Actor Allan Rich - a podcast by 103.7 NNJ (WNNJ-FM)

Allan Rich (birthname Benjamin Schultz) was born in the Bronx in 1926 and knew he wanted to be an actor when he was five years old. He appeared in several Broadway shows in the 1940s including a memorable play with Claude Rains called "Darkness at Noon."

In the mid-forties, Allan led a Theatrical Action Committee to free Willie McGee, a black man from Mississippi who had been convicted of rape in 1945 and subsequently electrocuted in 1951. Allan's devotion to civil rights led to accusations of involvement with the Communist Party, and in time, landed him on a Hollywood blacklist.

Ostracized from show business, he found work on Wall Street and worked as an art dealer before landing sporadic film and TV roles in the Sixties. In 1973, Allan played district attorney Herman Tauber alongside Al Pacino in "Serpico" and from there, his career took off. Allan's filmography on IMDB lists nearly 150 roles, including appearances on "All in the Family," "Barney Miller," "Happy Days," "Two Broke Girls," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and dozens more. Mr. Rich has simply had an amazing acting career. And I loved talking to him.

This program was recorded at the Actors Fund home in Englewood, New Jersey. Big thanks to Allan's daughter Marian Rich who allowed me the opportunity to interview her dad. Marian even stepped in a couple times during the interview to help Allan with recollections of his remarkable career.

Further episodes of Talk to Me with Gary Cee

Further podcasts by 103.7 NNJ (WNNJ-FM)

Website of 103.7 NNJ (WNNJ-FM)