# George Petrie (actor)

George O. Petrie (November 16, 1912 – November 16, 1997) was an American radio and television actor.

## Early years

Petrie was born on November 16, 1912, in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from the University of Southern California and served in the Army during World War II.

## Stage

Petrie's career began on stage. In 1938 he portrayed attorney George Simon in a Federal Theatre Project production of Counsellor-At-Law. His Broadway credits include The Girl from Wyoming (1938), Jeremiah (1939), The Night Before Christmas (1941), Mr. Big (1941), Cafe Crown (1942), Army Play-by Play (1943), Winged Victory (1943), and Brighten the Corner (1945).
In 1974 Petrie returned to the stage after a 12-year absence when he co-starred in Stag at Bay, produced by the Florida State University School of Theater.

## Radio

Petrie started in radio drama, including playing the title roles in Charlie Wild, Private Detective and in The Adventures of the Falcon. He played Bill Grant in Call the Police and appeared on programs such as the syndicated horror program Murder at Midnight in 1947 and the recurring role of DA Markham in the syndicated Philo Vance radio series from 1948 to 1950.

## Film

Petrie's film credits include At Sword's Point (1952), Baby Boom (1987), and Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987).

## Television

Petrie portrayed prosecuting attorney Pete Quinn on The Edge of Night for more than a decade. On The Honeymooners, he had recurring character roles throughout the series. He played Eddie Haskell's father in season 6 of Leave it to Beaver. He appeared on the prime-time soap opera Dallas and the 1996 sequel TV movie Dallas: J.R. Returns, in the recurring role of Ewing family attorney Harv Smithfield.
Other television credits include: Rawhide; 77 Sunset Strip; Alfred Hitchcock Presents; The Twilight Zone; The Andy Griffith Show; Perry Mason; Dr. Kildare; Bonanza; The Addams Family; The Munsters; The Wild Wild West; Hawaii Five-O; Little House on the Prairie; Ironside; Combat!; Maude; Gunsmoke; The Paper Chase; Three's Company; Cagney & Lacey; Dynasty; Quincy, M.E.; Knight Rider; St. Elsewhere; Wiseguy; Night Court; Gomer Pyle, USMC; Mad About You; L.A. Law and Who's the Boss.

## Death

Petrie died of lymphoma on his 85th birthday in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Patricia, had two children.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1944 | Winged Victory | Barker | |
| 1947 | Boomerang | Harry O'Shea, Public Defender | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Swiss Tour | Sidney | |
| 1952 | At Sword's Point | Chalais | |
| 1962 | Gypsy | George | |
| 1963 | Hud | Joe Scanlon | |
| 1963 | Wall of Noise | Mr. Tom Harrington | |
| 1964 | Dead Ringer | Eddie Krauss | Uncredited |
| 1964 | He Rides Tall | Crowley | |
| 1968 | What's So Bad About Feeling Good? | Bolton | Uncredited |
| 1976 | Raid on Entebbe | Chaim Zadok | TV movie |
| 1977 | Telefon | Hotel Desk Clerk | |
| 1978 | The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2 | Doctor in Los Angeles | |
| 1981 | Goldie and the Boxer Go to Hollywood | Frank | TV movie |
| 1983 | Wavelength | Dr. Savianno | |
| 1987 | Baby Boom | Everett Sloane | |
| 1987 | Planes, Trains and Automobiles | Martin | |
| 1992 | Folks! | Sammy | |

## Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1961 | Rawhide | Deputy | Season 4 Episode 4: "Judgment at Hondo Seco" |
| 1963 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Detective Rogers | Season 1 Episode 26: "An Out for Oscar" |
| 1963 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Henry | Season 2 Episode 11: "How to Get Rid of Your Wife" |