1924-02-17 ( 101 years old ) in New York City, New York, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mel Welles (February 17, 1924 - August 18, 2005) was an American film actor. His best-remembered role may be that of hapless flower shop owner Gravis Mushnik in the 1960 low-budget Roger Corman dark comedy, The Little Shop of Horrors (which featured Jack Nicholson as a masochistic dental patient).
Not much is known of Welles' early life, except that he was born Ira Meltcher in New York City. He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, in 1940. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University, a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University.
Welles held a number of jobs during his lifetime; at one time or another he worked as a clinical psychologist, radio DJ, television actor, writer and film director. He did some stage work before traveling to Hollywood, where in 1953 he appeared in his first film, Appointment in Honduras. His favorite role (The Little Shop of Horrors) was also his last in the U.S. for many years.
In the early 1960s, he left the United States to act, produce and direct primarily in European film productions including the cult horror films Maneater of Hydra (1967) and Lady Frankenstein (1971). His fluency in five languages proved to be most helpful. He also served as a film consultant. Later he returned to the U.S., appearing in a number of films, doing voice work, and teaching voice acting.
Probably his most widely seen work in the late 1970's was his English adaptation of the Japanese television show, "Spectreman" which was seen on UHF and cable across the United States. While he shares writing credit with two other people, it's clear that most of the English voice work, and the offbeat humor, is his.
In 1998, Welles took to the stage in a community theater production of Little Shop of Horrors (musical) as Mushnik, the role he created in the original Roger Corman film. Welles had never performed in the musical and was happy to be asked to do the role, which he described as a "mitzvah" for Scotts Valley Performing Arts. Jonathan Haze, who played Seymour in the original film, attended the opening, and Welles also received a visit from Martin P. Robinson, the designer of the Audrey II plant puppets used in the off-Broadway production (Robinson is also famous for his puppetry on Sesame Street).
Welles was working on a horror screenplay, tentatively titled House of a Hundred Horrors, at the time of his death.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Mel Welles, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movies
Piecing Together Lady Frankenstein
2018-08-18
Howard
2018-04-22
The Truth About Lady Frankenstein
2007-08-04
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II
1989-03-01
Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here
1988-08-22
Rented Lips
1987-10-28
Commando Squad
1987-06-01
Medium Rare
1987-03-04
Chopping Mall
1986-03-21
Homework
1982-08-27
Body and Soul
1981-10-09
Smokey Bites the Dust
1981-10-01
Wolfen
1981-07-24
Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype
1980-10-01
Joyride to Nowhere
1977-06-01
The Day the Hot Line Got Hot
1968-01-01
The She Beast
1966-05-02
The Keeler Affair
1963-11-09
The Reluctant Saint
1962-11-02
The Red Sheik
1962-08-18
Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man
1962-07-25
The Little Shop of Horrors
1960-08-05
Code of Silence
1960-05-29
High School Confidential!
1958-05-30
The Brothers Karamazov
1958-02-20
Hell on Devil's Island
1957-08-04
Rock All Night
1957-04-01
The Shadow on the Window
1957-03-06
The Undead
1957-03-01
Attack of the Crab Monsters
1957-02-10
The 27th Day
1957-01-07
Flight to Hong Kong
1956-10-08
Calling Homicide
1956-09-30
Outside the Law
1956-06-01
The Fighting Chance
1955-12-15
Hold Back Tomorrow
1955-11-01
The Big Knife
1955-10-25
Kismet
1955-10-08
Duel on the Mississippi
1955-09-16
Spy Chasers
1955-07-31
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
1955-06-23
Soldier of Fortune
1955-05-24
The Racers
1955-02-04
The Silver Chalice
1954-12-20
Pushover
1954-07-14
Massacre Canyon
1954-05-01
Jesse James vs. the Daltons
1954-04-02
Wyoming Renegades
1954-03-27
Appointment in Honduras
1953-10-16
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