Climax! (1954)
Climax! (1954)
Network & Production Companies

Plot.
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
Where to Watch.

Currently Climax! is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Best tv ever Amazon Channel
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.

William Lundigan
Self - Host

Mary Costa
Self - Host

Martin Manulis
Producer

Elliott Lewis
Producer

Art Gilmore
Announcer

John Frankenheimer
Director

Allen Reisner
Director

Buzz Kulik
Director

William H. Brown Jr.
Director

Don Medford
Director

Bernard Girard
Director

Fielder Cook
Director

Jack Smight
Director

Robert Stevens
Director

Tony Barr
Director

David Swift
Director

Ida Lupino
Director

DeWitt Bodeen
Writer

Antony Ellis
Teleplay

E. Jack Neuman
Writer

Charles Larson
Writer

Walter Newman
Writer

Gore Vidal
Writer

Oliver Crawford
Writer

Ian Fleming
Novel

Charles Bennett
Writer

David Dortort
Writer

Rod Serling
Writer

Raymond Chandler
Writer

Malvin Wald
Writer

Wanda Hendrix
Maggie

Jack Lord
Charlie Mullaney

George Dolenz
Cortino

Jim Backus
Detective Herman

Nancy Kelly
Irene Marshall

Don Ameche
Sam Waterman

William Schallert
David

Brian Aherne
David

Verna Felton
Nurse

Lew Ayres
Bob Kilgore

Michael Wilding
Lieutenant MacKenzie Barton (uncredited)

Bethel Leslie
Jessica Colby

Jonathan Harris
Fritz Weiser

Milburn Stone
Mr. Dale

Ann Todd
Jane Palmer

Inger Stevens
Marge

Richard Arlen
Nevers

Barbara Nichols
Dale Benson

Corinne Calvet
Anna

Jill Corey
Linda Wallis

Linda Darnell
Helen Randall

Benay Venuta
Mrs. Stagg

Darren McGavin
Walter

Una Merkel
Maud

Mercedes McCambridge
Eliza

Coleen Gray
Amanda Shepard

Wally Brown
Tommy Haley

Richard Eyer
Muldoon

Dick Powell
Philip Marlowe

John Alvin
Sir Roscoe Crosby

Lynn Bari
Mrs. Combie

Richard Jaeckel
Hordan

Natalie Schafer
Lucrece Durhurst

Louis Jourdan
Pierre Mendes-France

Walter Catlett
The Dauphin

Pat Crowley
Sue Martin

Evelyn Keyes
Drusilla Cayley

Nancy Reagan
Carol Peterson

Gerald Mohr
Quinn

Jack Warden
Lt. Ravenna

Robert Newton
Keith Dorrant

Jean Hagen
Eleanor Gehrig

Gale Gordon
Dr. Raymond Forrest

Henry Hull
Abel Kirsch

Robert Young
Lieutenant Commander Knowles

Jean Porter
Joan

Tab Hunter
Jimmy Piersall

Akim Tamiroff
Albert Ganz

Reginald Denny
Ronnie Pond

Marie Windsor
Vivian Cummings

Jeff Morrow
Dr. Alvin C. Graves

Judith Anderson
Rachel

Frank Lovejoy
Ben Dana

Ward Bond
Sheriff Ab Kale

Arthur Treacher
Bishop Thornley

Bobby Driscoll
Gary

Sal Mineo
Miguel

Dan O'Herlihy
Ian Hamilton

Jean-Pierre Aumont
Father James Cannon

John Hoyt
Poole

Kathryn Card
Mrs. Craig

Theodore Bikel
Martin Humphries

Irene Papas
Maxanne York

Carolyn Jones
Helen

Peter Whitney
Peter Chubo

Susan Oliver
Pat Farley

Steve McQueen
Henry Reeves / Anthony Reeves

Robert Armstrong
Barney Farrell

Keye Luke
Chen

Betty Field
Callie Bellason

Marisa Pavan
Ginny Cabot

Jerry Colonna
Stan

Gene Raymond
Grady Lederer

Regis Toomey
Fred Warren

Marian Seldes
Betty

Walter Abel
Stewart

Patricia Cutts
Sharon Barton

Darryl Hickman
Joe Skinner

Shaike Ophir
Spider

Art Carney
Donald Lam

Eddie Bracken
Ira

Eli Wallach
Albert Anastasia

Reginald Owen
Doctor

Natalie Trundy
Sally Moore

Sebastian Cabot
Captain Wilkins

Oskar Homolka
Christy Christakos

Jacques Bergerac
Guy Pirard

John Litel
Judge Sam Crowley

Gene Reynolds
Hank

Barbara Britton
Duana Clarke

Paul Henreid
Capt. Sebastian Von Reis

Peggy Ann Garner
Nora Wallen

Elliott Reid
Scotty Henderson

Rhys Williams
Lieutenant Jamison

J. Carrol Naish
Mr. Combie

Frieda Inescort
Martha Hale

Charles Drake
Mickey Wayne

Margaret Field
M'liss

Barbara Ruick
Judith Kale

Jeff Donnell
Kay Matheson

Ethel Barrymore
Mme. Rosalie La Grange

Sean McClory
Mark Yorke

Katy Jurado
Margo Nieto

Joan Bennett
Honora

Marshall Thompson
(segment 'Child of the Wind')

Lloyd Nolan
Jack London

Louis Hayward
Randy Townsend

Brad Dexter
Harvey Bozer

John Craven
The Reporter

Claire Trevor
Phyllis Talbot

Walter Matthau
Charlie Mapes

Elaine Stritch
Kristie Crane

Don Dubbins
Chris Barker

Albert Salmi
Lt. Nichols

Peter Lawford
Tom Welles

Dennis Weaver
Steve Maclyn

Gene Lockhart
Henry Anderson

James Best
Shag

Ed Begley
Harry Rathvon

Isobel Elsom
Lady Grey

Julie Adams
Coleen

Nehemiah Persoff
Lieutenant Cal Nourse

Martha Hyer
Vi Johnson

Patricia Collinge
Mrs. Rampage

Tina Louise
Maxene Sumner

Helmut Dantine
Daniel

Mildred Dunnock
Aunt Ida

Laraine Day
Ellen Parker

Dina Merrill
Iris Farrar

Nita Talbot
Esther Gardener

Jane Darwell
Mrs. Koestler / B. Cool

Bonita Granville
Molly / Laura Jordan

Dean Stockwell
Les Marshall

Gig Young
Edgar Holt

Hoagy Carmichael
Jazzman

Robert Sterling
Husband

Osa Massen
Sister Veronica

Edmond O'Brien
Joel Flint / Leo Waldek

John Ireland
Greg

George Nader
Harry Parker

Robert Ellenstein
Dr. Bernstein

James Gleason
Reverend Mr. McCarkle

Elisha Cook Jr.
Pop

Amzie Strickland
Jane

Robert Middleton
Sheriff

Dorothy McGuire
Miranda / Janet Spence

James MacArthur
Hal Ditmar

Joanne Dru
Nancy / Marcia

Edward G. Robinson
Josef Vadassy

Henry Jones
Dr. Barney O'Keefe

Tom Laughlin
Paisan

Jean Del Val
Croupier

Virginia Grey
Edna

Farley Granger
John Haywood

Kenneth Tobey
Captain Coppedge

John Agar
Larry Dorrant

Sylvia Sidney
Louella Wheedron

Albert Dekker
Brewster

James Daly
George Norren

Janis Paige
Barbara

Tom Drake
Alan / Terry Lennox

Vic Morrow
Ted

Leo Fuchs
Moe

Tris Coffin
The Body

Dick York
Gordon Bates

Ann Harding
Mrs. Roach / Lady Bertha Wetherby

Debra Paget
Natalie / Maria

Miriam Hopkins
Amanda Hale

Forrest Tucker
Chips Murphy

Scott McKay
Tim Hampden

Steve Brodie
Bert Hendricks

Dean Harens
Michael

Wendell Corey
Lieutenant Erich Ganz / Lou Gehrig

Teresa Wright
Eilene Wade / Louella Parsons / Lorna Baylor

Fernando Lamas
Jose Aragon

George Tobias
Sergeant Levy

Boris Karloff
Vicar Tellworth / Dr. Philip Nestri

Steve Cochran
Jack Rice / Ralph Leslie

Hugh Marlowe
Jim Dekker

Leora Dana
Rose Skinner

Brian Donlevy
Sam Marvin

Hume Cronyn
Reverend Mr. Muldoon

Barbara Hale
Mamie Eunson

Agnes Moorehead
Irene / (segment 'Child of the Wind')

Richard Kiley
Charley Kincaid

Joanne Woodward
Kathryn Winter

Paul Stewart
Paul Crichton / Dave Hennessey

Rosemary DeCamp
Eleanor Farrington

John Cassavetes
Malcolm McCloud / Abel Winter

Rory Calhoun
Midge Kelly

Cathy O'Donnell
Mona Herbert

Barbara Morrison
The Dowager

Thomas Gomez
Senor Torres, Commandante of Police

John Drew Barrymore
Matt / Herm Farley

Blanche Yurka
Margaret

Edward Arnold
Jock Fathian / Lieutenant Shipley

Richard Carlson
Col. Dobie / Cass Terhgune

Lilia Skala
Madame Muller

John Qualen
Geist

Yma Sumac
Maria Santez

John Conte
Dr. Duillermo Brown

Jack Carson
Art Shaddick / Eugene Skinner

Eva Gabor
Josette / Elissa Carlton

Ernest Truex
Uncle William

John Lupton
The Mojave Kid / Eddie

Ruth Roman
Suzan Wayne

Richard Long
Max Harriss

Lori Nelson
Mary

Gigi Perreau
Laurette Bradshaw

Lorne Greene
Dr. Charles Saunders

Thomas Mitchell
Old Man Finn

Walter Cronkite
Self - Narrator (voice)

Brandon De Wilde
Tip Malone / Robbie Eunson

Red Skelton
Rusty Morgan

Peter Hansen
Lawyer

Jessie Royce Landis
Olivia Chesney

James Flavin
Hogan

Torin Thatcher
John Philippson / Fred Beresford

Ray Danton
Eric Bartholomew / Co-Pilot

Jeanette Nolan
Mrs. Barker

Marsha Hunt
Ann Williams / Julie Brennan

Neville Brand
Killer

Ralph Meeker
'Griff' Griffith / Alex Hill

Anna Navarro
Teresa

Brian Keith
Sam Pryce

Herbert Anderson
Devlin

Don Keefer
Dr. Whittaker

Bradford Dillman
Greg Fletcher

Anne Bancroft
Audrey / Elena Vallejo

William Shatner
Ben Tate

Maureen O'Sullivan
Miriam / Lady Dominey

Joi Lansing
Lucy

Paul Douglas
Dr. Merle Gardner / Lieutenant Todd Thoman

Patricia Medina
Liz Burdock / Laura

Bob Sweeney
Gil Rodin / Johnny Gregg

Pat O’Brien
Police Lieutenant Moore / Police Lieutenant / Ed Talbot

Otto Kruger
Walter Farrington / Judge Mitchell

Barbara Baxley
Catherine Jones

Dennis O'Keefe
Evans / Fred Long / Inspector Marney / Howard Davenport

Lamont Johnson
Lionel Trent

Beverly Garland
Jean / Shirley Connors / Daisy

Geraldine Brooks
Emma Herich

Geraldine Fitzgerald
Miriam Lambert

John Kerr
Matt Sloane / Danny Barron/Steve Barron / Poggi

Gene Nelson
Jess Shepard

Claudette Colbert
Sister Cecilia / Dr. Jane Everest

Macdonald Carey
John Benson / Harry Belgard / Allen Moore / Tom Ditmar

Jesse White
Philly

Phyllis Kirk
Amy Connor / Barbara Phillips / Mrs. Evans

Sterling Holloway
Tobias

John Larch
Cab Driver

Noah Beery Jr.
The Sheriff / Rev. Hall

Peggy Maley
Grace Knight

Susan Kohner
(segment 'Child of the Wind')

Ethel Waters
Aunt Kate

Harry Bellaver
Craig / Inspector Matthews

Jeffrey Hunter
Wesley Jerome Penn / Phil Aubry

Vanessa Brown
Marie Bannerman / Vera / Marian

Jimmy Cross
Frankie Frannis

Booth Colman
Bruno McKee

Howard Duff
Dr. John C. Clark

Dale Robertson
Nicky Jordan

Horace McMahon
Detective

Katherine Warren
Matron

Elizabeth Montgomery
Betsy

Dan Duryea
Dr. Dennis Sullivan

Eduard Franz
Dr. Skinner / Dr. James Lifford

Ralph Bellamy
Phillip Hardecker, Sr. / Hap Kennelly / Damon Runyon

Marguerite Chapman
Myra Saunders / Kitty / Mrs. Carter / Wife

Irene Hervey
Nancy Blount

Warner Anderson
David Allen / Fleet

Stephen Wootton
Jimmie Eunson

Ricardo Montalban
Pete McLean / Joe Bermudes

Ray Collins
Jerome Harris

Janet Blair
Joan Hale

Ralph Sanford
The Warden

Eddie Albert
Gabe Douglas / Barney Kanda / David Adams

Raymond Burr
Lieutenant Shea / Sergeant Ben Gurnick / Philip Moran

Lloyd Bridges
Mark Gillis / Paul Bellamy / Joe Donner / Jay Brackett / Jason Burrage

Edward Binns
Lieutenant Lewis

Cloris Leachman
Mrs. Sullivan / Anne Colt

Dick Ryan
Detective Ryan

Buddy Baer
Moe

Ann Rutherford
Mary Townsend / Bette Sullivan / Edith Enders

Rusty Lane
Luther Reeves

Estelle Winwood
Mrs. Humphries / Mrs. Oliver

Dick Foran
Robert Maxwell / Luke Bradshaw

James Gregory
Joe McCarthy / Dr. Froelich

Terry Moore
Rosa / Chris / Julie

John Emery
Abel Dennis

Barry Sullivan
Dr. Donald Carter / Dr. Edwards

John Carradine
The Duke / Colonel Archer / John Evan

Conrad Nagel
Mr. Diamond

Charles Korvin
General Steck / Dr. Andre Demerre

Raymond Massey
Sir George Sidney / Doc Woodward

Rex Ingram
Petraca

Henry Silva
Marc / Slayer

June Lockhart
Jean Patterson / Irene Mitchell

John Williams
Harold Johnson / Sir Keith Nottingham

Whit Bissell
Mr. Grubbs / Whitfield Cook

Barry Nelson
Jimmy Bond

Zsa Zsa Gabor
Princess Stephanie / Mme. Florizel

Michael Pate
Clarence Leiter

Jay C. Flippen
Detective / Happy / Joe / Ed Bagley

Linda Christian
Valerie Mathis

Eugene Borden
Chef de Parte

Kurt Katch
Zoltan

Gene Roth
Basil

Karen Steele
Lee Rogers / Gloria

William Talman
Joe MacKenzie / Dr. Harry Martin / Gene / Stan

Sue George
Ann

Buddy Ebsen
Ben / Gaffney

Phyllis Thaxter
Joan Long / Olive / Mary / Helen Ditmar

Johnny Desmond
Mike Owens / Johnny Spain

James Dunn
Warren / Eldon Abernathy

Beulah Bondi
Aunt Caroline / Mrs. Jordan / Countess

Margaret Hayes
Sylvia / Eileen Shelton

Gloria Talbott
Carol / Susan Anders

Doris Dowling
Maria / Alicia

Anna Maria Alberghetti
Edna / Angele Corton / Kate

Betsy Palmer
Elizabeth / Fran Coates / Connie Rankin Hill

Addison Richards
Papa

Warren Stevens
Phil / Dr. Alec McGregor / Henry Oliver

Viveca Lindfors
Soledad Barojo / Lisa Muller / Solange Tanbeau

Royal Dano
Sergeant / Doctor

Victor Jory
Robert / Sam Bellows / John Coulter

Wallace Ford
Bunco Kelly / Samuel Cramer / Dr. Karl Wexdig / Sheriff

Charlton Heston
Lt. Paul Peterson / Chipman

Nina Foch
Emily Rone / Caroline Emmet

Leif Erickson
Richard Carmichael / Doug Randell / Robert Eunson / Richard Moore

Peter Lorre
Mr. Ho / Le Chiffre / Mr. Vorhees / Normie / Benny Kellerman

Diana Lynn
Catherine Barkley / Julie Morton / Hilde Fraser / Ruth Barrows

Harry Carey, Jr.
Bill Dickey

Cedric Hardwicke
Dr, Martin Crandall / Professor Robertson / Sir Francis Brittain / Danielson / Mr. Utterson / Clifton Lattimer

Cesar Romero
Miguel / Mendy Mendez

Sally Forrest
Jean Hamilton / Cherry Carson / Nina

Edgar Buchanan
Constable / Spencer

Ruth Hussey
Martha / Alice Moore / Katherine Benson

Anna May Wong
Clerk / Mayli

Scott Brady
Johnny Stanton / Matt Beldon

Hurd Hatfield
Morini / Ted / Paul Randolph

Alex Nicol
Robert Brewster / Michael Patterson

Richard Boone
Col. William Hughes / David Neff / Detective Ed Brooks / Jarech

James Whitmore
Tom Miller / Stash Prohaska

Arthur Franz
Dick Crosby / Walt / Franco / Dr. Joyce

Stephen McNally
Clark Rutman / Steve Corbett

Kurt Kasznar
Karfas / Jean Duclerc / Lustig

Elizabeth Patterson
Aunt Polly / Nellie Eldredge / Jane Connor / Mrs. Garr

Angela Lansbury
Justina Marshall / Judith Beresford

Byron Foulger
Man in Theatre / Mr. Montrose / Frank Steel

Robert Preston
Lt. Hogue / William Struthers / Cleve Gordon

Kathleen Crowley
Laura Harriss / Louise / Jeanne Warren / Sally

Audrey Totter
Dr. Helen Koenig / Anna Lederer / Edna Shaddick

Cameron Mitchell
San

Edward Andrews
Arnold / George Emlen

Vincent Price
Casey Lodge / Gideon Rone / Dr. Farrin

Dane Clark
Detective Nick Vallejo / Harry Harper

Mary Astor
Clarissa Bowman / Martha / Mrs. Harriss / Ethel Allen

Judith Evelyn
Susan Garsten / Lydia / Nurse Helm / Evelyn

Shelley Winters
Leona Stevenson / Margaret Corey / Ethel / Lillian / Ann / Carol

Jan Sterling
Dinah Lake / Audrey Caldwell

Peter Graves
Stanley / Steve Baxter

Constance Ford
Ellen MacKenzie / Harriet Adams / Helen

Skip Homeier
Tim / John Moran / Dr. Landry

Lon Chaney Jr.
Old Man Hawley / Frank Wiggins

Lee Marvin
Capt. Cavallero / 'Little Man' Brush / Mannon Tate

Kevin McCarthy
Halsey / Brooks / Hal Carmichael

Michael Rennie
'Irish' Sean Dillon / Dr. Fitzroy / Lord Edward Dominey / Major General Von Raggenstein / Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / ...

John Forsythe
Tommy Jordan / Joe Sullivan / Graham Johnson / Frank Colby / Adam Barclay

Franchot Tone
Kurt Baumann / Scott Malone / Dr. Ken Jaynes / Henry Hutton

Robert H. Harris
Grady / Porfear

Joe Mantell
Chet Martin / Father Maclyn / Angelo

Eduardo Ciannelli
Martinez / Amelio / Guilio / Mr. Brenero / Papa Raoul

Tiger Fafara

Rick Vallin

Sheila Bromley

Leonard Carey

Anthony Eustrel

Paula Winslowe

Paul Cavanagh

Martin E. Brooks

Jay Novello

Steven Geray

David O'Brien

Mona Freeman
Helen / Polly / Cynthia Crane / Mary Piersall / Sylvia Marshall

Nestor Paiva

Robert B. Williams

Paul Guilfoyle

Milton Parsons

Guy Madison

George Brent

Dorothy Adams

Hilda Plowright

Marjorie Lord

Tyler McVey

Mimi Gibson

Werner Klemperer

Louis Jean Heydt

Melville Cooper

Hugh Beaumont

Queenie Leonard

Don Brodie

Mari Blanchard

Paul Picerni

Lillian Bronson

Lenore Kingston

Ivan Triesault

Hans Conried

Kim Hunter
Barbara Williams / Ann Brewster / Lynn Griffith

Rita Moreno
Francesca / Irene / Denise Cardoza / Maria

Vera Miles
Sally Jordan / Jan Michaels / Janet Reese

Sidney Blackmer
Prrof. Watson / Frank Bellason

Don Taylor
Timothy Colt / John Appleby / Julian Coates

Alexander Scourby
Frank Martin / Eric Betzdorff / David Potter

Margaret O'Brien
Chip / Angie Hawley / Kathy Fathian

Steve Forrest
Ben / Tom Gardener / Pete Mayer

Anne Francis
Mary Bellason / Teddy Baxter

Dewey Martin
Tom Coulter / Emmett Shore / Steve Hammond / Rocky Webb

Shepperd Strudwick
Doc / Dr. Giffin / Bert / Father

Betty Furness
Beth Jaynes / Ann Kilgore

John Ericson
Lindy Jackson / William Herrick / Cameron Lacey

Harry Townes
Joe Barron / Don Randall / Harry Collier / Arthur Cook / Mr. Stagg / Baker / Sheriff Will Brennan / Reverend Muir

Everett Sloane
Dave Dixon / Dr. Emil Garsten / Joseph Nezumi / Uncle Max Brewster / Matthew Quade / Captain Henry Wirtz
Media.

Details.
Release DateOctober 7, 1954
StatusEnded
Seasons4
Episodes166
Running Time1h
Genres
Last updated:
This TV Show Is About.
anthology
Scripted
Wiki.
Climax! (later known as Climax Mystery Theater) is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color, using the massive TK-40A color cameras pioneered and manufactured by RCA, and used primarily by CBS's rival network, NBC (the broadcasting division of RCA). Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live, but, although the series was transmitted in color, only black-and-white kinescope copies of some episodes survive to the present day. The series finished at #22 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1955–1956 season and #26 for 1956–1957.
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