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Overview

Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine.

Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino.

The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.

Series Cast

  1. David Niven as Bingham, Richard Lilliam, Phil Weston, Larkin, Doctor, Steve Carlyle / Roger Carlyle, Tony Stewart, Uncle Fred, Cookie, Doctor Gentry, Jim Kenyon, Charles, Adams, Lee, Andy, Royal Thurston, Deacon, William Langford, Ted Parker, Wyeth, Hal Winters, Mitch, John, Andy Fields, Ted, Frank, Robert Louis Stevenson, David, Henry, Maxwell, Philip, and George

    David Niven

    Bingham, Richard Lilliam, Phil Weston, Larkin and 28 more...

    32 Episodes

  2. Dick Powell as Willie Dante, Dan, US Marshal Philip Dana, Dave, Steve, Fred, Capt. Avery, Jeff, Graham, Dan Hodges, Eddie White, Eddie, Grover Doane, Fleet Mason, Philip Benton, Mike Donegan, Will Sonnett, Priest, Burt Stroude, Andrew, Chris, Dan Matson, Paul, and Dave Robinson

    Dick Powell

    Willie Dante, Dan, US Marshal Philip Dana, Dave and 20 more...

    32 Episodes

  3. Charles Boyer as Andre, Dr. Severson, Dr. Dumont, Mr. Graham, Robert, Renneck, Frank Hepp, Roger, Claude Le Beau, Grisby, Alan, The Man, Montaigne, Sampan Joe, Carl Baxter, Henri, Captain, George, Martin, John, Dr. Giboux, Alan Abbey, Eric, Jacques, Major Tinnente, and Carl

    Charles Boyer

    Andre, Dr. Severson, Dr. Dumont, Mr. Graham and 22 more...

    27 Episodes

  4. Ida Lupino as Ellen, Flo Watson, Emily Cameron, Valerie, Sarah, Kit, Ginny, Emma, Diana, Sheila, Meg, Evelyn, Anna, Grace, Nina Barton, Celia Coberly, Billie, and Ann

    Ida Lupino

    Ellen, Flo Watson, Emily Cameron, Valerie and 14 more...

    19 Episodes

  5. Herb Vigran as Monte, Monte - Bartender, Marc, 3rd Reporter, Sam Rawlings, Lt. Richards, Bartender, and Monty Leeds

    Herb Vigran

    Monte, Monte - Bartender, Marc, 3rd Reporter and 4 more...

    14 Episodes

  6. Ray Walker as Tom Barry, Steward, Sam, Reporter, Director, Sgt. Phillips, Policeman, and Police Lieutenant

    Ray Walker

    Tom Barry, Steward, Sam, Reporter and 4 more...

    8 Episodes

  7. Regis Toomey as Lt. Manny Waldo, Police Lt. Manny Waldo, and Colonel

    Regis Toomey

    Lt. Manny Waldo, Police Lt. Manny Waldo, Colonel

    8 Episodes

  8. Ralph Moody as Moreland, Doc, Jarvis Miller, Realtor, Uncle Lee, Conductor, and Stranger

    Ralph Moody

    Moreland, Doc, Jarvis Miller, Realtor and 3 more...

    7 Episodes

  9. Richard Hale as Judge, Capt. Harmon, Pop, Fotheringham, Bishop, and Dr. Kessell

    Richard Hale

    Judge, Capt. Harmon, Pop, Fotheringham and 2 more...

    7 Episodes

  10. View More

Full Cast & Crew

Last Season

Season 4

1955 • 41 Episodes

Season 4 of Four Star Playhouse premiered on October 6, 1955.

Success Story

(4x41, July 26, 1956) Season Finale

View All Seasons

No videos, backdrops or posters have been added to Four Star Playhouse.

Facts

Status Ended

Network

  • See more TV shows from CBS...

Type Scripted

Original Language English

Keywords

Content Score 

35

There's no 'I' in team...

Looks like we're missing the following data in en-US or en-US...

  • Created by credit
  • Regular cast members (4 or more)
  • Poster
  • Backdrop
  • Video

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