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Carl Ballantine (I) (1917–2009)

Actor | Soundtrack

Part of the motley crew commandeered by Ernest Borgnine on the popular 1960s TV series McHale's Navy, tall, gangly, beady-eyed, bulb-nosed comic actor Carl Ballantine was better known in other ports as the ultimate "magician". Billed as "The Amazing Ballantine," "The Great Ballantine" and "Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician" during his long career... See full bio »

Born:

Meyer Kessler
in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died:

(age 92) in Hollywood Hills, California, USA
8 photos | 134 videos | 5 news articles »

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Related News

My Love/Hate Affair With ‘Star Trek’
20 March 2013 1:50 AM, PDT | SoundOnSight
Carl Ballantine, Actor And Magician, Dead At Age 92
6 November 2009 3:23 PM, PST | CinemaRetro
Magician/Actor Ballantine Dead At 92
5 November 2009 2:06 PM, PST | WENN
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Known For


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Filmography

Jump to: Actor | Soundtrack | Self
Hide HideActor (60 titles)
2009 Life's a Joke (short)
Dr. Bellum
 
2006 Aimee Semple McPherson
Realtor in China
 
2002 Farewell to Harry
Hickey
 
2000 The Million Dollar Kid
Lieutenant
 
1998 Susan's Plan
Harold Beyers
 
1998 My Giant
Rabbi
 
1996 Spider-Man (TV series)
Lenny Lankowski
– Sins of the Fathers Chapter 13: Goblin Wars (1996) … Lenny Lankowski (voice) (as Carl Ballentine)
 
1996 I Crave Rock & Roll
Dewey Rose
 
1995 Freakazoid! (TV series)
Huska
– And Fan Boy Is His Name/Lawn Gnomes Chapter IV: Fun in the Sun/Freak's French Lesson (1995) … Huska (voice)
 
1995 Oink (short)
The Doctor
 
1989-1992 Garfield and Friends (TV series)
Al J. Swindler
– Home Sweet Swindler/Forget-Me-Not Newton/The Great Inventor (1992) … Al J. Swindler (voice)
– Wonderful World/U.S. Acres: The Orson Awards/The Garfield Workout (1990) … Al J. Swindler (voice)
– Skyway Robbery/U.S. Acres: The Bunny Rabbits Is Coming!/Close Encounters of the Garfield Kind (1990) (voice)
– Lemon Aid/U.S. Acres: Hog Noon/Video Airlines (1989) … Al J. Swindler (voice) (as Carl Ballentine)
– The Mail Animal/U.S. Acres: Peanut-Brained Rooster/Mummy Dearest (1989) (voice / as Carl Ballentine)
 
1992 Mr. Saturday Night
Freddie
 
1991 P.S.I. Luv U (TV series)
Mo Hornsby
– What's Up, Bugsy? (1991) … Mo Hornsby
 
1991 Adam 12 (TV series)
Sasha Pearl
– 211 Pizza (1991) … Sasha Pearl
 
1987 The Cosby Show (TV series)
The Great Ballantine
– The Show Must Go On (1987) … The Great Ballantine
 
1987 What's Happening Now! (TV series)
Mr. Higgins
– Dwayne's Big Step (1987) … Mr. Higgins
 
1986 Night Court (TV series)
Phillip Falconi
– Could This Be Magic? (1986) … Phillip Falconi
 
1986 The Best of Times
Arturo
 
1986 Blacke's Magic (TV series)
– Breathing Room (Pilot) (1986)
 
1984 Double Trouble (TV series)
Rollo the Great
– Do You Believe in Magic? (1984) … Rollo the Great
 
1981-1984 Trapper John, M.D. (TV series)
Clarence / Roland Shulman
– My Son the Doctor (1984) … Roland Shulman
– Days of Wine and Leo (1981) … Clarence
 
1982 Alice (TV series)
Freddy
– Spell Mel's (1982) … Freddy
 
1981 Fantasy Island (TV series)
The Great Zachariah
– Delphine/The Unkillable (1981) … The Great Zachariah
 
1981 B.J. and the Bear (TV series)
Magician
– B.J. and the Seven Lady Truckers: Part I (1981) … Magician
 
1980 Camp Grizzly (TV movie)
Uncle Bernie
 
1980 One in a Million (TV series)
Max Kellerman
– The Italian Connection (1980) … Max Kellerman
– The Committee (1980) … Max Kellerman
– Over the Hill (1980) … Max Kellerman
– Max Falls in Love (1980) … Max Kellerman
– Cushing Quits (1980) … Max Kellerman
See all 13 episodes »
 
1979 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV series)
Monty the Hitman
– The Mob Comes to Orly (1979) … Monty the Hitman
 
1979 Just You and Me, Kid
Reinhoff the Remarkable
 
1979 The North Avenue Irregulars
Sam
 
1978 CHiPs (TV series)
Marvello the Great
– Rustling (1978) … Marvello the Great
 
1977 The World's Greatest Lover
Uncle Harry
 
1976 Laverne & Shirley (TV series)
Lionel T. Zimmerman
– Two of Our Weirdos Are Missing (1976) … Lionel T. Zimmerman
 
1976 How to Break Up a Happy Divorce (TV movie)
Conductor
 
1976 Revenge of the Cheerleaders
Dr. Ivory
 
1975 When Things Were Rotten (TV series)
Waiter
– Ding Dong, the Bell Is Dead (1975) … Waiter
 
1975 The Fireman's Ball (TV movie)
Acropolis
 
1975 The Ghost Busters (TV series)
Merlin
– Merlin, the Magician (1975) … Merlin
 
1973 The Girl Most Likely to... (TV movie)
Dr. Hankin
 
1973 Saga of Sonora (TV movie)
Ringo
 
1972 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (TV series)
Doc Ellery
– Operation: Smokescreen (1972) … Doc Ellery
 
1969-1972 Love, American Style (TV series)
Chicken Little (segment "Love and the Newscasters") / Leo (segment "Love and the Shower")
– Love and the Happy Days/Love and the Newscasters (1972) … Chicken Little (segment "Love and the Newscasters")
– Love and the Athlete/Love and the Dummies/Love and Mother/Love and the Shower (1969) … Leo (segment "Love and the Shower")
 
1971 The Partridge Family (TV series)
Pitchman
– Partridge Up a Pair Tree (1971) … Pitchman
 
1971 The Virginian (TV series)
Matt
– The Politician (1971) … Matt
 
1970 The Debbie Reynolds Show (TV series)
Newman
– Advice and Dissent (1970) … Newman
 
1969 That's Life (TV series)
– Baby's First Birthday (1969)
 
1969 The Queen and I (TV series)
Becker
– My Karate Lies Over the Ocean (1969) … Becker
– Requiem for Becker (1969) … Becker
 
1968 I Dream of Jeannie (TV series)
Carl Tucker
– The Used Car Salesman (1968) … Carl Tucker
 
1968 Mayberry R.F.D. (TV series)
Ernie
– The Copy Machine (1968) … Ernie
 
1968 Out of the Blue (TV movie)
Claude
 
1968 The Shakiest Gun in the West
Abel Swanson
 
1968 Speedway
Birdie Kebner
 
1967 Laredo (TV series)
Lemuel Beamish
– Hey Diddle Diddle (1967) … Lemuel Beamish
 
1967 The Monkees (TV series)
Hubbell Bensen
– Find the Monkees (1967) … Hubbell Bensen
 
1966 Penelope
Boom Boom
 
1966 That Girl (TV series)
Arnold Lemming
– I'll Be Suing You (1966) … Arnold Lemming
 
1962-1966 McHale's Navy (TV series)
Lester Gruber
– Wally for Congress (1966) … Lester Gruber
– Binghamton at 20 Paces (1966) … Lester Gruber
– An Ensign's Best Friend (1966) … Lester Gruber
– The McHale Grand Prix (1966) … Lester Gruber
– Who Was That German I Saw You With? (1966) … Lester Gruber
See all 138 episodes »
 
1964 McHale's Navy
Torpedoman Lester Gruber
 
1961-1962 Car 54, Where Are You? (TV series)
Al Henderson
– Quiet! We're Thinking (1962) … Al Henderson (uncredited)
– Christmas at the 53rd (1961) … Al Henderson
– The Taming of Lucille (1961) … Al Henderson
 
1960 Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV series)
Gonzorgo
– Babes in Toyland (1960) … Gonzorgo
 
1960 Startime (TV series)
Merlin
– Tennessee Ernie Ford Meets King Arthur (1960) … Merlin (as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1958 The Garry Moore Show (TV series)
– Episode #1.7 (1958) (performer: "The Big Apple" - uncredited, "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" - uncredited, "Heigh-Ho" - uncredited, "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (30 titles)
2011 Troupers (documentary)
Himself
 
2007 McHale's Navy: The Crew Remembers (video short)
Himself
 
1997 American Masters (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Vaudeville (1997) … Himself
 
1988 The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Audience Member
 
1984 Young at Heart Comedians (TV movie)
Himself
 
1978 The Jim Nabors Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.12 (1978) … Himself
 
1978 The Magic of David Copperfield (TV special)
Himself ('The Great Ballantine')
 
1973 ABC Late Night (TV series)
Himself
– Break-Up (1973) … Himself
 
1962-1973 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 4 June 1973 (1973) … Himself
– Episode dated 25 April 1972 (1972) … Himself
– Episode dated 1 November 1962 (1962) … Himself (as Ballantine)
 
1970-1972 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #4.171 (1972) … Himself
– Episode #2.235 (1970) … Himself
 
1970 The Engelbert Humperdinck Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.12 (1970) … Himself
 
1970 The Andy Williams Show (TV series)
Himself / Himself - Guest
– Episode dated 7 March 1970 (1970) … Himself - Guest
– Episode dated 31 January 1970 (1970) … Himself
 
1968-1969 The Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Himself
– A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to September (1969) … Himself
– County Fair #1 (1968) … Himself (as The Great Ballantine)
 
1968 The Dean Martin Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 15 February 1968 (1968) … Himself
 
1964-1965 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
Himself - Comedian / Himself - Comic Magician
– Episode #3.2 (1965) … Himself - Comic Magician
– Episode #1.4 (1964) … Himself - Comedian
 
1963 The Danny Kaye Show (TV series)
Himself - Comic Magician
– Episode #1.8 (1963) … Himself - Comic Magician
 
1963 The Andy Williams Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 29 October 1963 (1963) … Himself
 
1953-1962 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself / Comic Magician / Magician
– Episode #15.34 (1962) … Magician (as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine)
– Episode #14.30 (1961) … Comic Magician (as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine)
– Episode #14.29 (1961) … Himself
– Episode #9.50 (1956) … Himself (as Mr. Ballantine)
– Episode #6.49 (1953) … Himself
 
1960 Startime (TV series)
Himself
– Fun Fair (1960) … Himself (as The Amazing Mr. Ballantine)
 
1960 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #4.16 (1960) … Himself
 
1958-1959 The Garry Moore Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.13 (1959) … Himself
– Episode #2.3 (1959) … Himself
– Episode #1.38 (1959) … Himself
– Episode #1.21 (1959) … Himself
– Episode #1.7 (1958) … Himself
 
1959 The Chevy Showroom Starring Andy Williams (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.7 (1959) … Himself
 
1959 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
Himself - Comedian-Magician
– Salute to Jazz (1959) … Himself - Comedian-Magician (as Mr. Ballantine the World Greatest Magician)
 
1955 Frankie Laine Time (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.4 (1955) … Himself
 
1955 The Jackie Gleason Show (TV series)
Himself - Guest Comic Magician
– Episode dated 7 May 1955 (1955) … Himself - Guest Comic Magician
 
1954 The Blue Angel (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.8 (1954) … Himself
 
1952 All Star Summer Revue (TV series)
Himself - Guest Comedic Magician / Himself - Guest Magician
– Episode #1.5 (1952) … Himself - Guest Comedic Magician
– Episode #1.2 (1952) … Himself - Guest Comedic Magician
– Episode #1.1 (1952) … Himself - Guest Magician
 
1950 The Saturday Night Revue with Jack Carter (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.17 (1950) … Himself
– Episode #1.5 (1950) … Himself
 
1950 College of Musical Knowledge (TV series)
– Episode dated 23 November 1950 (1950)
 
1949 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
Himself - Comedian / Magician
– Episode #1.47 (1949) … Himself - Comedian/Magician
 

Related Videos

The Best of Times -- A small-town loser determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game. McHale's Navy: Season 4: Episode 30 -- Binghamton's moment of planned heroism intended to impress a politician is ruined by a GI patrol. My Giant -- Billy Crystal plays a Hollywood agent who stumbles upon Max, a giant living in Romania, and tries to get him into the movies.
See all 134 »
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Personal Details

Publicity Listings:

4 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

The Amazing Mr. Ballantine | Mr. Ballantine | Ballantine | Carl Ballentine | The Great Ballantine | Meyer Kessler | Mr. Ballantine the World Greatest Magician

Height:

6' 2" (1.88 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia:

In addition to being an actor, Ballantine is an accomplished magician. See more »

Trademark:

Supposed tricks of magic, which always flop See more »

Nickname:

The Amazing Mr. Ballantine See more »

Star Sign:

Libra