Rhodes Reason obit

Rest in Peace: Rhodes Reason

 

He was not on the list.

 

While his name may not exactly jump out at you, fans of classic Kaiju films will definitely know the man well. Especially if they happen to be fans of the 1967 monster mash King Kong Escapes.

It was in that film that Mr. Rhodes Reason portrayed surly Commander Carl Nelson, an American who had the balls of steel to withstand a fight between both Kong and Robot Kong. Reason, who appeared in over two hundred thirty roles in film, television, and theatre, died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of the 26th of December, 2014.

Reason was born in Glendale in Los Angeles County, California, the son of Rex G. Reason and the former Jean Robinson. The younger brother of actor Rex Reason, Rhodes Reason made his acting start at the age of 18 in a production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Charles Laughton.

Among his starring roles were parts in King Kong Escapes (1967); 39 episodes of the British television series White Hunter (TV series), (1957); and as Sheriff Will Mayberry in the ABC drama series Bus Stop. Reason was cast as Chuck Wilson in "Rodeo Round-Up" in 1956 and as Kinnard in "Dust of Destruction", episodes of the western aviation adventure series, Sky King, episode "Conflict" in the "Rifleman" as Ben Kendrick.

Reason had a major part in an episode of the ABC/Warner Bros. western series, Sugarfoot in the segment "Strange Land" (1957). Reason was a guest star in Frontier Doctor, a syndicated western series. He was cast as Black Jack in the episode "The Homesteaders" (1958). Another ABC/WB western series Reason appeared in was Colt .45, as Ben Thompson in the episode "Appointment in Agoura" (1960); Reason also appeared in The Rifleman.

Reason guest starred on Tales of the Texas Rangers, Maverick (1957 episode "Ghost Rider"), Tombstone Territory (1957 episode "Ambush at Gila Gulch"), Perry Mason as Martin Eldridge in the 1966 episode, "The Case of the Bogus Buccaneers", 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Bourbon Street Beat (1960), The Time Tunnel (1966), The Big Valley (the episode "Plunder" in 1967), The Lucy Show (also 1967), Star Trek in 1967 as gladiator Flavius Maximus ("Bread and Circuses", 1968), Here's Lucy (also 1968), and The Bob Newhart Show (1976).

Reason appeared as Peter Jeffries in the 1955 episode, "California's First Ice Man" of the western television anthology series, Death Valley Days.

His feature film appearances include Yellowstone Kelly (1959, with Clint Walker) and A Fever in the Blood (1961). In the early 1980s, he starred in the Broadway musical Annie, playing Daddy Warbucks for nearly three years.

 

Reason died in Palm Springs at the age of 84 of lymphoma.

 

Filmography

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1955    Lady Godiva of Coventry            Sweyn            Uncredited

1956    Crime Against Joe            George Niles   

1956    Tension at Table Rock            Baid            Uncredited

1956            Cheyenne         Les Shore            Episode: The Trap

1956    Flight to Hong Kong            Bob Denham            Uncredited

1956            Emergency Hospital            Juvenile Officer Ross    

1956    The Desperados Are in Town            Frank Banner

1957            Voodoo Island            Matthew Gunn           

1957    Jungle Heat     Major Richard 'Dick' Grey    

1957            Maverick        Hank Foster            Episode: Ghost Rider

1959    The Big Fisherman            Andrew        

1959            Yellowstone Kelly            Maj. Towns 

1960            Cheyenne         Bill Lockhart            Episode: Outcast of Cripple Creek

1961    A Fever in the Blood   Walter Thornwall        

1962    The Rifleman            Episode: The Conflict

1967    King Kong Escapes            Commander Carl Nelson

1970    The Delta Factor            Dr. Fredericks       

1976    Cat Murkil and the Silks            Detective Harder