Joe Ploski

Joe Ploski
Joe Ploski
	Ploski in Man with a Camera, 1958
Born	Joseph Henry Ploski; April 16, 1904; Poland
Died	May 17, 1993 (aged 89); Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Film and television actor
Years active	1932–1970

Joseph Henry Ploski (April 16, 1904 – May 17, 1993) was a Polish American film and television actor. He was known for his appearance in the 1953 film Stalag 17, which starred William Holden, Don Taylor, and Otto Preminger.^[1]

Ploski Was born in Poland.^[2] Initially working as a baker,^[2] he saved his money to attend at a drama school.^[2] Ploski performed in vaudeville in Hollywood, California,^[2] and worked as a straight man for comedian Joe E. Lewis.^[3] He made his Broadway debut in 1932^[3] and also worked in New York with Imogene Coca and Danny Kaye.^[4]

Ploski’s first screen credit was in the 1936 film Lady Be Careful. In 1938 he appeared in There Goes My Heart and Romance in the Dark.^{[citation needed]}

Ploski appeared in over 200 films including Dr. Broadway (1942), The Dark Corner (1946), The Reckless Moment (1949), and Experiment Alcatraz (1950). His final credit was in 1970 for the film Airport. Ploski’s appearances in television programs included Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Tales of Wells Fargo, Wagon Train, The Fugitive, 77 Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone, and Perry Mason.^[5]

During World War II Ploski was inducted into the Army, serving as a mess-hall cook.^[2]

Ploski died in May 1993 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 89.^[6]

Selected Filmography

Lady Be Careful as Chowoski (uncredited)
Stalag 17 (1953) as German Guard - Volleyball Player
Gunsmoke (1956) (Season 1 Episode 31: "How to Die for Nothing") as Townsman (uncredited)
M Squad (1957) (Season 1 Episode 6: "Street of Fear") as News Vendor
Wagon Train (1957-1962) (5 episodes)
- (Season 1 Episode 3: "The John Cameron Story") (1957) as Wagon Train Member (uncredited)
- (Season 2 Episode 8: "The Millie Davis Story") (1958) as Miner (uncredited)
- (Season 4 Episode 33: "The Eleanor Culhane Story") (1961) as Townsman (uncredited)
- (Season 5 Episode 21: "The Daniel Clay Story") (1962) as Wagon Train Member (uncredited)
- (Season 6 Episode 5: "The John Augustus Story") (1962) as Bartender (uncredited)
77 Sunset Strip (1958) (Season 1 Episode 9: "Iron Curtain Caper") as Bartender (uncredited)
Perry Mason (1958-1965) (5 episodes)
- (Season 2 Episode 6: "The Case of the Buried Clock") (1958) as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- (Season 2 Episode 25: "The Case of the Petulant Partner") (1959) as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- (Season 3 Episode 6: "The Case of Paul Drake's Dilemma") (1959) as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- (Season 5 Episode 24: "The Case of the Melancholy Marksman") (1962) as Diner Proprietor (uncredited)
- (Season 9 Episode 2: "The Case of the Fatal Fortune") (1965) as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Li'l Abner (1959) as Hairless Joe
The Twilight Zone (1960) (Season 1 Episode 20: "Elegy") as Beauty Contest Guest (uncredited)
Tales of Wells Fargo (1960) (3 episodes)
- (Season 4 Episode 31: "Dead Man's Street") as Townsman (uncredited)
- (Season 4 Episode 32: "Threat of Death") as Townsman (uncredited)
- (Season 5 Episode 9: "The Killing of Johnny Lash") as Barfly (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962) (2 episodes)
- (Season 7 Episode 17: "The Faith of Aaron Menefee") as Meeting Guest (uncredited)
- (Season 7 Episode 39: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice") as Show Spectator (uncredited)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964) (Season 2 Episode 17: "The Jar") as Townsman (uncredited)
The Fugitive (1964) (2 episodes)
- (Season 1 Episode 24: "Flight from the Final Demon") as Customer in Locker Room (uncredited)
- (Season 1 Episode 27: "Never Stop Running") as Diner Counterman (uncredited)
Bonanza (1964-1968) (2 episodes)
- (Season 6 Episode 11: "A Man to Admire") (1964) as Townsman (uncredited)
- (Season 9 Episode 30: "The Arrival of Eddie") (1968) as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force (1965) as Russian Seaman
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) as Cook
Airport (1970) as Diner Patron (uncredited)

References

^ Leonard, William (1981), "Theatre: Stage to Screen to Television: Volume 2", University of Michigan, Scarcrow Press, p. 1475
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Div. Mess Hall Rocks With Mirth At Antics of Cook". Appeal-Democrat. Marysville, California. March 17, 1943. p. 5. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b "Joe Ploski Makes Good". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. December 28, 1932. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Reunion for Kaye-Ploski On Set of 'Happy Times'". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. November 22, 1948. p. 16. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Willis, John (June 1966), Screen World, 1966, Biblio-Moser, p. 70, ISBN 9780819603074
^ "Joe Ploski". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

External links

[1] Leonard, William (1981), "Theatre: Stage to Screen to Television: Volume 2", University of Michigan, Scarcrow Press, p. 1475

[a-2] "Div. Mess Hall Rocks With Mirth At Antics of Cook". Appeal-Democrat. Marysville, California. March 17, 1943. p. 5. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[b-3] "Joe Ploski Makes Good". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. December 28, 1932. p. 4. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[c-4] "Reunion for Kaye-Ploski On Set of 'Happy Times'". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. November 22, 1948. p. 16. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] Willis, John (June 1966), Screen World, 1966, Biblio-Moser, p. 70, ISBN 9780819603074

[6] "Joe Ploski". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

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