Oscar nominee Sydney Greenstreet was born December 27, 1879. The British-born stage star did not make his Hollywood debut until age 61, but he made his mark in a big way (no pun intended) as the villainous Fat Man of The Maltese Falcon. The turn earned Greenstreet an Academy Award nomination and kicked off a screen career that saw him co-star with Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Joan Crawford, and Claude Rains among others. Greenstreet made only 24 films, but many are classics, including Casablanca and The Hucksters.
In 1950, Greenstreet came to NBC in the title role of The New Adventures of Nero Wolfe. Greenstreet lent his distinctive voice (and frame) to Rex Stout’s “gargantuan gourmet,” orchid enthusiast, and private detective. A favorite of Wolfe’s creator, Greenstreet starred in 26 episodes from 1950 to 1951. Unfortunately, the series ended after that single season, and Greenstreet died from complications of diabetes and Bright’s disease in 1954.
In honor of his birthday, I’ll post some of Sydney Greenstreet’s radio performances, including some of his Nero Wolfe episodes. For more old time radio detectives and crime fighters, click here to subscribe to the “Down These Mean Streets” podcast.
I had no idea he did a Nero Wolfe show! I wonder if it’s available anywhere. Sydney Greenstreet was a fantastic actor and he is wonderfully sinister and funny in The Maltese Falcon.
I’ve heard some of these – I recommend the ones that have
Harry Bartell* as Archie.
*AKA the announcer for The
New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes who kept working the sponsor, Petri Wine,
into his banter with Dr. Watson in the framing scenes.
Mooncustafer 