Martin Kingsley(1925-1997)
- Actor
Martin Kingsley was a successful supporting actor of stage, radio,
television and screen for a relatively short period, from 1947 until
1957. Martin was born Martin Kornhauser in Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn,
NY on December 14, 1925, the first born son of Harry A. (a native of
Hungary) and Sadye R. Weiss Kornhauser. Martin was raised in Brooklyn.
He had one sister, Edna, perhaps six years his junior. Martin entered
the U.S. Army after he became of draft age, perhaps in early 1944, and
served in Third Army Headquarters in France. During the closing days of
the war while on active duty, Martin volunteered for an acting role,
playing the gangster Trock, in the overseas G.I. production of
'Winterset,' under the Broadway director
Guthrie McClintic.
It was McClintic who would later provide Martin his first acting job
after Martin was discharged from military service. Martin began his
professional acting career in the Broadway stage production of Antony
and Cleopatra (1947), directed by McClintic, playing the part of
Dercetas (and later Menas) with
Katharine Cornell. He next played the
part of Kurtz in the Broadway stage production of Red Gloves (1948)
with Charles Boyer. For the next
seven years Martin played roles in more than 200 live New York
television productions, including episodes in Suspense, Police Story,
Robert Montgomery Presents, Cosmopolitan Theater, Colgate Theater,
Philco Studio One, Campbell Soundstage, and Broadway Television Theater
where Martin had a starring role as Erwin Trowbridge in "Three Men on a
Horse" (1952). For a time, Martin also starred as Captain John Howard
in his weekly radio drama "Sentenced" aired over the Mutual
Broadcasting network. During that same period, Martin toured with
summer and winter stock stage productions where he played a variety of
roles opposite well known stage, TV and screen actors of that era such
as José Ferrer,
Mary Anderson,
Brian Aherne,
Peggy Ann Garner
Paula Laurence,
Buff Cobb
Buster Keaton,
Signe Hasso,
Shelley Winters
Sam Levene,
Sylvia Sidney,
Diana Barrymore,
Ann Thomas,
Orson Bean,
Vincent Price,
Maureen Stapleton, and
Ruth Hussey. In 1953, Martin received second
billing in his first known film for TV with
James Dean in one episode of
No Room (1953).
In 1956, Martin was again called to Hollywood where he played
supporting roles in Gunslinger (1956)
with John Ireland, and in
The Oklahoma Woman (1956) with
Richard Denning,
Mike Connors and
Peggie Castle. He was also filmed in two
television episodes, for
20-20 (1956)
with James Arness and
Dennis Weaver; and in
Press Photographer (1956).
In February 1956, while Martin was working in Hollywood, his father in
Brooklyn developed serious medical problems and would later undergo two
major surgeries. Because of this, Martin was compelled to returned to
his parent's home in Brooklyn and to immediately take over the business
his father had founded: "Edmark Gowns - Makers of Kornhauser
Originals:" a successful high end fashion line that was marketed
nationwide. On April 15, 1956 Martin wrote to his wife, Polly, from
Brooklyn saying, "Seems to me my parents seem prouder of what I
accomplished in the last two days than of anything I've done in the
last 32 years. And this was child's play compared to what I had to do
the last ten - believe me. It was more difficult for me to get one
television job than to go through three months of what I accomplished
there. But, at the same time, it was satisfying and I think the effect
on future operations will be salutary." Martin had abandoned his acting
career; and for the next sixteen years, he traveled the country from
his homes in New Your and in New Jersey selling Edmark Gowns. During
the mid 1970s Martin sold or closed Edmark Gowns, sold the home in
Montclair, NJ that he had once shared with his wife Polly and their
daughter Claudia, and relocated to Claremont, CA, 35 miles east of
Hollywood. At that time, Martin and his wife were separated, and Martin
was living alone. From Claremont Martin reportedly pursued roles and
producer opportunities in the movie and TV industry while working part
time in various sales jobs. As of August 11, 2010, nothing is known of
Martin's TV and film career beyond 1956. Martin eventually lost his
contacts within the industry he loved, fell into poor health and died
September 30, 1997 at Montclair (near Claremont), CA at age 71.