Harve Presnell, 75, Actor With Two Careers
"[T]rained as an opera singer, [he] brought an imposing physical presence - he stood 6 feet 4 inches - and a resplendent voice to the Broadway stage, delivering a star-making performance as Leadville Johnny Brown in The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Unfortunately, "his triumphant debut led to unsatisfactory film roles and a somewhat stunted career appearing in national tours of Broadway musicals" until the "Coen brothers gave him a second Hollywood career as a character actor when they cast him in Fargo in 1996. That role led to a series of meaty film parts, including Gen. George C. Marshall in Saving Private Ryan." New York Times 07/02/09

Posted July 2, 2009 09:34 PM