Arthur Franz, a tough, sturdy character actor whose work included over 100 credits in film and television, died of heart failure and emphysema on June 17 in Oxnard, California. He was 86.

He was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on February 29, 1920. He became interested in acting while still in high school, after some radio experience, he began his film career with the action programmer Jungle Patrol (1948) and within a year, he scored as the narrator for the John Wayne vehicle Sands of Iwo Jima (1949). Always worth watching, Franz's no-nonsense demeanor and strong baritone gave weight to some lively cult films in the '50s: Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951); his terrific performance as the jilted spree killer in Edward Dmytryk's exciting The Sniper (1952); the probing scientist in William Cameron Menzies' glorious Invaders From Mars (1953); The Caine Mutiny (1954); one of Fritz Lang's last fine films Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956); and The Young Lions (1958).

Franz also turned to television at the time, which led to many live production shows: The Ford Television Theatre, Robert Montgomery Presents, Kraft Television Theatre, Studio One. By the '60s, he was augmenting two mediums with appearances in hit shows: Perry Mason, Bonanza, Gunsmoke; and films: The Carpetbaggers (1964), Alvarez Kelly (1966).

In the '70s, his distinguished presence was welcomed in some high-end television movies: a superb Congressman Halleck in the widely lauded The Missiles of October (1974), The Amazing Howard Hughes (1976), and The Last Hurrah (1977). His final big screen credit was in the movie adaptation of Jason Miller's Broadway smash That Championship Season (1982). He is survived by his wife, Sharon; daughters, Gina Martenson and Melissa Franz; and son, Michael.

by Michael T. Toole