From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hayden Rorke

William Henry Rorke (October 23, 1910 – August 19, 1987) was an American actor best known for playing the psychiatrist Col. Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the hit 60's sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.

Actor, best remembered for his role of Colonel (Doctor) Alfred E. Bellows in the television sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie” (1965 – 1970).

Born William Henry Rorke in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of screen and stage actress, Margaret Hayden Rorke, and took his stage name from his mother’s maiden name. He was educated at the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts and began his stage career in the 1930s with the Hampden Theatrical Company. During World War II, he enlisted into the Army, where he made his film debut in the musical “This is the Army” (1943) starring Ronald Reagan, where he was uncredited as the stage manager and as a soldier in the background.

Following the war, he left the Army and worked in small parts on Broadway, finally returning to Hollywood for the 1949 film, “Lust for Gold,” again uncredited. However, it was an opening, and in later films, beginning with “Rope of Sand” (1949), he is listed in the credits, although he again shows up uncredited in the 1950 films “Kim” and “The Magnificent Yankee,” as well as a couple of later films (in those days, small bit parts were often uncredited). He continued to make movies, taking on supporting roles, in such films as “Father’s Little Dividend” (1951), “Francis Goes to the Races” (1951), “When Worlds Collide” (1951), “Wild Stallion” (1952), “Project Moon Base” (1953), and “Pillow Talk” (1959). He played the on several guest roles on television, winning the role of Colonel Farnsworth in the short lived 1964 television sitcom “No Time for Sergeants” (based upon the movie of the same name).

He is most remembered for his role of Dr. Alfred E. Bellows, the NASA medical officer in the television sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie.” Rorke was a frequent visitor in the 1960's and 1970's to the small town of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, often arriving via public transportation (a NJ Transit bus from New York City). His last film was to reprise the role of Dr. Bellows in the television movie “I Dream of Jeannie: 15 years later” (1985).

Hayden Rorke died in Toluca Lake, California on August 19, 1987 from multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow) at the age of 76.

• Hayden Rorke at the Internet Movie Database

This article about a United States film and TV actor or actress born in the 1910s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.