Introduction
Herbert Birchell "Bert" Remsen (February 25, 1925 – April 22, 1999) was an American actor.
Biography
Remsen was born in Glen Cove, New York, on Long Island, the son of Helen (née Birchell) and Winfred Herbert Remsen. He played character roles in numerous films directed by Robert Altman, including Brewster McCloud (1970), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), Thieves Like Us (1974), California Split (1974), Nashville (1975), Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) and A Wedding (1978). His many other film credits included Fuzz (1972), Baby Blue Marine (1976), Uncle Joe Shannon (1978), Fast Break (1979), Carny (1980), Borderline (1980), Inside Moves (1980), Second-Hand Hearts (1981), Lookin' to Get Out (1982), The Sting II (1983), Places in the Heart (1984), Code of Silence (1985), TerrorVision (1986), Eye of the Tiger (1986), Miss Firecracker (1989), Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989), Daddy's Dyin': Who's Got the Will? (1990) and Only the Lonely (1991). His last film was the posthumously released The Sky is Falling (2000).
He also appeared in various television guest-starring roles, including the role of Jim Ford in the episode "Pete Henke" of the 1958 NBC western series, Jefferson Drum, starring Jeff Richards. He was a regular in the cast of the short-lived 1976 NBC dramatic television series Gibbsville, and appeared in Dallas as Harrison 'Dandy' Dandridge.
After suffering an injury on the set of a television show, Remsen had moved away from acting. He was hired as the casting director on Brewster McCloud when Altman talked him into taking a role in the film. He was casting director in season 1 and casting supervisor in season 2 of the The Rookies TV show.
He was briefly married to actress Katherine MacGregor, who played Mrs. Oleson in the NBC television series, Little House on the Prairie, starring Michael Landon.
His daughter, with wife Barbara Joyce Dodd, a casting director, is actress Kerry Remsen.