Brad Olson

Brad Olson was a professional actor--a member of SAG, AFTRA and Actors Equity--with 35 years of professional experience, beginning in the Theatre Arts Department of Texas University. His extensive theater background includes leading and principal roles in approximately 400 plays, ranging from classical theater to musical comedy, appearing with Arthur Treacher, Uta Hagen, Basil Rathbone, Diana Barrymore, Mae West and Alan Alda, among others. He acted and directed at Margo Jones Theatre, performed at National Classic Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse and Theatre-By-The-Sea, later touring extensively as a principal with The John Kenley Players. His TV appearances include guest-starring roles on such shows as The Andy Griffith Show (1960), The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1951), Manhunt (1959), Stage 13 (1950) and Danger (1950), among others. He has made 24 Class "A" commercials, which have been shown on such early series as Studio One in Hollywood (1948), The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956) and Westinghouse Preview Theatre (1961). He has been a television announcer, radio announcer, hosted symphonic broadcasts and wrote program notes, hosted his own symphonic program and created other music formats and copy, as well as news broadcasts. "To Ricki - With Pride" series, with Eddie Dowling. He was a comedy writer for Paul Lynde on The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965). He operated his own photography studio and darkroom, doing professional portrait photography, and was published in Bazaar and Vogue magazines. He was an expert marksman, horseman and, early on, professional jazz musician. He enjoyed writing songs, plays and working on a book in his spare time. He is survived by a daughter who is following in her father's footsteps to become an actor and a singer.