# Ned Wever

Ned Wever (born Edward Hooper Weaver; April 27, 1902 – May 6, 1984) was an actor on stage and on old-time radio. Garyn G. Roberts wrote in his book, Dick Tracy and American Culture: Morality and Mythology, Text and Context, "Wever's most famous role was probably that of H.C. McNeile's British detective and adventurer Bulldog Drummond for the program of the same name."

## Early life

The son of a New York attorney, Wever was born on April 27, 1902, in New York City. He graduated from the Pawling School and Princeton University, where he was president of the Triangle Club dramatic organization in his senior year and was a member of the staff of The Daily Princetonian newspaper and the Nassau Literary Magazine.

## Radio

Wever's roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below.
| Program | Role |
| Betty and Bob | Al Bishop |
| Big Sister | Jerry Miller$^{:40}$ |
| Bulldog Drummond | Bulldog Drummond |
| Dick Tracy | Dick Tracy |
| Her Honor, Nancy James | District Attorney |
| Kate Hopkins, Angel of Mercy | Tom Hopkins$^{:187}$ |
| Lady Counsellor | Tony Howard |
| Little Italy | Nicholas$^{:202}$ |
| Lora Lawton | Peter Carver$^{:206}$ |
| Two on a Clue | Jeff Spencer |
| Under Arrest | Captain Jim Scott$^{:344-345}$ |
| Valiant Lady | Colin Kirby$^{:346}$ |
| Young Widder Brown | Anthony Loring |
He also had leads on True Detective, The True Story Hour, Angel of Mercy and Manhattan Mother and was heard frequently on The Wonder Show, Grand Central Station, Perry Mason and The Cavalcade of America.

## Stage

Wever's initial professional stage work came with Stewart Walker's stock theater company in Indianapolis, Indiana. His Broadway credits include Days to Come (1936), The Second Little Show (1930) and The Grab Bag (1924).

## Musical composition

In his book, The Great Radio Soap Operas, Jim Cox called Wever "as talented a musician as he was an actor". Cox added, "He composed show tunes for Broadway productions featuring Billy Rose and Ed Wynn." Wever's compositions included "Spellbound", "I Can't Resist You", "Trouble in Paradise" and "Trust in Me".

## Television

Wever was credited with more than 70 appearances on television programs, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Get Smart and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.

## Selected filmography

* Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 22: "The End of Indian Summer") as Saunders
* Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 31: "The Night the World Ended") as Joe
* Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962) (Season 7 Episode 34: "The Twelve Hour Caper") as Hargis

## Personal life

Wever and his wife, Carla, had two daughters, Patricia and Pamela.

## Death

Wever died of heart failure May 6, 1984, in a convalescent home in Laguna Hills, California.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1957 | Slaughter on Tenth Avenue | Captain Sid Wallace | |
| 1957 | The Joker Is Wild | Dr. Pierson | Uncredited |
| 1958 | High School Confidential | Police Commissioner Walter Burroughs / Narrator | Uncredited |
| 1958 | The Fiend Who Walked the West | Prosecutor Coyne | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Ride a Crooked Trail | Attorney Clark | |
| 1958 | Some Came Running | Smitty | |
| 1959 | The Shaggy Dog | FBI Chief E.P. Hackett | |
| 1959 | These Thousand Hills | Link Gorham | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Anatomy of a Murder | Dr. Raschid | |
| 1959 | The Big Fisherman | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1960 | One Foot in Hell | Royce City Official | Uncredited |
| 1961 | Tammy Tell Me True | Dr. Stach | |