Rhodes Reason

Rhodes Reason was born in Glendale, California on April 19, 1930. He is the younger brother of Rex Reason. Rhodes made his professional debut at the age of 18 in the play Romeo and Juliet under the direction of Charles Laughton. His career has spanned nearly 40 years and he has appeared in over 230 roles in television, movies and stage.

His numerous guest appearances have included Death Valley Days (1952), Here's Lucy (1968), Maverick (1957), 77 Sunset Strip (1958), The Time Tunnel (1966), Perry Mason (1957), Star Trek: The Original Series (1966), and many more.

In 1956, he filmed a half-hour TV-pilot in which he and John Smith played commercial divers named, respectively, "Tom Gorman" and "Mike Gilbert". This setting afforded ample opportunities for "beefcake" shots, as the actors often appeared wearing snug-fitting swimsuits. Titled "Sea Divers", this pilot did not sell, but it foreshadowed Lloyd Bridges' Sea Hunt (1958) series, which came along a year or two later and enjoyed a long life in syndication.

He starred in the series White Hunter (1957) in England, and was cast as Sheriff Will Mayberry in the TV series Bus Stop (1961).

In November 2000, he was a guest at the Asheville Film Festival (now called the Western North Carolina Film Festival) at Asheville, North Carolina, along with Pamela Sue Martin, Julie Parrish, Elizabeth MacRae, James Whitmore, Soupy Sales, Pat Priest, Noreen Nash and Peggy Moran.

He is retired in Portland, Oregon but hosts an Oscar Night Benefit each year to support Community service programs for the needy. [January 2001]