# Sherwood Price

Frank Sherwood Gell (April 4, 1928 – January 13, 2020) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing General J. E. B. Stuart in the American historical television series The Gray Ghost.

## Early life

He was born Frank Sherwood Gell in Detroit, Michigan, to Louis and Freida Gell, Jewish immigrants from Imperial Russia who had come to the US as young children. He had one sibling, an older sister. His parents had different first languages (Russian and Yiddish); he grew up speaking only English. His father owned a butcher shop. His parents divorced while Price was still a child. His mother remarried, and Price was raised by her and his step-father Herman Glassman, a clothing salesman.
Price attended Central High School in Detroit, taking the commercial curriculum rather than college prep. While still in high school he registered for the draft on April 4, 1946, his eighteenth birthday. The registrar recorded him as being 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 132 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He worked as a dishwasher, theater usher, and gas station attendant to earn money for drama school.

## Early stage career

Price enrolled at the Schuster-Martin School of Drama in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati during August 1947. He spent one year studying then joined the school's Little Playhouse Company after graduation. He performed in five plays during 1948–1949, using "Sherwood Gell" for billing.
He then joined the Piper Players national touring company in their Oklahoma City debut, where he handled both acting and production chores. The Piper Players hit a cash crisis and found their only money maker was doing children's matinees of Little Red Riding Hood, which they played around the country. When the tour he was with reached the Warner Hollywood Theatre, Price decided to remain and left the company, moving in with his married older sister and her family.
By 1952 he had adopted the stage name "Sherwood Price". He was managing a movie theater in Sherman Oaks when he performed in his first film, Scorching Fury.
His first known stage credit under his new billing came in May 1953, when he played the lead in the Showcase Theater production of Detective Story, earning high praise from the LA Times drama critic.

## Tustin Playbox

During July 1953 Price took the role of the psychoanalyst in the play Lady in the Dark with the Tustin Playbox company. It was his first work with this community theatre, which he would be associated with for many years. Also in this play was professional Jacquelyn Sue Browne, then billed as "Cathy Browne", but who would later switch to Kathie Browne. Price and Cathy Browne took over as co-producers for the third summer season (1954) of the Tustin Playbox, while continuing to act in performances. Browne was very popular with the Tustin audiences, and so often played the female lead.
For the next four years Browne and Price successfully co-produced the Playbox, with each season bringing in larger audiences, including television stars and producers who hired them for screen roles based on their stage performances. The Los Angeles Times noted that the Playbox was actually making money, a rare event for community summer stock. The ailing Laguna Playhouse even recruited the couple to take over producing chores there as well for the 1957 season.
By the 1959 season Sherwood Price Productions assumed sole control of the Tustin Playbox, while Browne's performances there tapered off in favor of her growing screen career. However, for the 1960 season Price overextended himself financially by opening a second troupe in Fullerton, California, causing both to be attached in July by creditors.

## Television and other projects

Price's first television work came in the fall of 1955. Mark Stevens arranged for Price to have a role in an episode of the series in which he was starring, Big Town, after seeing him at Tustin. The next year, John Bromfield of Sheriff of Cochise did the same, after watching Price in The Tender Trap at the Playbox Price had parts in three other TV series in 1956, and small uncredited bits in two films, The Revolt of Mamie Stover and the misleadingly titled D-Day the Sixth of June.
Despite the press of activity managing the Tustin Playbox, Price plunged into a recurring role on the series The Gray Ghost. Filmed during late spring of 1957 in Northern California, Price played General J.E.B. Stuart for seven episodes.

## Later screen career

Price then played Pete Hallon in the 1959 film City of Fear, which starred Vince Edwards.
Price played Gus Romay in the 1961 film Blueprint for Robbery, which starred J. Pat O'Malley. He guest-starred in television programs including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, Highway Patrol, Perry Mason, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Mannix, 77 Sunset Strip, Cheyenne, Death Valley Days, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Have Gun - Will Travel, and Wagon Train. Price had a recurring role as Owen Carter in the medical drama television series Ben Casey. He also played Lt. Edgar Hackett in the 1968 film Ice Station Zebra, which starred Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan and Jim Brown. In 1969, Price starred with Robert Vaughn in the play The Odd Couple at the Sir John Falstaff Theater in St. Louis, Missouri. He played Felix Unger.
Price died in January 2020, at the age of 91.

## Personal life

After a summer working together, Cathy Browne and Price announced their engagement in September 1953. They were wed November 22, 1953, at the Chapman Park Hotel in Los Angeles.
In his 2008 memoir, A Fortunate Life, actor Robert Vaughn describes Price as his "lifelong best friend". They were also business partners, making documentaries through their Ferdporqui production company.

## Stage performances

Performances only, see Tustin Playbox for plays as producer :
| Year | Play | Role | Venue | Notes |
| 1948 | The Hasty Heart | Blossom | Schuster-Martin Playhouse | War drama from 1945 by John Patrick; Price was only non-veteran in cast |
| 1948 | The Front Page | | Schuster-Martin Playhouse | As with all his credits prior to 1952, he was billed as "Sherwood Gell" |
| 1948 | Treasure Island | Jim Hawkins | Schuster-Martin Playhouse | Price had the lead in this Little Playhouse Company adaptation |
| 1949 | You Can't Take It With You | | Schuster-Martin Playhouse | |
| 1949 | The Time of Your Life | | Schuster-Martin Playhouse | |
| 1950 | Boy Meets Girl | | Vogue Theater (OKC) | His first play with the Piper Players |
| 1950 | George Washington Slept Here | | Vogue Theater (OKC) | |
| 1950 | Wuthering Heights | (Production) | Vogue Theater (OKC) | Price did only business and production for this small cast play |
| 1950 | Curse You, Villain! | | Vogue Theater (OKC) | A melodrama revival played for laughs |
| 1950 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | | Vogue Theater (OKC) | |
| 1950 | Dear Ruth | | Criterion Theater (OKC) | |
| 1950 | Little Red Riding Hood | | Touring Company | The Piper Players, low on cash, were reduced to playing this children's matinee |
| 1953 | Detective Story | Det. McLeod | Showcase Theater (LA) | His first known stage credit as "Sherwood Price" |
| 1953 | Lady in the Dark | Dr. Brooks | Tustin Playbox | His first play at Tustin also starred Cathy Browne |
| 1953 | Miranda | Paul Marten | Tustin Playbox | Price and Cathy Browne played the leads in this Peter Blackmore comedy |
| 1953 | Caesar and Cleopatra | Apollodorus | Tustin Playbox | Tony Carbone and Cathy Browne played the leads |
| 1953 | Brigadoon | | Tustin Playbox | Price's supporting role was praised by the Los Angeles Times reviewer |
| 1954 | Petticoat Fever | Sir James Felton | Tustin Playbox | Price and Cathy Browne played the leads in this 1935 Mark Reed comedy |
| 1954 | The Country Girl | Frank Elgin | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1954 | Bell, Book and Candle | Nicholas Holroyd | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1955 | Bertha the Beautiful Typewriter Girl | Villain | Tustin Playbox | Early melodrama played for laughs |
| 1955 | The Milky Way | Gabby Sloan | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1955 | Night Must Fall | Dan | Tustin Playbox | Price plays the suspected killer opposite Cathy Brown's "Olivia Grayne" |
| 1956 | Born Yesterday | Paul Verrall | Tustin Playbox | Robert Vaughn directed, Cathy Browne played female lead |
| 1956 | The Tender Trap | Charlie Reader | Tustin Playbox | Cathy Browne directed this play |
| 1957 | Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? | Michael Freeman | Laguna Playhouse | With Roxanne Arlen, Jack Grinnage, Robert Cornthwaite, Tommy Vize and Brad Trumbull |
| 1957 | Bus Stop | Will Masters | Tustin Playbox | With Doreen Porter, Melora Conway, and Brad Trumbull |
| 1958 | Boy Meets Girl | Minor characters | Tustin Playbox | Price played a succession of outlandish minor characters |
| 1958 | Dial M for Murder | Swann/Captain Lesgate | Tustin Playbox | Price plays the criminal killed by Browne's character |
| 1958 | Anniversary Waltz | Chris Steelman | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1958 | Charley's Aunt | Lord Fancourt Babberly | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1959 | The Matchmaker | Cornelius Hackl | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1959 | Tunnel of Love | Dick Pepper | Tustin Playbox | |
| 1969 | The Odd Couple | Felix Unger | (St. Louis) | Robert Vaughn co-starred in this production |

## Filmography

Film (by year of first release) :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1952 | Scorching Fury | Ward Canepa | His first billing as "Sherwood Price". It is doubtful whether this film was ever distributed to theatres or exhibited. |
| 1956 | The Revolt of Mamie Stover | Sailor | An uncredited role |
| 1956 | D-Day the Sixth of June | American Officer | Another uncredited role |
| 1957 | 5 Steps to Danger | | Uncredited role as one of many killers after Sterling Hayden |
| 1959 | City of Fear | Pete Hallon | Price and Cathy Browne's only movie together was filmed in early spring 1958 |
| 1961 | Blueprint for Robbery | Gus Romay | Ensemble effort, filled with TV character actors and no stars |
| 1963 | The Man from Galveston | George Taggart | The pilot for the Temple Houston TV series, released to theaters instead |
| 1964 | The Patsy | Bellboy | A cameo appearance, in a film filled with them |
| 1968 | Ice Station Zebra | Lt. Edgar Hackett | |
| 1995 | Last of the Dogmen | Tracker | Price's last known performing credit |
Television (in original broadcast order) :
| Year | Series | Episode | Role | Notes |
| 1955 | Big Town | Juvenile Gangs | | Price's first known TV credit came from being spotted by Mark Stevens at the Tustin Playbox |
| 1956 | I Led 3 Lives | Dead Man | Comrade Adams | |
| 1956 | Navy Log | Sacrifice | Russ Carter | This starred Phil Tead, with Carleton Young, William Tracy, and Leonard Nimoy |
| 1956 | Frontier | | | Both Price and Browne were in this unknown episode from summer 1956 |
| 1956 | Sheriff of Cochise | | | Star John Bromfield asked for Price after seeing him at Tustin Playbox |
| 1957 | Wire Service | | | Price and Browne had husband-wife roles in this unknown episode with Mercedes McCambridge |
| 1957 | Navy Log | Ito of Attu | G.I. | |
| 1957 | Dragnet | The Big Yak | | |
| 1957 | The Gray Ghost | An Eye for an Eye | Gen. Jeb Stuart | The only recurring role for Price, filmed in Northern California |
| 1957 | The Gray Ghost | Horses for Stuart | Gen. Jeb Stuart | |
| 1957 | The Eve Arden Show | | | Price made this unknown episode in between plays at Tustin and Laguna |
| 1958 | The Gray Ghost | Sealed Orders | Gen. Jeb Stuart | |
| 1958 | The Gray Ghost | The Escape | Gen. Jeb Stuart | |
| 1958 | Turn of Fate | The Days of November | | Korean War story with Jack Lemmon, Adam Williams, Nick Dennis, Don Kelly, and Jimmy Goodwin |
| 1958 | The Gray Ghost | The Rivals | Gen. Jeb Stuart | |
| 1958 | The Gray Ghost | Secret and Urgent | Gen. Jeb Stuart | |
| 1958 | The Gray Ghost | The Gallant Foe | Gen. Jeb Stuart | |
| 1958 | Decision | Man on a Raft | Intern | Another series where star Mark Stevens asked for Price |
| 1962 | Lawman | The Doctor | Will Evans | |