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Burt Mustin

Prolific character actor Burt Mustin didn't make his screen debut until he was 67 years old. A longtime salesman, Mustin got a taste for the performing arts when he began hosting a radio variety show in his hometown of Pittsburgh in 1921. From there, he tried his hand at theater and became a member of the Pittsburgh Savoyards, a theater troupe known for their Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Though Mustin wasn't much of a singer, he was unquestionably an asset to the group, as his character roles garnered rave reviews. Mustin moved to California in the 1950s and soon made his way into film and television. He quickly became a fixture in both, appearing in nearly 170 productions over the next 25 years. Despite a long list of one-off roles and quirky recurring characters, Mustin is best remembered as Gus the Fireman on the long-running family comedy "Leave It to Beaver." The beloved and diligent character actor made his final onscreen appearance in 1976 in the family-friendly Western "Baker's Hawk." After a career that crossed the United States, took him to stage and screen, and introduced him to countless stars, Burt Mustin died in 1977. He was 92 years old.