Whit Bissell

New York-born actor Whit Bissell is best known to Star Trek fans for playing Lurry on the second season episode . Footage of his scenes were later incorporated into the fifth season episode . Bissell filmed his scenes on Thursday and Friday at Desilu Stage 10.
Bissell was certainly no stranger to the science fiction genre. One of Bissell's more memorable roles is that of Dr. Alfred Brandon in in 1957. He later went on to play Walter Kemp in George Pal's version of in 1960. And while Original Series was in its first season, Bissell was a regular on , where coincidentally he played a lieutenant general named "Kirk". The series also starred Deep Space Nine actor James Darren and Original Series guest star Lee Meriwether. 
Besides The Time Tunnel, Bissell was also a regular on the 1950s sitcom . That series also featured Original Series guest star Jeanne Bal.
Bissell appeared in several motion pictures which also included other actors who were involved with Star Trek. Earlier in his career, he co-starred in (1948, with Original Series actor DeForest Kelley and guest actor Jeff Corey). Bissell later went on to appear with Kelley in (1957), (1959), and (1964). Bissell and Jeff Corey had previously appeared together in (1946), (1946), and (1947). The two later co-starred together in (1951).
In 1956, Bissell appeared in the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers in a minor uncredited role as a hospital psychiatrist who interviews the film's main star . When the film was remade in 1978, Bissell's character was greatly expanded and played by Leonard Nimoy. 
Bissel also appeared in (1959, with George Takei) He was also in Frank Sinatra's (1962, with Reggie Nalder, Leslie Parrish, and James Gregory. In 1964, Bissell had a supporting role in (1973, featuring Leonard Nimoy). Unlike Bissell, neither Takei nor Nimoy were credited for their appearances. In 1965, Bissell appeared in , which also featured Deep Space Nine guest actor Brian Keith.
He and Original Series star William Shatner later appeared in (1970, with Ian Wolfe and Harry Townes). Bissell also had a role in (1972, with Deep Space Nine actor René Auberjonois). Bissell also appeared in (1973, co-starring Deep Space Nine actor Brock Peters. He also appeared in , which was directed by Joseph Pevney.
Bissell appeared in many other notable films, including (1954, featuring Roy Jenson and Don Keefer), (1955), (1960, featuring Joseph Ruskin and John A. Alonzo), (1962, featuring Pete Kellett and Leo Penn), and (1963). He also made guest appearances on numerous television series, from and to and The Incredible Hulk. In 1994, he received a Life Career Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films for his work with those genres.
Bissell died of Parkinson's disease on 5 March 1996 in Woodland Hills, California. He was 86 years old. He left behind a legacy that included some three hundred film and television appearances.
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