# Nicholas Saunders (actor)

Nikita Soussanin (June 2, 1914 – August 6, 2006) was a Russian–American film, television, theatre actor, theatre translator and stage manager.

## Life and career

Saunders was born in Kyiv, Russian Empire to Russian parents Nicholas, an actor and Olga, an actress. He was raised in Hollywood, California.
Saunders began his career in 1938, appearing in the Broadway play The Bridal Crown, playing the pastor.
Later in his career, Saunders appeared and starred in other Broadway plays, including Lady in the Dark, playing Liza's father; A Highland Fling, playing Sandy MacGill; Happily Ever After, stage-managing and playing Stubbs; Marriage is for Single People, playing Reginald Hecuba; The Magnificent Yankee, playing Mason; The Fifth Season, stage-managing; A Call on Kuprin, playing Mr. Kendall and guard at Yalta; Take Her, She's Mine, playing the principal, Mr. Whitmyer, Frank Michaelson, and Mr. Hibbetts; The Passion of Josef D., language consultant and playing Sukhanov, Orjonikidze, and ensemble; Scenes and Revelations, playing Mr. Karonk; and Zoya's Apartment, translating the play with Frank Dwyer.
Saunders started his television career in 1947, appearing in Kraft Television Theatre. He also was a Russian radio announcer on Voice for America, in the same year. In 1950, Saunders played Sergeant Ross in the television series Martin Kane, Private Eye from 1950 to 1952. He also played Captain J. Barker in The Phil Silvers Show.
In 1990, Saunders retired. He won a Los Angeles Drama Critic's Award, which he shared with his writing partner Frank Dwyer, in 2005.

## Death

Saunders died in August 2006 of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 92.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1952 | Bread of Freedom | | TV movie |
| 1959 | Keep in Step | Captain J. Barker | TV movie |
| 1966 | The Journey of the Fifth Horse | | TV movie |
| 1971 | Bananas | Douglas | |
| 1975 | Deadly Hero | | |
| 1978 | The Defection of Simas Kudirka | Soviet chairman | TV movie |
| 1981 | C.O.D. | T.B. Dumore | |
| 1983 | Daniel | Jail Doctor | |
| 1987 | Invisible Thread | General | TV movie |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1947–1948 | Kraft Television Theatre | | 3 episodes |
| 1949 | The Boris Karloff Mystery Playhouse | | 1 episode |
| 1949–1951 | The Philco Television Playhouse | | 4 episodes |
| 1949 | The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre | Leonard Vole | 1 episode |
| 1950 | Lights Out | | 1 episode |
| 1950–1954 | Martin Kane, Private Eye | Sgt. Ross | 16 episodes |
| 1953 | Campbell Summer Soundstage | | 1 episode |
| 1954 | Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers | | 1 episode |
| 1955 | The World of Mr. Sweeney | | 1 episode |
| 1956–1959 | The Phil Silvers Show | Captain J. Barker | 30 episodes |
| 1956 | Chevron Hall of Stars | | 1 episode |
| 1960–1961 | Naked City | Holman/George Herner | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Peter Loves Mary | Captain Morgan | 1 episode |
| 1961 | The Law and Mr. Jones | Hayward | 1 episode |
| 1961 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Suzhinski/Schmidt | 2 episodes |
| 1961 | Route 66 | George Slocum | 1 episode |
| 1962 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Lt. Cushman | 2 episodes |
| 1963 | Espionage | Colonel G | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Defenders | Inspector Harding | 1 episode |
| 1965 | For the People | The Foreman | 1 episode |
| 1966–1967 | The Jackie Gleason Show | General Goronsky/Judge John J. Fenton | 2 episodes |
| 1970 | All My Children | Chief Bradley (1080) | 1 episode |
| 1984 | As the World Turns | Justice | 1 episode |