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(1930– ). American actor.
In the 1950s, like his brother, Rhodes Reason most
busied himself in film and television westerns (including a guest role in an
episode of Maverick that merits inclusion in his genre credits since the
story involves the purported appearance of a ghost), though even then he seemed
to be getting more work than Rex, as shrewd casting directors noted that he not
only looked good, but could fitfully bring a bit of life to his performances.
His first genre role of any significance was in support of
Boris KARLOFF in Voodoo Island,
where as boat captain Matthew Dunn he romanced a beautiful woman and postured
heroically at ridiculous, carnivorous plants. Other roles that followed
included a restrained performance as the apostle Andrew in the dull biblical
epic The Big Fisherman, a small part in an episode of Karloff's Thriller,
and a turn as Colonel Travis in The Time Tunnel when
Irwin ALLEN's clichéd-obsessed time
travelers decide to visit the besieged Alamo.
While nothing in Rhodes Reason's career had the impact
of Rex's This Island Earth, he did finally land two roles in 1967 which
will, in some circles, keep his memory alive. For an episode of Star Trek,
he drew upon his experience in The Big Fisherman to competently portray
a persecuted Christian in an inane parallel world identical to
twentieth-century Earth except that the Roman Empire was still around—the
sort of Star Trek episode that certain dedicated viewers, such as
myself, have resolved to never watch again, but will forever be carefully
studied by less discriminating fans. He also traveled to Japan to serve as
the obligatory has-been American actor to draw western audiences in the monsterfest
King Kong Escapes, a surprisingly enjoyable film with a surprisingly
effective Rhodes Reason as a submarine commander observing the antics of the
giant ape and his robotic counterpart. Unlike
Nick ADAMS, who appeared to believe
that such work might revive his fading career and responded with excessive
emotion, Rhodes Reason seemed to accept that the film would do nothing to
improve his lot and made no attempt through overacting to draw attention away
from the people in monster suits.
Rhodes kept working throughout the 1970s, and in the 1980s he
actually succeeded on the legitimate stage of Broadway—portraying Daddy
Warbucks in Annie for three years, showing off a hitherto-unused singing
voice, and proving once and for all that he could act better than brother Rex.
It really isn't fair, then, that he remains less prominent than Rex Reason
simply because of that one famous role in This Island Earth; then again,
unlike Rex, the elderly Rhodes Reason still might be capable of one more
memorable performance if some nostalgic director like Joe DANTE ever gives him
a call.
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