Burt Mustin

Biography: Life literally began at 60 for American actor Burt Mustin, who didn't enter show business until that age and didn't make his film debut until Detective Story (1951), at which time he was 68. After a decade of uncredited movie roles as hillbilly patriarchs and Town's Oldest Citizens, Mustin began getting name recognition for numerous TV appearances in the late '50s and early '60s. The actor was a particular favorite of producer/actor Jack Webb, who cast Mustin several times on Dragnet; in one episode Burt was an octogenarian burglar, and in another was a retired detective who solved a murder case - and chewed out a young cop for not knowing the proper way to take fingerprints! Situation comedy producers made good use of Burt Mustin as well, and he was featured in innumerable cameos on such programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Get Smart and The Jack Benny Program, usually stealing most of the laughs from the stars. Mustin had regular TV roles as eccentric neighbor Finley on DateLife literally began at 60 for American actor Burt Mustin, who didn't enter show business until that age and didn't make his film debut until Detective Story (1951), at which time he was 68. After a decade of uncredited movie roles as hillbilly patriarchs and Town's Oldest Citizens, Mustin began getting name recognition for numerous TV appearances in the late '50s and early '60s. The actor was a particular favorite of producer/actor Jack Webb, who cast Mustin several times on Dragnet; in one episode Burt was an octogenarian burglar, and in another was a retired detective who solved a murder case - and chewed out a young cop for not knowing the proper way to take fingerprints! Situation comedy producers made good use of Burt Mustin as well, and he was featured in innumerable cameos on such programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Get Smart and The Jack Benny Program, usually stealing most of the laughs from the stars. Mustin had regular TV roles as eccentric neighbor Finley on Date with the Angels, Gus the Fireman on Leave It to Beaver, barber shop patron Jud Crowley on The Andy Griffith Show, the amorous senior-citizen husband of Queenie Smith on The Funny Side, and nursing-home refugee Justin Quigley on All in the Family. Mustin got the biggest press coverage of his career when, in character as Arthur Lanson, he married Mother Dexter - played by 82-year-old Judith Lowry - on the December 13, 1976 episode of Phyllis. It was a hilarious and, in retrospect, poignant moment in TV history: Judith Lowry had died a few days before the program was aired, and Burt Mustin, who was too ill to watch the show, passed away six weeks later. Expand

Burt Mustin's Scores

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Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season 3 Sep 25, 1963 Donald tbd
tbd The Beverly Hillbillies: Season 2 Sep 25, 1963 Humphrey The Chauffeur tbd
tbd My Three Sons: Season 4 Sep 19, 1963 Elderly Man tbd
tbd The Andy Griffith Show: Season 3 Oct 1, 1962 Jubal / Judd / Guest tbd
tbd Bonanza: Season 4 Sep 23, 1962 Mashburn tbd
tbd My Three Sons: Season 3 Sep 20, 1962 Elderly Man tbd
tbd The Andy Griffith Show: Season 2 Oct 2, 1961 Jud / Guest tbd
tbd Leave It to Beaver: Season 5 Sep 30, 1961 Gus / Gus tbd
tbd My Three Sons: Season 2 Sep 28, 1961 Max / Potts tbd
tbd Bonanza: Season 3 Sep 24, 1961 Old Codger tbd
tbd The Twilight Zone: Season 3 Sep 15, 1961 Carlson 9.8
tbd The Andy Griffith Show: Season 1 Oct 3, 1960 Jud / Jud Fletcher / Judd / Guest 8.8
tbd Leave It to Beaver: Season 4 Oct 1, 1960 Gus / Gus tbd
tbd The Twilight Zone: Season 2 Sep 30, 1960 Burt 9.8
tbd My Three Sons: Season 1 Sep 29, 1960 Max tbd
tbd Leave It to Beaver: Season 2 Oct 2, 1958 Gus / Gus tbd
tbd Leave It to Beaver: Season 1 Oct 4, 1957 Gus / Gus tbd