# Malcolm Atterbury > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Malcolm_Atterbury > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Malcolm_Atterbury.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Atterbury > Source revision: 1357046201 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American actor (1907–1992) Malcolm Atterbury Atterbury as Grandpa Aldon (right) with Apple's Way co-stars Ronny Cox and Frances Lee McCain Born (1907-02-20)February 20, 1907 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Died August 16, 1992(1992-08-16) (aged 85) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. Occupation Actor Years active 1954–1979 Spouse Ellen Ayres Hardies ​ (m. 1937)​ Children 3 **Malcolm MacLeod Atterbury** (February 20, 1907 – August 16, 1992) was an American stage, film, and television actor, and [vaudevillian](/source/Vaudeville). ## Early years and education A native of [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), Atterbury was the son of Malcolm MacLeod, Sr. and Arminia Clara (Rosengarten) MacLeod. He had an older sister, Elizabeth, a twin brother, Norman, and a younger brother, George Rosengarten MacLeod. After his father's death his mother remarried to General [William Wallace Atterbury](/source/William_Wallace_Atterbury),[1] president of [Pennsylvania Railroad](/source/Pennsylvania_Railroad). Through this marriage, he had a half-brother, William Wallace Atterbury Jr. He graduated from [The Hill School](/source/The_Hill_School) in [Pottstown, Pennsylvania](/source/Pottstown%2C_Pennsylvania).[2] In the mid-1930s, Atterbury decided to pursue a career in drama. He enrolled at [Hilda Spong's Dramatic School](/source/Hilda_Spong) using an assumed name. Later, after revealing his true identity, he went on to "finance a summer theater for the Hilda Spong Players at [Cape May](/source/Cape_May), and they, in turn, asked him to be their managing director."[3] ## Career ### Radio In 1928, Atterbury was the bass singer in a quartet that sang on WLIT in Philadelphia.[4] In 1930, he became the program director of a radio station in Philadelphia.[1] He went on to become business manager of [WHAT](/source/WHAT_(AM)).[2] ### Theatre Atterbury was a devoted theatre actor. He owned and operated two theatres in the [Adirondack Mountains](/source/Adirondack_Mountains) of [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), the Tamarack Playhouse in [Lake Pleasant, New York](/source/Lake_Pleasant%2C_New_York) and the Albany Playhouse Co. in [Albany](/source/Albany%2C_New_York).[5] He also appeared on Broadway in the original cast of *[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest](/source/One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo's_Nest_(play))*, as Scanlon. ### Film Atterbury is perhaps best known for his uncredited role in [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock)'s *[North by Northwest](/source/North_by_Northwest)* (1959), as the rural man who exclaims, "That plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops!" Four years later, Atterbury appeared as the deputy in Hitchcock's *[The Birds](/source/The_Birds_(film))* (1963). He further appeared in such films as *[I Was a Teenage Werewolf](/source/I_Was_a_Teenage_Werewolf)* (1957), *[Crime of Passion](/source/Crime_of_Passion_(1957_film))* (1957), *[Blue Denim](/source/Blue_Denim)* (1959), *[Wild River](/source/Wild_River_(film))* (1960), *[Advise and Consent](/source/Advise_and_Consent_(film))* (1962), and *[Hawaii](/source/Hawaii_(1966_film))* (1966). His last film was *[Emperor of the North](/source/Emperor_of_the_North)* (1973). ### Television Atterbury made frequent appearances on television. He was cast in five episodes of [CBS](/source/CBS)'s murder mystery series *[Perry Mason](/source/Perry_Mason_(1957_TV_series))* during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Three times he played the murderer. He played Sam Burris in the 1957 episode, "The Case of the Angry Mourner". His guest-starring roles included appearances on *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)*, *[The Twilight Zone](/source/The_Twilight_Zone)*, *[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)*, *[The Asphalt Jungle](/source/The_Asphalt_Jungle_(TV_series))*, *[Have Gun - Will Travel](/source/Have_Gun_-_Will_Travel)* (episode: "Shot by Request"), *[Wagon Train](/source/Wagon_Train)*, *[Window on Main Street](/source/Window_on_Main_Street)*, *[Straightaway](/source/Straightaway_(TV_series))*, *[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)*, *[Hazel](/source/Hazel_(TV_series))*, *[Kentucky Jones](/source/Kentucky_Jones)*, *The Odd Couple* (1970 TV series, episode: "A Barnacle Adventure"), *[The Rookies](/source/The_Rookies)*, *[The Sheriff of Cochise](/source/The_Sheriff_of_Cochise)*, *[The Fugitive](/source/The_Fugitive_(1963_TV_series))*, *[State Trooper](/source/State_Trooper_(TV_series))*, *[Rescue 8](/source/Rescue_8)*, *[Fury](/source/Fury_(American_TV_series))*, *[The Man from Blackhawk](/source/The_Man_from_Blackhawk)*, *[The Tall Man](/source/The_Tall_Man_(TV_series))*, *[The Invaders](/source/The_Invaders)* (episode: "The Trial") and *[The Andy Griffith Show](/source/The_Andy_Griffith_Show)* (episode: "The Cow Thief", 1962), *The Bob Newhart Show* (episode: "No Sale"). He had a rare regular role as Grandfather Aldon in the 1974–75 [CBS](/source/CBS) television family drama, *[Apple's Way](/source/Apple's_Way)*. ## Personal life Atterbury was married on February 6, 1937 to Ellen Ayres Hardies (1915–1994) of [Amsterdam, New York](/source/Amsterdam%2C_New_York), daughter of judge Charles E. Hardies Sr. and sister of Charles Hardies Jr., who later became [Montgomery County](/source/Montgomery_County%2C_New_York) district attorney.[2] ## Filmography - *[Dragnet](/source/Dragnet_(1954_film))* (1954) - Lee Reinhard - *[Man Without a Star](/source/Man_Without_a_Star)* (1955) - Fancy Joe Toole (uncredited) - *[The Rawhide Years](/source/The_Rawhide_Years)* (1955) - Luke, Paymaster (uncredited) - *[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)* (1956) (Season 1 Episode 27: "Help Wanted") as the Blackmailer - *[Silent Fear](/source/Silent_Fear)* (1956) - Dr. Vernon - *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)* (1956) - (twice) Seldon & Liveryman - *[The Lone Ranger](/source/The_Lone_Ranger_(1956_film))* (1956) - Phineas Tripp (uncredited) - *[Frontier](/source/Frontier_(1955_TV_series))* (1956) Season 1, Episode 19 *The Assassin* as Donley - *[The Steel Jungle](/source/The_Steel_Jungle)* (1956) - Mailman - *[Miracle in the Rain](/source/Miracle_in_the_Rain_(film))* (1956) - Special Delivery Man (uncredited) - *[Stranger at My Door](/source/Stranger_at_My_Door_(1956_film))* (1956) - Reverend Hastings - *[A Day of Fury](/source/A_Day_of_Fury)* (1956) - Gaunt Farmer (uncredited) - *[Crime in the Streets](/source/Crime_in_the_Streets)* (1956) - Mr. McAllister - *[Dakota Incident](/source/Dakota_Incident)* (1956) - Bartender / Desk Clerk - *[Johnny Concho](/source/Johnny_Concho)* (1956) - Milo, Mail Dispatcher (uncredited) - *[Storm Center](/source/Storm_Center)* (1956) - Frank (uncredited) - *[Toward the Unknown](/source/Toward_the_Unknown)* (1956) - Hank - Bell Technical Representative - *[Reprisal!](/source/Reprisal!)* (1956) - Luther Creel (uncredited) - *[Crime of Passion](/source/Crime_of_Passion_(1957_film))* (1957) - Police Officer Spitz - *[Slander](/source/Slander_(1956_film))* (1957) - Byron (uncredited) - *[Hot Summer Night](/source/Hot_Summer_Night_(film))* (1957) - Jim - Newspaper Man on Street (uncredited) - *[Fury at Showdown](/source/Fury_at_Showdown)* (1957) - Norris - *[I Was a Teenage Werewolf](/source/I_Was_a_Teenage_Werewolf)* (1957) - Charles Rivers - *[Valerie](/source/Valerie_(film))* (1957) - Sheriff - *[Blood of Dracula](/source/Blood_of_Dracula)* (1957) - Lieutenant Dunlap - *[The Walter Winchell File](/source/The_Walter_Winchell_File)* "The Witness" (1957) - Major Frank Spears - *[The Dalton Girls](/source/The_Dalton_Girls)* (1957) - Mr. Sewell, the Bank Manager - *[Perry Mason](/source/Perry_Mason_(1957_TV_series))* (1957) (Season 1 Episode 7: "The Case of the Angry Mourner") - Sam Burris - *[Too Much, Too Soon](/source/Too_Much%2C_Too_Soon)* (1958) - Older Attendant (scenes deleted) - *[The High Cost of Loving](/source/The_High_Cost_of_Loving)* (1958) - Harry Lessing (uncredited) - *[From Hell to Texas](/source/From_Hell_to_Texas)* (1958) - Hotel Clerk - *[No Time for Sergeants](/source/No_Time_for_Sergeants_(1958_film))* (1958) - Bus Driver with Applications (uncredited) - *[How to Make a Monster](/source/How_to_Make_a_Monster_(1958_film))* (1958) - Security Guard Richards - *[Badman's Country](/source/Badman's_Country)* (1958) - Buffalo Bill Cody - *[Rio Bravo](/source/Rio_Bravo_(film))* (1959) - Jake (Stage Driver) (scenes deleted) - *[The Twilight Zone](/source/The_Twilight_Zone)* (1959) (Season 1 Episode 3: ‘Mr. Denton on Doomsday’) - Henry J. Fate - *[High School Big Shot](/source/High_School_Big_Shot)* (1959) - Mr. Grant - *[North by Northwest](/source/North_by_Northwest)* (1959) - Man at prairie crossing (uncredited) - *[Blue Denim](/source/Blue_Denim)* (1959) - Marriage License Clerk (uncredited) - *[Hell Bent for Leather](/source/Hell_Bent_for_Leather_(film))* (1960) - Gamble - *[Wild River](/source/Wild_River_(film))* (1960) - Sy Moore - *[From the Terrace](/source/From_the_Terrace)* (1960) - George Fry - *[Route 66](/source/Route_66_(TV_series))* (1960) (Season 1 Episode 1: "Black November") - Bolton - *[Summer and Smoke](/source/Summer_and_Smoke_(film))* (1961) - Reverend Winemiller - *[Advise & Consent](/source/Advise_%26_Consent)* (1962) - Senator Tom August - *[The Birds](/source/The_Birds_(film))* (1963) - Deputy Al Malone - *[Cattle King](/source/Cattle_King)* (1963) - Abe Clevenger - *[Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre](/source/Bob_Hope_Presents_the_Chrysler_Theatre)*, episode:"A Killing at Sundial" (1963) - *[Seven Days in May](/source/Seven_Days_in_May)* (1964) - Horace - White House Physician (uncredited) - *[The Fugitive](/source/The_Fugitive_(1963_TV_series))* (1964) (Season 2 Episode 3: ‘Man on a String’) -Sheriff Mead - *[Joy in the Morning](/source/Joy_in_the_Morning_(film))* (1965) - Willis J. Calamus (uncredited) - *[The Fugitive](/source/The_Fugitive_(1963_TV_series))* (1966) (Season 3 Episode 20: ‘Stroke of Genius’) - Sheriff Bilson - *[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)* (1966) (Episode: 'The Unwritten Commandment') - Willard Walker - *[The Chase](/source/The_Chase_(1966_film))* (1966) - Mr. Reeves - *[Hawaii](/source/Hawaii_(1966_film))* (1966) - Gideon Hale - *[The Hardy Boys](/source/The_Hardy_Boys_(1969_TV_series))* (1969) - Clams Daggett - *[The Learning Tree](/source/The_Learning_Tree)* (1969) - Silas Newhall - *[Emperor of the North](/source/Emperor_of_the_North)* (1973) - Hogger - *[The Towering Inferno](/source/The_Towering_Inferno)* (1974) - Jeweler (uncredited) - *[The Bob Newhart Show](/source/The_Bob_Newhart_Show)* (1976) (Season 4 Episode 16: 'No Sale') – Mr. Arbogast - *[Police Story](/source/Police_Story_(1973_TV_series))* (1978) (Season 5 Episode 4: 'Day of Terror... Night of Fear') – Alfred Weiser - *[Quincy M.E.](/source/Quincy_M.E.)* (1978) (Season 4 Episode 8: 'No Way to Treat a Body') – Raymond Kaufman - *[Little House on the Prairie](/source/Little_House_on_the_Prairie_(TV_series))* (1979) (Season 6 Episode 13: 'The Angry Heart') - Brewster Davenport ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ht_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ht_1-1) ["Well-Known People"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5674007/harrisburg_telegraph/). *Harrisburg Telegraph*. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. April 11, 1930. p. 10. Retrieved June 23, 2016 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bde_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bde_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bde_2-2) ["Gilded Statue on Boro Stage Played by Gen. Atterbury's Son"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5674416/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/). *The Brooklyn Daily Eagle*. New York, Brooklyn. February 9, 1938. p. 16. Retrieved June 24, 2016 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Ross, George (June 25, 1936). ["In New York"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5674235/fitchburg_sentinel/). *Fitchburg Sentinel*. Massachusetts, Fitchburg. p. 6. Retrieved June 23, 2016 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Radio Programs: Philadelphia Stations"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5673953/delaware_county_daily_times/). *Delaware County Daily Times*. Pennsylvania, Chester. May 15, 1928. p. 11. Retrieved June 23, 2016 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Variety, May 12, 1948, p. 56 - [Pennsylvania portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Pennsylvania) - [California portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:California) - [Theatre portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Theatre) - [Film portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Film) - [Television portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Television) ## External links - [Malcolm Atterbury](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0041021/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [Malcolm Atterbury](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/6746%7C104140/wp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived) - [Malcolm Atterbury](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/99274) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database) Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States France BnF data Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Malcolm Atterbury](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Atterbury) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Atterbury?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.