Search a film or person :
FacebookConnectionRegistration
John Houseman is a Actor, Director, Scriptwriter, Producer and Editorial Manager British born on 22 september 1902 at Bucharest (Roumanie)

John Houseman

John Houseman
If you like this person, let us know!
Birth name Jacques Haussmann
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 22 september 1902 at Bucharest (Roumanie)
Death 31 october 1988 (at 86 years) at Malibu (USA)
Awards Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

John Houseman (born Jacques Haussmann; September 22, 1902 – October 31, 1988) was a Romanian-born British-American actor and film producer who became known for his highly publicized collaboration with director Orson Welles from their days in the Federal Theatre Project through to the production of Citizen Kane. He is perhaps best known for his role as Professor Charles Kingsfield in the film The Paper Chase (1973), for which he won a best supporting actor Oscar. He reprised his role as Kingsfield in the subsequent television series adaptation of The Paper Chase. Houseman was also known for his commercials for the brokerage firm Smith Barney. He had a distinctive Mid-Atlantic English accent, in common with many actors of his generation.

Biography

Houseman was born in Bucharest, Romania on September 22, 1902, the son of May (née Davies) and Georges Haussmann, who ran a grain business. His mother was British, from a Christian family of Welsh and Irish descent. His father was an Alsatian-born Jew. He was educated in England at Clifton College, became a British subject, and worked in the grain trade in London before emigrating to the United States in 1925, where he took the stage name of John Houseman. He became a United States citizen in 1943. Houseman died at age 86 of spinal cancer on October 31, 1988 at his home in Malibu, California.

Best films

Three Days of the Condor (1975)
(Actor)
Rollerball (1975)
(Actor)
Citizen Kane (1941)
(Writer)
Julius Caesar (1953)
(Producer)
The Paper Chase (1973)
(Actor)
The Bad and the Beautiful (1953)
(Producer)

Usually with

Orson Welles
Orson Welles
(4 films)
John Berry
John Berry
(3 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of John Houseman (43 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Scrooged
Scrooged (1988)
, 1h41
Directed by Richard Donner
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Fantastic, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Fantasy
Themes Christmas films, Films about television, Time travel films, Ghost films
Actors Bill Murray, Karen Allen, Robert Mitchum, John Forsythe, John Glover, Bobcat Goldthwait
Roles Self
Rating68% 3.449343.449343.449343.449343.44934
Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a successful but cynical television programming executive for the IBC network headquartered in New York City. He has demanded the network put on a extravagant live production of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve to seize the ratings opportunity, forcing the network's staff including his direct assistant Grace Cooley (Alfre Woodard) to work on the holiday. When some of his decisions are questioned, he fires timid yes-man Eliot Loudermilk (Bobcat Goldthwait) on the spot. Frank's boss Preston Rhinelander (Robert Mitchum) takes the liberty of hiring an assistant for Frank, Brice Cummings (John Glover), who is transparently after Frank's job. Hours before the show is set to start, Frank is alone in his office when he is visited by the ghost of his mentor Lew Hayward (John Forsythe), who warns him of the errors of his ways and that three ghosts will visit him over the course of the night. Before he leaves, Lew causes Frank's phone to call Claire Phillips (Karen Allen), Frank's true love who he had foregone when he became a television executive. Claire comes to visit Frank, but finds him too busy with preparations for the show, though leaves him the address of the homeless shelter that she helps out at.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, 1h25
Directed by David Zucker
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Comedy thriller, Action, Crime
Themes Political films, Films about royalty
Actors Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy, Nancy Marchand, Justin Timberlake
Roles Driving Instructor (uncredited)
Rating75% 3.7967153.7967153.7967153.7967153.796715
In Los Angeles, Officer Nordberg attempts to bust a heroin drug operation at the docks organized by Vincent Ludwig, and is shot by Ludwig's henchmen. After being briefed on the case by his boss, Captain Ed Hocken, Police Squad Lieutenant Frank Drebin visits Nordberg in the hospital. Nordberg provides cryptic clues, including a picture of Ludwig's ship on which the deal had been organized. Frank meets with police scientist Ted Olsen, who has invented a cufflink that shoots a tranquilizer dart. Frank learns through Ted that Nordberg's jacket tested positive for heroin. Police Squad is in charge of security for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Los Angeles, and Ed tells Frank that he has 24 hours to clear Nordberg before word gets out about what happened and detracts from the queen's visit. Frank visits Ludwig in his office. Ludwig learns that Nordberg is still alive. Ludwig has his assistant, Jane Spencer, assist Frank in his investigation and the two fall in love. Jane is unaware of her employer's illegal activities.
Another Woman, 1h18
Directed by Woody Allen
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller
Themes Films about families
Actors Gena Rowlands, Ian Holm, Mia Farrow, Gene Hackman, Blythe Danner, Betty Buckley
Roles Marion's Father
Rating71% 3.5962653.5962653.5962653.5962653.596265
Marion Post (Gena Rowlands) is a New York philosophy professor past the age of 50 on a leave of absence to write a new book. Due to construction work in their building, she sublets a furnished flat downtown to have peace and quiet.
Bright Lights, Big City, 1h47
Directed by James Bridges
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Medical-themed films, Films about drugs
Actors Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates, Frances Sternhagen, Swoosie Kurtz, Tracy Pollan
Roles Mr. Vogel
Rating57% 2.8509552.8509552.8509552.8509552.850955
Originally from Pennsylvania, Jamie Conway (Michael J. Fox) works as a fact-checker for a major New York magazine, but because he spends his nights partying with his glib best friend (Kiefer Sutherland) and his frequent cocaine abuse, he's on the verge of getting fired by his boss, Clara Tillinghast (Frances Sternhagen). His wife Amanda, a fast-rising model (Phoebe Cates), just left him; he's still reeling from the death of his mother (Dianne Wiest) a year earlier; and he's obsessed with a tabloid story about a pregnant woman in a coma. The movie captures some of the glossy chaos and decadence of the New York nightlife during the 1980s and also its look at a man desperately trying to escape the pain in his life.
A.D. (miniseries), 5h
Directed by Stuart Cooper
Genres Drama, Historical
Actors Anthony Andrews, Colleen Dewhurst, Ava Gardner, David Hedison, John Houseman, Richard Kiley
Roles Gamaliel
Rating71% 3.5840053.5840053.5840053.5840053.584005
The story tells the life histories about Saint Peter and Paul of Tarsus after the crucifixion of Jesus, and their individual fates in old Rome in the time of the persecution of Christians. Events in the New Testament Book of Acts by Luke and in the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius are dramatized and interwoven with the contrasting histories of political intrigues in the public and private lives of the Caesars from Tiberius through Nero related in The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius, together with the fictional drama of the lives of two Jews and two Romans: Caleb the Zealot and his sister Sarah, and Julius Valerius the Imperial Guard and Corinna the patrician woman who has chosen to be a gladiator.
Ghost Story, 1h50
Directed by John Irvin
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Horror
Themes Ghost films
Actors Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Houseman, Alice Krige, Craig Wasson
Roles Sears James
Rating62% 3.1479453.1479453.1479453.1479453.147945
The plot is taken from the novel of the same name by Straub, but greatly changes and simplifies it.
The Fog
The Fog (1980)
, 1h29
Directed by John Carpenter
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Ghost films
Actors Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Houseman, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, Tom Atkins
Roles Mr. Machen
Rating67% 3.3992753.3992753.3992753.3992753.399275
As the Californian coastal town of Antonio Bay is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary, paranormal activity begins to occur at the stroke of midnight. Town priest Father Malone is in his church when a piece of masonry falls from the wall, revealing a cavity containing an old journal, his grandfather's diary from a century ago. It reveals that in 1880, six of the founders of Antonio Bay (including Malone's grandfather) deliberately sank and plundered a clipper ship named the Elizabeth Dane. The ship was owned by Blake, a wealthy man with leprosy who wanted to establish a leper colony nearby. Gold from the ship was used to build Antonio Bay and its church.
My Bodyguard, 1h36
Directed by Tony Bill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Children's films
Actors Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin, Matt Dillon, Martin Mull, Ruth Gordon, Joan Cusack
Roles Dobbs
Rating70% 3.5453553.5453553.5453553.5453553.545355
Clifford Peache (Chris Makepeace) lives in an upscale Chicago luxury hotel with his father (Martin Mull), who manages the hotel, and his eccentric but loving grandmother (Ruth Gordon). Clifford spends his nights with his family relaxing on the rooftop patio and spying on the neighbors through a telescope. He is the new kid at Lake View High School, where he arrives in a hotel limousine.
Wholly Moses, 1h43
Directed by Gary Weis
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Themes Films about religion
Actors Dudley Moore, Laraine Newman, James Coco, Paul Sand, Jack Gilford, Dom DeLuise
Roles The Archangel
Rating47% 2.3558752.3558752.3558752.3558752.355875
A couple of tourists, Harvey and Zoey, discover a lost scroll from the Book of Herschel, evidently someone who received commandments from God, only to have Moses take all the credit.
A Christmas Without Snow, 1h35
Directed by John Korty
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical, Romance
Themes Christmas films, Musical films, Films based on plays
Actors Michael Learned, John Houseman, Ramon Bieri, James Cromwell, Valerie Curtin, Ruth Nelson
Roles Ephraim Adams
Rating57% 2.8576452.8576452.8576452.8576452.857645
A divorcee, Zoe Jensen (Michael Learned), moves to San Francisco from Omaha in an effort to rebuild her life. She has reluctantly left her young son back home with his grandmother until she is more financially secure. She joins a local church choir which has just gained a new, demanding choirmaster-- retired music conductor Ephraim Adams (John Houseman). Adams challenges the choir to dramatically improve, creating discomfort for some of the members, particularly when he sets the high goal of performing Handel's Messiah for a Christmas concert. Meanwhile, the choir overcome personal setbacks as they all deal with personal issues.
The Babysitter, 1h36
Directed by Peter Medak
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller
Actors William Shatner, Patty Duke, Stéphanie Zimbalist, John Houseman, Quinn Cummings, David Wallace
Roles Dr. Lindquist
Rating56% 2.8048852.8048852.8048852.8048852.804885
Dr. Jeff Benedict (Shatner) and his wife Liz (Duke Astin) have relocated to Seattle from Chicago. They have a 12-year old daughter Tara (Cummings), and Liz feels that she needs some help with childcare and housekeeping. She happens to meet an 18-year old girl named Joanna Redwine (Zimbalist). Without consulting her husband, Liz hires Joanna as a live-in nanny. She weans Tara off of TV and engages her in outdoor activities.
Old Boyfriends, 1h43
Directed by Joan Tewkesbury
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Talia Shire, Richard Jordan, Keith Carradine, John Belushi, John Houseman, P. J. Soles
Roles Dr. Hoffman
Rating57% 2.8960252.8960252.8960252.8960252.896025
This script must be run from the command line
The Cheap Detective, 1h32
Directed by Robert Moore
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Comedy thriller, Crime
Actors Peter Falk, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan
Roles Jasper Blubber
Rating63% 3.198213.198213.198213.198213.19821
Lou Peckinpaugh (Peter Falk), a bumbling San Francisco private detective, tries to prove himself innocent of his partner's murder while helping a bizarre array of characters recover a lost treasure. The film spoofs Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, Chinatown, and To Have and Have Not. The scene in the restaurant with Peckinpaugh and Pepe Damascus mocks the opening scene of The Big Sleep.
St. Ives
St. Ives (1976)
, 1h34
Directed by J. Lee Thompson
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Action, Crime, Romance
Actors Charles Bronson, Jacqueline Bisset, Maximilian Schell, John Houseman, Harry Guardino, Harris Yulin
Roles Abner Procane
Rating61% 3.0964053.0964053.0964053.0964053.096405
Abner Procane hires Raymond St. Ives, a crime reporter and ex-policeman, to return five ledgers stolen from his safe.