NPR: Remembering Actor Ivan Dixon

Remembering Actor Ivan Dixon

Ivan Dixon was an prolific television and film actor, who starred in Hogan's Heroes, The Twilight Zone, and the film Nothing But a Man.

The film -- depicting a railroad worker who fell in love with a minister's daughter and fought against racism in their Alabama town -- was his most meaningful role, Dixon said.

"That was me," Dixon said, "I had lived every moment. ... I was reliving my whole life on film."

Dixon died on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. He was 76.

Take a look at the diversity of his work in these clips:

"A Big Tall Wish," The Twilight Zone (1960)

(Check out the rest of this episode to get a great feel for Dixon's skill. They just don't make 'em like this any more.)

The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1970), directed by Dixon.

(This trailer is a movie unto itself. Wait for the end of this clip: "He turns gangs of ghetto kids into a highly trained guerrilla army.")

Genius.

Drew Tewksbury

Tags: film | ivan dixon

6:22 PM ET | 03-20-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Ivan Dixon was such a better actor than he protrayed in Stalag 13...kind of demeaning in a way when he had such better acting skills.

Sent by Paul Lee | 12:21 AM ET | 04-08-2008

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