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Mel Welles

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.


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Born:
Feb 17, 1924 In New York City, New York, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
54
First Appeared:
In the series I Led Three Lives 1953-01-01
Latest Project:
Movie Howard 2018-04-22
Known For
Poster of The Brothers Karamazov
Poster of Hold Back Tomorrow
Poster of Jungle Jim
Poster of Private Secretary
Filmography
Movie Howard Gravis Mushnick (archive footage) 2018-04-22
Movie The Truth About Lady Frankenstein Self 2007-08-04
Movie Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II Caedmon 1989-03-01
Movie Commando Squad Quintano 1987-06-01
Movie Rented Lips Milo 1987-10-28
Movie Chopping Mall Cook 1986-03-21
Movie Homework Doctor 1982-08-27
Movie Wolfen ESS Voice (voice) 1981-07-24
Movie Smokey Bites the Dust Abu Habib Bibubu 1981-10-01
Movie Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype Dr. Vince Hinkle 1980-10-01
Movie Joyride to Nowhere Tank McCall 1977-06-01
Movie Cut-Throats Nine Ray (voice) (uncredited) 1972-07-10
Movie The She Beast Ladislav Groper 1966-05-02
Movie The Keeler Affair Yevgeni Ivanovich 1963-11-09
Movie The Red Sheik Hassan 1962-08-18
Movie Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man Italian Sergeant (uncredited) 1962-07-25
Movie The Reluctant Saint 1962-11-02
Movie The Little Shop of Horrors Gravis Mushnick 1960-08-05
Series Mr. Lucky Unknown 1959-10-24
Movie The Brothers Karamazov Trifon Borissovitch 1958-02-20
Series Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Unknown 1958-10-06
Movie High School Confidential! Charlie O'Flair 1958-05-30
Movie The Shadow on the Window Polikoff (uncredited) 1957-03-06
Movie The Undead Gravedigger Smolkin 1957-03-01
Movie Attack of the Crab Monsters Jules Deveroux 1957-02-10
Movie The 27th Day Russian Marshal 1957-01-07
Movie Rock All Night Sir Bop 1957-04-01
Series The Walter Winchell File Unknown 1957-10-02
Movie Hell on Devil's Island Felix Molyneaux 1957-08-04
Series Maverick Unknown 1957-09-22
Series Have Gun, Will Travel Unknown 1957-09-14
Movie Outside the Law Milo 1956-06-01
Movie Calling Homicide Valensi (uncredited) 1956-09-30
Movie Flight to Hong Kong Boris 1956-10-08
Series Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Unknown 1956-10-21
Movie Spy Chasers Nick 1955-07-31
Movie Duel on the Mississippi Sheriff 1955-09-16
Movie Soldier of Fortune Fernand Rocha 1955-05-24
Movie The Racers Fiori (uncredited) 1955-02-04
Movie Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Iben 1955-06-23
Series Cheyenne Unknown 1955-09-20
Series Jungle Jim Unknown 1955-09-26
Movie The Fighting Chance Al Moreno 1955-12-15
Movie Hold Back Tomorrow First Guard 1955-11-01
Series Alfred Hitchcock Presents Unknown 1955-10-02
Movie The Big Knife Mustached Party Guest 1955-10-25
Movie Jesse James vs. the Daltons 1954-04-02
Movie Wyoming Renegades 'Whiskey' Pearson 1954-03-27
Movie Pushover Detective (uncredited) 1954-07-21
Movie Massacre Canyon Gonzales 1954-05-01
Movie The Silver Chalice Marcos (uncredited) 1954-12-20
Series I Led Three Lives Unknown 1953-01-01
Movie Appointment in Honduras Hidalgo (uncredited) 1953-10-16
Series Private Secretary Unknown 1953-02-01