Vahe "Buck" Kartalian (August 13, 1922 â€" May 24, 2016) was an
American professional wrestler and character actor.Vahe Kartalian was
born on August 13, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Armenian
immigrants. He had four sisters and one brother. When Kartalian was
two, their family moved to New York City. His father, a baker, died
when he was 11. During World War II, Kartalian served in the United
States Navy on a destroyer in the Pacific theatre. After returning
home, he worked as a body builder and professional wrestler (called
the "Hell's Kitchen Roughneck") and competed in both regional and
national competitions. Kartalian decided to become an actor after
being noticed by Broadway producers. He never took acting
lessons.Plays in which Kartalian appeared on Broadway included One
More River (1960), Golden Fleecing (1959), and Romeo and Juliet
(1951). In Romeo and Juliet, he played Sampson alongside Olivia de
Havilland as Juliet.
American professional wrestler and character actor.Vahe Kartalian was
born on August 13, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Armenian
immigrants. He had four sisters and one brother. When Kartalian was
two, their family moved to New York City. His father, a baker, died
when he was 11. During World War II, Kartalian served in the United
States Navy on a destroyer in the Pacific theatre. After returning
home, he worked as a body builder and professional wrestler (called
the "Hell's Kitchen Roughneck") and competed in both regional and
national competitions. Kartalian decided to become an actor after
being noticed by Broadway producers. He never took acting
lessons.Plays in which Kartalian appeared on Broadway included One
More River (1960), Golden Fleecing (1959), and Romeo and Juliet
(1951). In Romeo and Juliet, he played Sampson alongside Olivia de
Havilland as Juliet.
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