About
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lyle S. Bettger (February 13, 1915 – September 24, 2003) was a character actor known most for his Hollywood roles from the 1950s, typically portraying villains. He is perhaps most recognisable as the wrathfully jealous elephant handler Klaus from the Oscar winning film The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lyle was the son of Frank Bettger, who was an infielder for the St Louis Cardinals. An enthusiastic fan of cinema, Lyle left school in his late teens with the ambition of becoming an actor. Bettger graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. His theatrical debut was in Brother Rat at the Biltmore Theatre in New York City in 1936. After a period languishing in small-time theatre he landed the lead role in the Broadway production of The Flying Gerardos in 1940. When Paramount sent a talent...
Known for
Hawaii Five-OSeries • 1969
MannixSeries • 1967
Combat!Series • 1962
The RiflemanSeries • 1958
Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreSeries • 1956
Daniel BooneSeries • 1964
RawhideSeries • 1959
Burke's LawSeries • 1963
Kraft Suspense TheatreSeries • 1963
GunsmokeSeries • 1955
LaramieSeries • 1959
Police StorySeries • 1973
Mr. NovakSeries • 1963
The Time TunnelSeries • 1966
The 20th Century Fox HourSeries • 1955
The DuPont Show with June AllysonSeries • 1959
The DeputySeries • 1959
The Tall ManSeries • 1960
Lux Video TheatreSeries • 1950
Law of the PlainsmanSeries • 1959
Cimarron StripSeries • 1967
Gunfight at the O.K. CorralMovie • 1957
The Greatest Show on EarthMovie • 1952
DestryMovie • 1954