George Cisar was a remarkably prolific American actor whose illustrious career spanned an impressive period of over two decades, during which he effortlessly demonstrated his remarkable versatility by convincingly portraying a vast array of complex and diverse characters in both film and television. His truly impressive repertoire consisted of an astonishing total of over one hundred distinct roles, many of which were featured in prominent and influential Hollywood productions.
Cisar's nascent acting career began with a stint in the short-lived police drama Stand By for Crime, a television series that premiered in 1949, where he had the opportunity to share the screen with a young and up-and-coming Mike Wallace.
Throughout the duration of his extensive and storied career, Cisar consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to effortlessly slip into a wide range of roles, often taking on background parts with aplomb.
He frequently found himself portraying characters that were quintessential to the fabric of everyday life, including policemen, bartenders, and other everyday individuals, showcasing his impressive range and versatility as an actor.
Between the years 1960 and 1963, Cisar portrayed the iconic character of Sgt. Theodore Mooney in a total of thirty-one episodes of the highly acclaimed and beloved CBS sitcom, Dennis the Menace.
It is worth noting that his co-star in the series, Gale Gordon, would later assume the same name, "Theodore Mooney", but with a middle initial "J", for his character, Theodore J. Mooney, a no-nonsense and tough-minded banker on Lucille Ball's second sitcom, The Lucy Show.
George Cisar's remarkable adaptability as an actor was demonstrated through his captivating performance as the father of Donald Hollinger in the beloved sitcom That Girl, which aired on ABC, showcasing his impressive range and ability to bring depth to his characters. Furthermore, his notable roles in CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and its spin-off series Mayberry, R.F.D. as Cyrus Tankersley, underscored his talent for playing memorable characters that left a lasting impression on audiences.
Cisar's cinematic journey commenced with an uncredited cameo in the 1948 crime thriller, Call Northside 777, a film that marked the beginning of his foray into the world of filmmaking. This was swiftly followed by a credited role in the 1949 drama, Johnny Holiday, a performance that showcased his burgeoning talent as an actor. Decades later, Cisar's film career came full circle with his final appearance on the big screen, where he played the role of Joe, a charismatic barber, in the 1970 Southern racial drama, tick...tick...tick....
Noted American actor George Cisar, a talented thespian whose illustrious career spanned many years, sadly succumbed to mortality at the ripe age of sixty-six, leaving in his wake a treasure trove of unforgettable performances that continue to captivate and delight audiences to this very day, a testament to his enduring legacy and the lasting impact he had on the world of entertainment.
