Originally hailing from Long Beach, California this talented character actor has kept busy in Hollywood and on stage since the late 1960s, often playing villainous or untrustworthy characters with his narrow gaze and unsettling smirk. Zerbe was born May 20, 1936 in Long Beach, California and served a stint in the US Air Force, before heading off to New York to study drama under noted acting coach ...
show all Originally hailing from Long Beach, California this talented character actor has kept busy in Hollywood and on stage since the late 1960s, often playing villainous or untrustworthy characters with his narrow gaze and unsettling smirk. Zerbe was born May 20, 1936 in Long Beach, California and served a stint in the US Air Force, before heading off to New York to study drama under noted acting coach Stella Adler.
He made his screen debut opposite Charlton Heston in the western "The Will Penny (1968)", played a miner in "Molly Maguires (1970)", was a post apocalyptic, lunatic messiah in "The Omega Man (1971)", hustled a naive Paul Newman in "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)", played a leper colony leader in "Papillon (1973)" and a crooked cowboy who comes unstuck in "Rooster Cogburn (1975)". Zerbe also starred alongside David Janssen in the TV series "Harry O" (1974)" for which he picked up an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Lt. K.C. Trench.
Definitely in strong demand for sinister roles, Zerbe played a crazed scientist in the corny "The KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978)", was an arrogant father in "Dead Zone (1983)", he made a great General Ulysses S. Grant in "The "North and South, Book II (1986)", starred in the military drama "Opposing Force (1986)" and suffered a grisly demise in an air lock full of money in the James Bond thriller "Licence to Kill (1989)". Most recently, Zerbe has been seen as "Councillor Hamann" in "Matrix Reloaded (2003)" and "The Matrix Revolutions (2003)".
In addition to his extensive television and film appearances, Anthony Zerbe has appeared in Broadway productions including "The Little Foxes", "Terra Nova" and "Solomon's Child". He was in residence for five summer seasons at The Old Globe Theatre playing several key Shakespearian characters to strong critical acclaim. He has also held residencies at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia, the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. and the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston. In 2003, Zerbe toured across several US states with fellow actor Roscoe Lee Browne in their production of "Behind The Broken Words", a performance of 20th century poetry, comedy and drama.
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