture, "The Thirsty Dead", which he also produced. In 1973, he partnered with actor Carroll O'Connor to form O'Connor-Becker Productions. In 1983, the partnership split up and Becker continued producing as a solo producer under his own Becker Productions and Becker Enterprises banners.

'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea' was set about ten years into the future from its time of broadcast, which would mean many of the episodes occurred around the mid-1970s.  This means that Chief Sharkey is ten years younger than Terry Becker.  I'd like to think this guarantees the Chief to be still alive in Toobworld until 2025.

Francis Ethelbert Sharkey is also the brother to career Navy man Otto Sharkey who was a Chief Petty Officer stationed in San Diego.  So O'Bviously both Sharkey brothers pursued maritime careers; Chief Sharkey probably started out in the Navy and then retired to take the job with the Nelson Institute.

Good night and may God bless, Terry Becker.....