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

    David Niven

    Lee, Doctor Gentry, Phil Weston, Doctor and 28 more...

    32 Episodes

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

    Dick Powell

    Willie Dante, Dan, Philip Benton, Dave Robinson and 20 more...

    32 Episodes

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

    Charles Boyer

    Andre, Claude Le Beau, Dr. Severson, Dr. Giboux and 22 more...

    27 Episodes

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

    Ida Lupino

    Ellen, Sheila, Evelyn, Kit and 14 more...

    19 Episodes

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

    Herb Vigran

    Monte, Monte - Bartender, Monty Leeds, 3rd Reporter and 4 more...

    14 Episodes

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

    Ray Walker

    Sgt. Phillips, Reporter, Sam, Director 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 Jarvis Miller, Moreland, Stranger, Conductor, Doc, Realtor, and Uncle Lee

    Ralph Moody

    Jarvis Miller, Moreland, Stranger, Conductor and 3 more...

    7 Episodes

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

    Richard Hale

    Judge, Dr. Kessell, Bishop, Capt. Harmon 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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