John Richard Basehart (August 31, 1914 â€" September 17, 1984) was an
American actor. He starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson in the
television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
(1964â€"68). He also portrayed Wilton Knight in the series Knight
Rider (1982â€"86).Basehart was equally active in cinema, receiving
National Board of Review Awards for his performances in Fourteen Hours
(1951) and Moby Dick (1956). He was further nominated for a BAFTA
Award for his role in Time Limit (1957), the directorial debut of Karl
Malden.One of his most notable film roles was the acrobat and clown
known as "the Fool" in the acclaimed Italian film La Strada (1954),
directed by Federico Fellini. He also appeared as the killer in the
film noir classic He Walked by Night (1948), as a psychotic member of
the Hatfield clan in Roseanna McCoy (1949), as a timid husband in
Tension (1950), as Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956), in the drama Decision
Before Dawn (1951), and as Ivan in The Brothers Karamazov (1958). He
portrayed a high priest in Kings of the Sun (1963). From 1964-68,
Basehart played the lead role, Admiral Harriman Nelson, on Irwin
Allen's first foray into science-fiction television, Voyage to the
Bottom of the Sea.
American actor. He starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson in the
television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
(1964â€"68). He also portrayed Wilton Knight in the series Knight
Rider (1982â€"86).Basehart was equally active in cinema, receiving
National Board of Review Awards for his performances in Fourteen Hours
(1951) and Moby Dick (1956). He was further nominated for a BAFTA
Award for his role in Time Limit (1957), the directorial debut of Karl
Malden.One of his most notable film roles was the acrobat and clown
known as "the Fool" in the acclaimed Italian film La Strada (1954),
directed by Federico Fellini. He also appeared as the killer in the
film noir classic He Walked by Night (1948), as a psychotic member of
the Hatfield clan in Roseanna McCoy (1949), as a timid husband in
Tension (1950), as Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956), in the drama Decision
Before Dawn (1951), and as Ivan in The Brothers Karamazov (1958). He
portrayed a high priest in Kings of the Sun (1963). From 1964-68,
Basehart played the lead role, Admiral Harriman Nelson, on Irwin
Allen's first foray into science-fiction television, Voyage to the
Bottom of the Sea.
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