Ed Platt, a talented character actor, was born on Valentine's Day, 1916, in Staten Island, New York, to a family with a rich musical heritage. His mother's side of the family instilled in him an appreciation for music, which would later influence his career choices.
Ed spent part of his childhood in Kentucky and upstate New York, where he attended Northwood, a private school in Lake Placid, and was a member of the ski jump team. He later majored in romantic languages at Princeton University but left after a year to study at the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, with hopes of pursuing an operatic career.
However, Ed's early career took a different turn. He began as a band vocalist with Paul Whiteman and Orchestra, then sang bass with the Mozart Opera Company in New York. He also appeared in operettas with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, performing in productions such as "The Mikado," "The Gondoliers," and "The Pirates of Penzance."
World War II interrupted Ed's early career, and he served as a radio operator with the army. After the war, he found himself back on radio, where his deep, resonant voice proved ideal. He also landed musical comedy roles, including a stint on Broadway in the 1947 musical "Allegro."
In the 1950s, Ed appeared in a number of stage productions, including "The Shrike" on Broadway, where he caught the attention of José Ferrer. Ferrer invited Ed to Hollywood, where he recreated his stage role in the 1955 film version of "The Shrike." Ed also earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of a juvenile officer in the classic film "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955).
This led to a plethora of film and TV support offers, where Ed made fine use of his dark, rich voice, stern intensity, and pragmatic air. He portrayed a range of characters, from professionals and prosecutors to mobsters and murderers, in crime yarns, soap dramas, and war pictures.
After years of playing serious roles, Ed finally had the opportunity to focus on comedy as "The Chief" to Don Adams' klutzy secret agent on the popular TV series "Get Smart" (1965). The show developed a cult following, and Ed picked up a few occasional guest spots in its aftermath.
Ed was married twice and had four children. He died on March 19, 1974, at the age of 58, due to a massive heart attack. However, his son later revealed that Ed had actually taken his own life due to acute depression and financial pressures.
