JAN MERLIN
"Roger Manning" Space Cadet
Born:
New York City, April 3, 1925
Education:
P.S.15, Grace Church Choir School For Boys, (which served as Jan's Church for his marriage as well as for the recent marriage of David Ducovony of the X-files) and Stuyvesant High School.
Military Service:
Enlisted in US Navy April, 1942. Served as a destroyer torpedoman until April 1946 on
the USS TERROR-CM5, the USS BULLARD-DD660, and the USS GAINARD-DD706, honorably discharged.
Medals and Ribbons:
Career Movement:
Studied acting at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City and made Broadway debut in MISTER ROBERTS..after two years left the show to play 'Roger Manning' in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
Left Tom Corbett after three years and approximately 550 live television and 50 radio shows to resume acting in theatre by appearing as Brandon in the play ROPE, for which he received raves from the New York critics brave enough to attend an Off Broadway Show in a cabaret theatre in the Greenwich Village section of New york.
Hired for first film role by Universal in Six Bridges To Cross. In 1954, the head writer and producer of the Tom Corbett Show, Albert Aley , requested Jan to return for the 4th year. See "The Telegram" below for Jan's answer.
Currently retired from acting and devoting time to writing novels. See Jan's
book page for his current novels.
November 2007 - Golden Star Halo award as
an actor and writer from the Southern California Motion Picture Council at
their annual awards luncheon. What would Roger Manning say about that ?? ;
-) See Jan's television bibliography for other awards and honors.
