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Charles Drake

Many actors are forced to struggle for years before they land their big break, and many work a variety of day jobs only to find their way into the entertainment industry by accident. When New York City native Charles Drake graduated from Massachusetts-based Nichols College, he took up a job as a salesman. In 1939, he shifted gears and worked his way into a contract with Warner Brothers Studios. When his career didn't take off--resulting in mostly uncredited performances--his Hollywood dreams were even further delayed by a military stint in World War II. In 1945, with his service behind him, Drake headed back to Hollywood, but his situation looked bleak with an expired contract and no prospects. He did find a role in 1946 with the (appropriately) World War II-themed Marx Brothers comedy "A Night in Casablanca." But his true breakout came in 1950, appearing alongside James Stewart in the quirky, Oscar-winning comedy-fantasy "Harvey" as Dr. Sanderson. From that point on, the roles were varied and plentiful, including gigs in films like the 1953 cult-classic sci-fi horror film "It Came from Outer Space" and the 1954 James Stewart-starring music biography, "The Glenn Miller Story." Throughout the '60s and '70s (and briefly into the '80s), Drake mainly focused on one-off TV appearances--with nothing approaching the classic status of his earlier roles. But with a career spanning six decades, he more than left his mark.