Martin Kingsley

Martin Kingsley was a successful supporting actor of stage, radio, television and screen for a relatively short period, from 1947 until 1957. Martin was born Martin Kornhauser in Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn, NY on December 14, 1925, the first born son of Harry A. (a native of Hungary) and Sadye R. Weiss Kornhauser. Martin was raised in Brooklyn. He had one sister, Edna, perhaps six years his junior. Martin entered the U.S. Army after he became of draft age, perhaps in early 1944, and served in Third Army Headquarters in France. During the closing days of the war while on active duty, Martin volunteered for an acting role, playing the gangster Trock, in the overseas G.I. production of 'Winterset,' under the Broadway director Guthrie McClintic. It was McClintic who would later provide Martin his first acting job after Martin was discharged from military service. Martin began his professional acting career in the Broadway stage production of Antony and Cleopatra (1947), directed by McClintic, playing the part of Dercetas (and later Menas) with Katharine Cornell. He next played the part of Kurtz in the Broadway stage production of Red Gloves (1948) with Charles Boyer. For the next seven years Martin played roles in more than 200 live New York television productions, including episodes in Suspense, Police Story, Robert Montgomery Presents, Cosmopolitan Theater, Colgate Theater, Philco Studio One, Campbell Soundstage, and Broadway Television Theater where Martin had a starring role as Erwin Trowbridge in "Three Men on a Horse" (1952). For a time, Martin also starred as Captain John Howard in his weekly radio drama "Sentenced" aired over the Mutual Broadcasting network. During that same period, Martin toured with summer and winter stock stage productions where he played a variety of roles opposite well known stage, TV and screen actors of that era such as José Ferrer, Mary Anderson, Brian Aherne, Peggy Ann Garner Paula Laurence, Buff Cobb Buster Keaton, Signe Hasso, Shelley Winters Sam Levene, Sylvia Sidney, Diana Barrymore, Ann Thomas, Orson Bean, Vincent Price, Maureen Stapleton, and Ruth Hussey. In 1953, Martin received second billing in his first known film for TV with James Dean in one episode of No Room (1953). In 1956, Martin was again called to Hollywood where he played supporting roles in Gunslinger (1956) with John Ireland, and in The Oklahoma Woman (1956) with Richard Denning, Mike Connors and Peggie Castle. He was also filmed in two television episodes, for 20-20 (1956) with James Arness and Dennis Weaver; and in Press Photographer (1956). In February 1956, while Martin was working in Hollywood, his father in Brooklyn developed serious medical problems and would later undergo two major surgeries. Because of this, Martin was compelled to returned to his parent's home in Brooklyn and to immediately take over the business his father had founded: "Edmark Gowns - Makers of Kornhauser Originals:" a successful high end fashion line that was marketed nationwide. On April 15, 1956 Martin wrote to his wife, Polly, from Brooklyn saying, "Seems to me my parents seem prouder of what I accomplished in the last two days than of anything I've done in the last 32 years. And this was child's play compared to what I had to do the last ten - believe me. It was more difficult for me to get one television job than to go through three months of what I accomplished there. But, at the same time, it was satisfying and I think the effect on future operations will be salutary." Martin had abandoned his acting career; and for the next sixteen years, he traveled the country from his homes in New Your and in New Jersey selling Edmark Gowns. During the mid 1970s Martin sold or closed Edmark Gowns, sold the home in Montclair, NJ that he had once shared with his wife Polly and their daughter Claudia, and relocated to Claremont, CA, 35 miles east of Hollywood. At that time, Martin and his wife were separated, and Martin was living alone. From Claremont Martin reportedly pursued roles and producer opportunities in the movie and TV industry while working part time in various sales jobs. As of August 11, 2010, nothing is known of Martin's TV and film career beyond 1956. Martin eventually lost his contacts within the industry he loved, fell into poor health and died September 30, 1997 at Montclair (near Claremont), CA at age 71.