Roy Jenson

Canadian American actor and football player (1927–2007) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roy Cameron Jenson (also spelled Jensen; February 9, 1927 – April 24, 2007) was a Canadian-American actor, stunt performer, and Canadian football player.[3]

Born
Roy Cameron Jenson

(1927-02-09)February 9, 1927
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
DiedApril 24, 2007(2007-04-24) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OthernamesRoy Jensen
AlmamaterUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Roy Jenson
Jenson in Every Which Way but Loose (1978)
Born
Roy Cameron Jenson

(1927-02-09)February 9, 1927
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
DiedApril 24, 2007(2007-04-24) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesRoy Jensen
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
OccupationsActor, stuntman, Canadian football player
Years active1951–1999
Spouses
  • Barbara Dionysius
​
(m. 1964)​
Children3, including Sasha Jenson
RelativesGeorge Jenson (brother)[1][2]
Military career
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Navy
ConflictsWorld War II
Football career
Profile
PositionsG, LB
Personal information
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
CollegeUCLA
Career history
1951–55Calgary Stampeders
1956–57BC Lions
Awards and highlights
  • CFL All-Star (1954)
Close

Early life and education

Jenson was born in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a child. His brother was visual effects artist George Jenson.[4] He was a lumberjack and a construction worker before he joined the United States Navy during World War II.[5]

After the war he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played football.[6]

Professional football career

Jenson was selected during the 1951 CFL draft, taken by the Calgary Stampeders.[7] He played five seasons with the Stampeders as a Guard.[8] He was a CFL All-Star in 1954. While still playing for the Stampeders, Jenson was recruited as a stuntman for the Calgary-shot Hollywood film River of No Return.[3]

In 1955, he was traded to the BC Lions, where he played for two seasons.[9] He retired at the end of the 1957 season.

Acting career

Film

After retiring from football he moved back to Los Angeles, where he found regular work as a stunt performer. Following a well-received role as a thug in Harper (1966), starring Paul Newman, he began to work regularly as an actor.[3]

A prolific character actor, Jenson appeared in such films as The Missouri Traveler, Warlock, 13 Ghosts, How the West Was Won, Waterhole No. 3, Our Man Flint, Big Jake, Bustin' Loose, Soylent Green, The Getaway, The Way We Were, The Outfit and Chinatown.

He also worked frequently with directors John Milius (Dillinger, The Wind and the Lion, Red Dawn) and Clint Eastwood (Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Gauntlet, Every Which Way but Loose, Any Which Way You Can, Honkytonk Man), as well as actor Geoffrey Lewis.[10]

As a stuntman, he notably doubled for Robert Mitchum,[4] Richard Egan, and Aldo Ray.

Television

Jenson guest starred on NBC's television series Daniel Boone during the fourth season (1968–1969); however, he is remembered by many as the first man beaten up by Caine on the television series Kung Fu (1972), for his appearance in the Star Trek episode "The Omega Glory"[11] and as the thug Puddler in Harper, he worked frequently in television in the 1970s and 1980s.

He also appeared in 1966 as “Troy” (a murdering outlaw) in S12E2's “Goldtakers” on the TV Western Series Gunsmoke.

He also appeared in 1967 as “Dace Edwards” (a ranch hand) in S3E6's “Ladykiller” on the TV Western Series The Big Valley.

He also appeared in episodes 11 and 12 of Batman in 1966, was the English newspaper printer in Season 5, Episode 136–2 of Bonanza, appeared in an episode of The Silent Force in 1970, and in 1976 guest-starred in an episode of Gibbsville.

Personal life

Jenson was married twice. His second marriage was to Serbian actress Marina Petrova. He had three children, including actor Sasha Jenson.[12]

Death

Jenson died of cancer in Los Angeles, California, aged 80.[3][12]

Filmography

Film

Television

  • Not for Hire (1959) – episode – The Hunting License
  • Wagon Train (1959) – episode – The Estaban Zamora Story – Watkins (uncredited)
  • Peter Gunn (1959) – episode – The Lederer Story – Dutch
  • Wagon Train (1959) – episode – The Greenhorn Story – Bully (uncredited)
  • Yancy Derringer (1959) – episode – Longhair – Capt. MacBain (credited as “Roy Jensen”)
  • Bonanza (1959) – episode – The Magnificent Adah – Sledge (uncredited)
  • Peter Gunn (1960) – episode – The Long Green Kill – Frank Garrett
  • Perry Mason (1961) – episode – The Case of the Malicious Mariner – Officer
  • Peter Gunn (1961) – episode – The Murder Bond – Regan
  • Bonanza (1963) – episode – The Prime of Life – Jesse Wade
  • Rawhide (1964) – episode – Incident of the Odyssey – Bit Part (uncredited)
  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) – episode – The Vulcan Affair – Assassin (uncredited)
  • Bonanza (1965) – episode – Five Sundowns to Sunup – Gang Member (uncredited)
  • Bonanza (1965) – episode – The Brass Box – Harry
  • Daniel Boone (1965) – episode – The Trek – Jensen
  • Laredo (1966) – episode – That's Noway, Thataway – Brawler (uncredited)
  • T.H.E. Cat Episode 1 (1966) – Stavic
  • I Spy (1966) – episode – It's All Done with Mirrors – Tate
  • Batman (1966) – episodes – A Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away & When the Rat's Away, the Mice Will Play – Whitey
  • Daniel Boone (1966) – episode – The High Cumberland: Parts 1 & 2 – Cash Doyle
  • Gunsmoke (1966) – episode – The Goldtakers – Troy
  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1967) – episode – The Prince of Darkness Affair: Parts I & II – Carl
  • The Invaders (1967) – episode – The Mutation – Alien #1
  • I Spy (1967) – episode – Magic Mirror – Roschovsky
  • The Andy Griffith Show (1967) – episode – Andy's Investment – Trooper Leroy Miller
  • Hondo (1967) – episode – Hondo and the Judas – Bob Ford
  • Mannix (1967) – episode – Catalogue of Sins – Duane Toohey
  • The Virginian (1968) – episode – The Storm Gate – Lueders
  • Star Trek (1968) – episode – The Omega Glory – Cloud William
  • Mission: Impossible (1968) – episode – The Killing – Connie
  • Daniel Boone (1968) – episode – Hero's Welcome – Luke
  • I Spy (1968) – episode – Tag, You're It – Abrams
  • Gunsmoke (1968) – episode – Railroad – Larnen
  • Gunsmoke (1968) – episode – The Victim – Crow
  • Bonanza (1969) – episode – The Wish – Craig
  • Daniel Boone (1969) – episode – The Road to Freedom – Crane Hawkins
  • The High Chaparral (1970) – episode – The Guns of Johnny Rondo – Jed Tate
  • Gunsmoke (1970) – episode – The Scavengers – Rath
  • Gunsmoke (1970) – episode – The Badge/II – Keller
  • The F.B.I. (1970) – episode – The Dealer – Lobb McCoy
  • Bearcats! (1971) – pilot movie – Powderkeg – Briggs
  • Nichols (1971) – episode – The One Eyed Mule's Time Has Come – Bull
  • Mannix (1971) – episode – The Man Outside – First Man
  • Bonanza (1972) – episode – Forever – Mr. Hanley
  • Cannon (1972) – episode – Murder by Moonlight – Swede
  • Kung Fu (1972) – episode – Pilot – Fuller
  • Kung Fu (1973) – episode – Superstition – Rupp
  • Movin' On (1974) – episode – In Tandem – Attendant (uncredited)
  • Mannix (1974) – episode – Trap for a Pigeon – Ozzie
  • Gunsmoke (1974) – episode – The Colonel – Jeff Higgins
  • Kojak (1976) – episode – Dead Again – Frank Kelton
  • Little House on the Prairie (1976) – episode – The Bully Boys – George Galender
  • Barnaby Jones (1976) – episode – Silent Vendetta – Hastings
  • How the West Was Won (1977) – episode – Episode #1.1 – Sergeant Macklin
  • Quincy, M.E. (1977) – episode – The Hero Syndrome – Jake Hennafy
  • The Rockford Files (1977) – episodes – The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Parts 1 & 2 – Winchell
  • Charlie's Angels (1978) – episode – Mother Angel – Max
  • Vega$ (1979) – episode – Classic Connection – First Assistant
  • Fantasy Island (1979) – episode – Goose for the Gander/The Stuntman – Snuffy Harris
  • How the West Was Won (1979) – TV miniseries – episode – The Slavers – Trako
  • The Dukes of Hazzard (1980) – episode – The Great Santa Claus Chase – Lacey
  • Simon & Simon (1982) – episode – The Hottest Ticket in Town – Nelson
  • Bret Maverick (1982) – episode – Dateline: Sweetwater – Monte
  • Quincy M.E. (1983) – episode – Guilty Until Proven Innocent – Dade
  • Simon & Simon (1983) – episode – D.J., D.O.A. – Tony
  • Magnum, P.I. (1986) – episode – One Picture Is Worth – Jack Wilkins
  • Knight Rider (1986) – episode – The Scent of Roses – Purdue
  • Kung Fu: The Movie (1986) – TV Movie – Warehouse Foreman
  • Dallas (1986) – episode – Return to Camelot: Part 1
  • Simon & Simon (1987) – episode – Desperately Seeking Dacody – Trucker Fred
  • Simon & Simon (1987) – episode – Tanner, P.I. for Hire – Artie Pike
  • Police Story: The Watch Commander (1988) – TV movie – Kearns

Stuntman

Note: Jenson went uncredited as a Stuntman in all the films he did.

References

External links

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