Everett Sloane, a renowned actor, is most famously known for his portrayal of Mr. Bernstein in Orson Welles' masterpiece, Citizen Kane (1941),as a member of Welles' esteemed Mercury Players. Born on October 1, 1909, in New York, New York, Sloane's fascination with acting began at a remarkably young age.
By the time he was seven years old, Sloane was already gracing the stage, and after completing high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania before ultimately dropping out to pursue his passion for acting. He joined a theatrical stock company, but was disheartened by poor personal reviews, leading him to return to New York City, where he worked as a runner on Wall Street.
Following the Stock Market Crash of October 1929, Sloane turned to radio for employment as an actor, leveraging his distinctive voice to secure steady work. He even became the voice of Adolf Hitler in "The March of Time" serials. Sloane made his Broadway debut in 1935 as part of George Abbott's company in "Boy Meets Girl," followed by another notable performance in "All That Glitters" in 1938.
Eventually, Sloane joined Welles' Mercury Theatre, appearing in the 1941 stage production of Richard Wright's "Native Son," directed by Welles. Prior to this, Welles had cast Sloane as Mr. Bernstein in his first feature film, cementing Sloane's immortality in the world of cinema. Sloane remained a Mercury Player until 1947, when he appeared as Bannister in Welles' The Lady from Shanghai (1947).
Outside of his two iconic supporting roles for Welles, Sloane's reputation rests on his portrayal of Walter Ramsey, a ruthless corporate executive, in the TV and screen adaptations of Rod Serling's Patterns (1956). In Jack Gould's January 17, 1955, review of the TV program, which debuted on Ponds Theater (1953),Sloane's performance as Ramsey was praised for bringing depth and dimension to a potentially one-dimensional character.
Sloane's impressive range was further showcased through his extensive work on television, where he appeared in numerous productions, directed several episodic-TV programs, and lent his voice to the cartoon series The Dick Tracy Show (1961) and Jonny Quest (1964). Despite his many accomplishments, Sloane struggled with failing eyesight and depression, ultimately leading him to take his own life at the age of 55.
