John ericson

Born on September 25, 1926 in Düsseldorf, Germany, Joseph Meibes (real name John Ericson ) moved to the United States at a very young age when his family had to flee the Nazi regime. In New York he enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he had as classmates none other than Jack Palance and Grace Kelly .

After finishing his studies, he made his Broadway debut in 1951 with “Stalag 17”, and soon after he made his film debut with Teresa , by Fred Zinnemann . “My career began to take off very soon, and they offered me some exclusive contract, but I was afraid that they would pigeonhole me in supporting roles of ordinary guys, and I did not accept,” John Ericson recalled  in an interview. He triumphed above all with  Rhapsody , along with Elizabeth Taylor , and Vittorio Gassman . He played James, a pianist who was marrying his partner’s ex and his best friend, but she was still crazy about him. He did his most memorable work in the memorable Conspiracy of Silence., where he was the receptionist of a hotel in a remote town, where a mysterious newcomer ( Spencer Tracy ) was trying to stay. He has a really memorable scene, where the stranger’s story makes him change his attitude.

With the actress who played his sister in that film, Anne Francis , he starred in the series Honey West , which was hugely successful in the United States, between 1965 and 1966. He also had a small role in  The Rookie Witch .

Divorced from Milly Couri, with whom he had two children, John Ericson  joined fellow actress Karen Ericson ( The Red Baron ) in 1974.The latter accompanied him until his death.