SIDNEY BLACKMER BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Sidney Blackmer was born on July 13th 1895 in Salisbury, North Carolina.  He is most remembered by many today for his role as Roman Castevet in the film, "Rosemary's Baby" (1968).  Blackmer also portrayed Teddy Roosevelt in a total of seven different films, some of which were, "This Is My Affair" (1937) starring alongside Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Victor McLaglen, John Carradine, Douglas Fowley, Alan Dinehart, Sig Ruman, Brian Donlevy, Robert McWade, Marjorie Weaver, Paul Hurst and Frank Conray, "The Monroe Doctrine" (1939) starring Grant Mitchell, Charles Waldron and James Stephenson, "Teddy the Rough Rider" (1940) co-starring Pierre Watkin, Robert Warwick, Glenn Strange, Selmer Jackson and Edward McWade, Theodore von Eltz, Arthur Loft and Clay Clement and "March On, America!" (1942) starring Carleton Young.

His career as an actor began as a teenager when he developed an interest in theater.  He originally planned to study at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and pursue a degree in law, however, he decided to turn his focus towards acting instead.

Blackmer relocated to New York City and began appearing in minor roles on such films as, "Beating Back" (1914) starring Al J. Jennings, Frank Jennings, J. Morris Foster, Madeline Fairbanks, Frank Farrington, Albert Froom and Fannie Bourke and "The Perils of Pauline" (1914) starring Pearl White, Crane Wilbur, Paul Panzer and Edward Jose.  He then began to focus on stage work and in 1917, he debuted in the Broadway production, "The Morris Dance".  

Blackmer then took a three year break from acting to serve in the military during World War I.  Upon completing his service as an officer he then returned to stage acting and added more Broadway credits to his resume such as, "Trimmed in Scarlet" (1920) followed by more stage productions between 1920 and 1928.

After being seen in the play, "The Mountain Man" (1921), Blackmer then began to really catch the attention of the industry.  When silent films began to fade and sound films came about, he really began to rise to a new level in his career.

Some of his early film roles included, "The Love Racket" (1929) with Dorothy Mackaill and Edmund Burns, "Kismet" (1930) starring Otis Skinner, Loretta Young and David Manners, "Little Caesar" (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell, Ralph Ince, Stanley Fields and William Collier Jr., "Goodbye Love" (1933) with Charlie Ruggles and Verree Teasdale, "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1934) starring Robert Donat, Elissa Landi and Louis Calhern and Irene Hervey, "The President Vanishes" (1934) starring Edward Arnold, Arthur Byron, Paul Kelly, Peggy Conklin, Janet Beecher and Andy Devine, "Streamline Express" (1935) also starring Victor Jory, Evelyn Venable, Esther Ralston and Ralph Forbes, "The House of Secrets" (1936) starring Leslie Fenton, Muriel Evans, Morgan Wallace, Noel Madison, Holmes Herbert, Ian Maclaren, Syd Saylor and Jameson Thomas and "The President's Mystery" (1936) starring with Henry Wilcoxon, Betty Furness, Evelyn Brent and Wade Boteler.

Along with working as a film actor, he maintained his involvement as a stage performer.  As his career progressed just in 1937 alone, he added twelve film credits to his resume such as, "In Old Chicago" (1936) starring Tyrone Power, Don Ameche Alice Faye, Andy Devine, Brian Donlevy, Alice Brady, Gene Reynolds, Phyllis Brooks, Tom Brown and Burton Churchill, "Girl Overboard" (1937) starring alongside Gloria Stuart, Walter Pidgeon, Billy Burrud, Robert Emmett O'Connor, Russell Hicks and Hobart Cavanaugh, "Heidi" (1937) starring Shirley Temple, Jean Hersholt, Arthur Treacher, Mary Nash and Marcia Mae Jones, "The Last Gangster" (1937) starring Edward G. Robinson, James Stewart, Edward Brophy, Grant Mitchell, John Carradine and Rose Stradner and "Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo" (1937), "The Panther's Claw" (1942) co-starring Rick Vallin, Byron Foulger and Lynn Starr, "Duel in the Sun" (1946) starring Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lillian Gish, Herbert Marshall, Walter Huston, Charles Bickford, Harry Carey, Otto Kruger, Butterfly McQueen, Lane Chandler and Lionel Barrymore and "The High and the Mighty" (1954) starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Laraine Day, Robert Stack, Jan Sterling, Phil Harris, David Brian, Paul Kelly, Julie Bishop, Robert Newton, William Campbell, Douglas Fowley, Regis Toomey, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, William Schallert, Paul Fix, John Qualen, George Chandler and Ann Doran.

Alternating between film and stage he added more Broadway roles to his credits appearing in, "Come Back, Little Sheba" and "A Case of Libel".  As his career progressed he also made numerous television appearances on such shows as, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Rifleman", "Climax!", "Dr. Kildare", "Ben Casey", "Daniel Boone", "Bonanza", "Suspense", "Lights Out", "Zane Grey Theatre", "The Adventures of Jim Bowie", "Sheriff of Cochise" and "The Name of the Game".

Sidney's final film role was as an elderly, slightly eccentric, harmless, meddlesome neighbor in Rosemary's Baby" (1968) starring with Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Patsy Kelly, Ralph Bellamy, Hope Summers, Emmaline Henry, Victoria Vetri, Maurice Evans, Tony Curtis, Charles Grodin and Elisha Cook Jr.

Along with his career as an actor, Blackmer was also a humanitarian and was involved with the United States Muscular Dystrophy Association serving as President.  He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the Motion Picture Industry.

Sidney Blackmer married twice throughout his lifetime, first to Lenore Ulric in 1928 however by 1939 this marriage came to an end.  He then wed Suzanne Kaaren in 1943 and they had two children together and remained married until he passed away on October 6th, 1973 after suffering from cancer at the age of seventy eight in New York City.  His remains were interred in Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salsbury, North Carolina.

Filmography

1971         Do You Take This Stranger?
1971         Revenge Is My Destiny
1970         Howdy
1968-1969     The Name of the Game
1968         Rosemary's Baby
1961-1968     Bonanza
1967         Gentle Ben
1967         A Covenant with Death
1967         Daniel Boone
1966         The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
1962-1966     Dr. Kildare 
1966         Ben Casey
1965         Joy in the Morning
1965         How to Murder Your Wife
1964         The Reporter
1964         Profiles in Courage
1963         The Defenders
1963         The Outer Limits 
1963         The DuPont Show of the Week
1962         Target: The Corruptors
1962         Cain's Hundred
1955-1962     Alfred Hitchcock Presents 
1961         Thriller
1960         The Best of the Post
1959         Sunday Showcase
1959         The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial
1959         Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1958-1959     The Rifleman 
1959         Wanted: Dead or Alive 
1958         Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958         Pursuit
1958         The Texan 
1958         Matinee Theatre
1958         G.E. True Theater 
1958         The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1958         Zane Grey Theatre
1958         The Californians
1956-1958     Climax! 
1957         Sheriff of Cochise 
1957         Tammy and the Bachelor
1956         Accused of Murder
1956         The Little Foxes
1952-1956     Robert Montgomery Presents 
1956         Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
1956         High Society
1956         The Star and the Story 
1956         Front Row Center
1955         The View from Pompey's Head
1955         Star Stage
1955         Damon Runyon Theater
1955         Danger
1954         The Ford Television Theatre
1954         The United States Steel Hour
1954         Johnny Dark
1954         The High and the Mighty
1954         Justice 
1951-1954     Armstrong Circle Theatre
1953         Never Kick a Man Upstairs
1953         Goodyear Playhouse 
1952         Refresher Course
1952         Washington Story
1952         Broadway Television Theatre
1952         The San Francisco Story
1952         The Web
1951         Tales of Tomorrow
1951         Saturday's Hero
1951         Lights Out 
1951         People Will Talk
1949-1951     Suspense 
1949-1951     The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse 
1951         Pulitzer Prize Playhouse
1949         NBC Presents
1948         A Song Is Born
1948         My Girl Tisa
1946         Duel in the Sun
1944         Wilson
1944         The Lady and the Monster
1944         Buffalo Bill
1944         Broadway Rhythm
1943         In Old Oklahoma
1943         Tropical Sportland
1943         I Escaped from the Gestapo
1943         Murder in Times Square
1942         Quiet Please: Murder
1942         Sabotage Squad
1942         Gallant Lady
1942         The Panther's Claw
1942         Always in My Heart
1942         Obliging Young Lady
1942         Nazi Agent
1941         The Feminine Touch
1941         Down Mexico Way
1941         The Officer and the Lady
1941         Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
1941         Angels with Broken Wings
1941         Love Crazy
1941         Rookies on Parade
1941         The Great Swindle
1941         Murder Among Friends
1941         Cheers for Miss Bisho
1940         Third Finger, Left Hand
1940         I Want a Divorce
1940         Dance, Girl, Dance
1940         Maryland
1940         Teddy the Rough Rider
1940         Framed
1939         Law of the Pampas
1939         The Monroe Doctrine
1939         Hotel for Women
1939         Trapped in the Sky
1939         Unmarried
1939         It's a Wonderful World
1939         Within the Law
1939         Fast and Loose
1939         Convict's Code
1938         Trade Winds
1938         While New York Sleeps
1938         Orphans of the Street
1938         Sharpshooters
1938         Suez
1938         Down on the Farm
1938         Straight Place and Show
1938         Speed to Burn
1937         Thank You, Mr. Moto
1937         Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo
1937         The Last Gangster
1937         Heidi
1937         Wife, Doctor and Nurse
1937         The Women Men Marry
1937         This Is My Affair
1937         Michael O'Halloran
1937         John Meade's Woman
1937         A Doctor's Diary
1937         Girl Overboard
1937         In Old Chicago
1936         The House of Secrets
1936         The President's Mystery
1936         Missing Girls
1936         Early to Bed
1936         Florida Special
1936         Woman Trap
1936         Heart of the West
1935         Forced Landin
1935         The Fire-Trap
1935         False Pretenses
1935         The Girl Who Came Back
1935         Streamline Express
1935         Smart Girl
1935         Shadows of the Orient
1935         Great God Gold
1935         Behind the Green Lights
1935         The Little Colonel
1935         A Notorious Gentleman
1934         The President Vanishes
1934         Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round
1934         Down to Their Last Yacht
1934         The Count of Monte Cristo
1934         This Man Is Mine
1933         Goodbye Love
1933         Deluge
1933         The Wrecker
1933         Cocktail Hour
1933         From Hell to Heaven
1931         The Lady Who Dared
1931         It's a Wise Child
1931         Woman Hungry
1931         Little Caesar
1930         Mothers Cry
1930         Kismet
1930         The Bad Man
1930         Strictly Modern
1929         The Love Racket
1929         A Most Immoral Lady
1914         Beating Back