- Born
- Died
- Birth nameEverett Hudson Sloane
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- Everett Sloane, the actor most known for playing Mr. Bernstein in Orson Welles classic Citizen Kane (1941) as a member of Welles' Mercury Players, was born in New York, New York on October 1, 1909. Sloane was bitten by the acting bug quite early, and first went on-stage when he was seven years old. After high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania but soon dropped out to pursue an acting career, joining a theatrical stock company. However, he was discouraged by poor personal reviews and returned to New York City, where he worked as a runner on Wall Street.
After the Stock Market Crash of October 1929, Sloane turned to radio for employment as an actor. His voice won him steady work, and he even became the voice of Adolf Hitler on "The March of Time" serials. He made his Broadway debut in 1935 as part of George Abbott's company, in "Boy Meets Girl," which was followed by another play for Abbott, "All That Glitters" in 1938. Eventually, he joined Welles' Mercury Theatre, appearing in the 1941 stage production of Richard Wright's "Native Son," directed by Welles. However, before that Broadway landmark, Welles had cast Sloane as Mr. Bernstein in his first feature film, which ensured Sloane's immortality in the cinema. (Sloane would remain a Mercury Player until 1947, when he appeared as Bannister in Welles' The Lady from Shanghai (1947).)
Outside his two memorable supporting roles for Welles, Sloane's reputation rests on his portrayal Walter Ramsey, a ruthless corporate executive trying to crush another executive, in the TV and screen versions of Rod Serling's Patterns (1956). According to Jack Gould's January 17, 1955, "New York Times" review of the TV program, which debuted on Ponds Theater (1953): "In the role of Ramsey, Mr. Sloane was extraordinary. He made a part that easily might have been only a stereotyped 'menace' a figure of dimension, almost of stature. His interpretation of the closing confrontation speech was acting of rare insight and depth." Sloane was nominated for an Emmy in 1956 for the performance.
In addition to his movie work, Sloane appeared extensively on TV as an actor, directed several episodic-TV programs, and did voice over work for the cartoon series The Dick Tracy Show (1961) and Jonny Quest (1964). Plagued with failing eye sight, a depressed Sloane quit acting and eventually took his life at the age of 55.- IMDb mini biography by: Jon C. Hopwood
- SpouseLillian Lovey Herman(January 4, 1933 - August 6, 1965) (his death, 2 children)
- ParentsNathaniel I. SloaneRose GersteinRosie GersteinNathaniel Isador Sloane
- RelativesTony Roberts(Cousin)
- Wrote the lyrics to the theme song of The Andy Griffith Show (1960), however, they were not used in favor of composer / conductor Earl Hagen whistling the theme song, who had also composed the music.
- Apparent suicide with bartiturates in Brentwood because he was afraid he was going blind.
- According to Ken Dennis' in-depth article on Sloane in Films of the Golden Age, #80, Spring 2015, Sloane's deep depression over his eyesight led him to disappear from his home on August 4, 1965, propelling his family to file a missing person's report. Sloane reportedly went to a drug store in the San Fernando Valley and purchased 25 barbiturate tablets. He returned home on the evening of August 6 and was found dead the following morning in his bedroom. He left two letters - according to the Pittsburgh Press, one letter to his wife and other to his manager.
- He and Rita Hayworth, who played his wife in the film, were memorialized in the glass-shattering mirror maze finale in the Orson Welles' The Lady from Shanghai (1947).
- His last work was on an episode of TV's "Honey West" starring Anne Francis. It was aired posthumously.
- I never got the idea of becoming an actor until I was two years old.
- I don't get an immediate, enormous, clamoring public because I always appear differently and speak differently. My whole deal is ... creating as many characters as I possibly can, and that's my whole drive.
- As a business proposition, radio is ... sound and occasionally satisfying. The theatre is ego-satisfying but otherwise unreliable. The movies are ... a lump of money.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content