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The San Diego Union-Tribune

Albert Paulsen; character actor; 78


May 16, 2004

Television, film and Broadway actor Albert Paulsen, who was known for his portrayals of villains and gangsters, has died. He was 78.

Mr. Paulsen died April 25 in a Los Angeles nursing home of natural causes, his nephew William Paulson said.

Born Albert Paulson in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Mr. Paulsen attended German boarding schools there before immigrating to Los Angeles in 1942. After serving in World War II, he used the G.I. Bill to study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner and at the Actors Studio.

The actor won an Emmy in 1964 for his supporting role in "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich," which starred Jason Robards and aired on "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre."

On Broadway, Mr. Paulsen performed with Geraldine Page in Anton Chekhov's "The Three Sisters" and acted in a motion picture version of the play.

Mr. Paulsen, an avid reader and longtime admirer of Vladimir Nabokov, created a one-man show based on the novelist. "Nabokov" premiered at Los Angeles' Odyssey Theater in 1982 and went on to tour the country.

Known for his sinister gangsters and charismatic villains, Mr. Paulsen used his experiences in German schools and in World War II to play numerous Gestapo roles, including his role in the television movie "Carola."

Mr. Paulsen's first film appearance was in 1962's "The Manchurian Candidate." He also had roles in "The Next Man" in 1976 and "Eyewitness" in 1981.

He had guest roles on popular television series such as "Combat," "The Untouchables," "I Spy," "The Rockford Files," "Hawaii Five-O," "Mission: Impossible" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."

Mr. Paulsen is survived by a brother, Juan Paulson; a sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

© Copyright 2004 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.