CLAUDE AKINS - DOCUMENT SIGNED CIRCA 1959 - HFSID 173214

CLAUDE AKINS
He signs this letter of agreement regarding Hound Dog Man
Typed Document signed: "Claude Akins" in blue ink, 1p, 8½x11. Beverly Hills, California, circa July 1959. On letterhead of The Mishkin Agency to 20th Century Fox, Beverly Hills, regarding Hound Dog Man. Akins informs the studio that he has authorized the Mishkin Agency to accept delivery of any and all checks and sums of money payable to him. In Hound Dog Man (1959), a screen vehicle for teenage rock star Fabian, Akins was cast a hillbilly. A versatile character actor, Claude Akins (1918-1994) made a great villain, but could also adeptly occupy both sympathetic and comic roles. He began his stage career at age 5, continued with drama in high school, and joined acting stock companies while studying at Northwestern University. After serving in the Army Signal Corps during WWII, he landed a role on Broadway with Eli Wallach and Maureen Stapleton in The Rose Tattoo in 1951. He made his first film appearance in The Caine Mutiny (1954), following up this role with dozens more in movies such as Rio Bravo (1959), Inherit the Wind (1960), The Devil's Brigade (1968), The Night Stalker (1972), and Manhunt for Claude Dallas (1986). Featured in films for nearly 40 years, he also appeared frequently on TV, his jobs including the title role of Texas sheriff Lobo (1979-1981), as well as guest-starring appearances on Westerns such as Wagon Train sporadically from 1957 to 1961, The Big Valley in 1965, Gunsmoke sporadically from 1955 to 1972, and The Rifleman in 1958 and 1960. He also had guest spots on dramas such as The Twilight Zone in 1960 and 1962, and The Untouchables in 1960, 1962, and 1963. Dated "7-31-59" (unknown hand) at lower left-hand corner. Lightly creased. ½-inch separation at blank right margin at lower horizontal fold, two ¼-inch tears at blank left edge. 2 file holes at upper blank margin, which has ½-inch tear and pinhead-size hole at upper left. Otherwise, fine condition.