Mark Slade
Encyclopedia
Mark Van Blarcom Slade (born May 1, 1939; Salem, Massachusetts
) is an American
actor.
In 1956, he enrolled in the Worcester Academy
with intention of becoming a cartoonist
. After he filled in for a sick classmate, playing the role of an English
professor
in the play, The Male Animal, he decided to enter acting. In 1961, Slade was cast as Seaman
Jimmy 'Red' Smith in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
. Despite his character being killed in the movie Irwin Allen
brought Slade back for the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
TV series in 1964 as a new character, Seaman Malone, although he only appeared in the first half of the first season. This made Slade only one of six actors to be in both the film and TV series, and only one of two as series regulars, Del Monroe being the other. In the 1965-1966 television season, Slade starred in NBC
's The Wackiest Ship in the Army
situation comedy
.
In 1967, at the age of twenty-eight, he obtained one of his most memorable parts, Billy Blue Cannon, the blonde haired, blue-eyed son of ranch
patriarch
John Cannon (Leif Erickson
) on NBC's The High Chaparral
.
He is currently living in California and still pursuing his artistic ambitions.
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor.
In 1956, he enrolled in the Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in...
with intention of becoming a cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
. After he filled in for a sick classmate, playing the role of an English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in the play, The Male Animal, he decided to enter acting. In 1961, Slade was cast as Seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
Jimmy 'Red' Smith in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an American science fiction film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, released by 20th Century Fox in 1961. The story was written by Irwin Allen and Charles Bennett. Walter Pidgeon starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson, with Robert Sterling as Captain Lee Crane...
. Despite his character being killed in the movie Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen was a television and film director and producer nicknamed "The Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genre. He was also notable for creating a number of television series.- Biography :...
brought Slade back for the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea is a 1960s American science fiction television series based on the 1961 film of the same name. Both were created by Irwin Allen, which enabled the movie's sets, costumes, props, special effects models, and sometimes footage, to be used in the production of the...
TV series in 1964 as a new character, Seaman Malone, although he only appeared in the first half of the first season. This made Slade only one of six actors to be in both the film and TV series, and only one of two as series regulars, Del Monroe being the other. In the 1965-1966 television season, Slade starred in NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Wackiest Ship in the Army
The Wackiest Ship in the Army (TV series)
The Wackiest Ship in the Army is an American comedy series that aired for one season on NBC between September 19, 1965, and April 17, 1966. Produced by Harry Ackerman and Herbert Hirschman, the series is loosely based on the 1960 film starring Jack Lemmon and Ricky Nelson.-Synopsis:The series is...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
.
In 1967, at the age of twenty-eight, he obtained one of his most memorable parts, Billy Blue Cannon, the blonde haired, blue-eyed son of ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
John Cannon (Leif Erickson
Leif Erickson
Leif Erickson was an American film and television actor.-Background:Leif Erickson was born William Wycliffe Anderson in Alameda, California. His father was commander of a fleet of ships and his mother was a noted newspaperwoman and writer...
) on NBC's The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral
The High Chaparral is a Western-themed television series starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell which aired on NBC from 1967 to 1971. The show was created by David Dortort, who had previously created the hit Bonanza for the network...
.
He is currently living in California and still pursuing his artistic ambitions.