Hal Bates, Simon Oakland (center at table) and various members of the Hollywood Press Club. (Other identifications appreciated.)
Simon Oakland (August 28, 1915 – August 29, 1983) was an American actor of stage, screen, and television.
Oakland made his
film debut as the "tough, but compassionate"
journalist who speaks up for
Susan Hayward's Barbara Graham in
I Want to Live! in 1958. Oakland would wind up playing this
type often over the course of his career.
He went on to play a long series of tough guy
types, usually in positions of authority, most notably in
Psycho, in which he plays the psychiatrist who explains
Norman Bates's
multiple personality disorder. He also appeared in
West Side Story,
Bullitt, and the
science fiction television series
Kolchak: The Night Stalker. He made two guest appearances on
CBS's
Perry Mason, both times as the murder victim. He also appeared in the
syndicated crime drama,
Decoy, starring
Beverly Garland. Oakland appeared once each on the CBS western,
Dundee and the Culhane and in another syndicated crime drama series,
Sheriff of Cochise, starring
John Bromfield. Oakland played General Thomas Moore on
NBC's
Baa Baa Black Sheep, starring
Robert Conrad.
