Kelly Thordsen

Kelly Thordsen (19 January 1917 –– 23 January 1978 ) was an American film and television actor active during the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s. He is known for his roles in Laramie (1959-1963), Shenandoah (1965), and Bonanza (1962-1967). He starred in thirty films from 1956 to 1974 and appeared in over 80 television productions from 1957 to 1977.

Kelly Thordsen was born Sherman Jess Thordsen on January 19, 1917, in Deadwood, South Dakota.

His rich television résumé is made up of several portrayals of secondary characters in various television series, including "Colorado Charlie" in 5 episodes of the Yancy Derringer series in 1959, "Sheriff Ward Vincent" in three episodes of the Perry Mason series from 1961 to 1963, and numerous other minor characters in many episodes of television series from the 50s to the 70s.

His film career boasts several appearances with various roles including those of "Harold 'Hal' Loder" in The Fearmakers (1958), "Ab" in Gunpoint (1966), and Sheriff L.D. Wicker in The Parallax View (1974).

His last role on the television screen was that of "Harrison Cole" for the Switch series starring in the episode "The Hemline Heist," aired on February 27, 1977. His last feature film was director Alan J. Pakula's 1974 thriller The Parallax View.

Thordsen was married to his wife Lucille Ruby Baumgardner from 27 September 1936 until his death in January 1978.

Thordsen died in Sun Valley, California on January 23, 1978, and was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.