ee Bowman (28 Dec 1914  -  25 Dec 1979)

Height:
Wife: not married
Children: none

 

Born December 28.1914 in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA)

Bowman attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began a career as a stage actor and radio singer in the '30s. Beginning with his debut in Internes Can't Take Money (1937), he spent seven years playing second leads, often as a playboy thanks to his suave, elegant style and dapper, handsome looks.

The success of "Cover Girl"wasn't left unnoticed and Hollywood teamed Bowman several times with the lovely Susan Hayward. Hit it big time in the mid '40s, In 1948 Susan Hayward got nominated for her role in "Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman" (1947) The film loosely based on the life of Dixie Lee (wife of Bing Crosby) tells the story of a nightclub singer who marries a rising singer and falls into alcoholism when she gives up her own career.

Never a major star, he began concentrating more on his stage work in the late '40s. As many celebrities do, he also had several guestroles on radio (and subsequently on tv).On radio he was heard e.g. In 'Screen Guild Theatre' (with Paulette Goddard), 'Inner Sanctum', several episodes of  'Suspense' (1945) and 'Cavalcade Of America' (1946-1953). In the 'Old Gold Comedy Theatre' he starred in episode 4 'Vivacious Lady'.  A young university professor comes to New York to retrieve his errant cousin -- but promptly falls in love with a nightclub performer and marries her after a whirlwind romance. When he goes back home, he can't bring himself to tell his conservative and ultra-respectable academic family about it. Lee Bowman and Linda Darnell starred.
In the pilot for My Favorite Husband Lee Bowman played George opposite Lucille Ball.  He had to bow out of the regular series due to contractual obligations. He was replaced by Richard Denning (CBS Radio July 5, 1948)
In 'House By the River' (1950) directed by Fritz Lang. Louis Hayward accidently kills his maid while trying to seduce her, and enlists the aid of his crippled brother (Lee Bowman) to dispose of her body. Bowman is blamed for her death when the corpse washes ashore later. Also with Jane Wyatt and Dorothy Patrick.

He briefly starred in the TV series The Adventures of Ellery Queen (1950-51) as Ellery Queen.
After the EQ series his stayed on the East Coast to do Broadway shows, front TV spectaculars for an auto concern, conduct a real estate-insurance firm with his brother, act as director of a commercial film concern, perform on a weekly drama over NBC radio and appear on the panel show, "Masquerade Party".

Bowman also appeared regularly on television including several guest appearances in the television series Robert Montgomery Presents (1950-57). In Eye Witness (1953) he hosted this 30 minutes NBC show which premiered on March 1, 1953.

In 1961 he played Private Investigator Jeff Thompson in Miami Undercover. This private Eye was hired by the Miami Hotel Owners' Association to keep the city crime free. Former boxer Rocky Graziano played assistant Rocky with Thompson posing as a sophisticated man about town. The First-Run Syndication series ran for 38 episodes. After this Bowman retired from the screen except for a role in Youngblood Hawke in 1964 and the role of Ted Langer in The Fugitive episode: "Detour on a Road Going Nowhere" (1964).  Beautiful Elizabeth Allen offers Kimble a one-night stand but Kimble refuses. Later on a bus fellow traveler Langer (Bowman) finds Elizabeth more than a little enticing. Elizabeth tells Kimble watch this and crosses her legs letting her skirt rise. Kimble looks away but Langer practically breaks his neck trying to get a good look. Elizabeth then demurely uncrosses her legs and pulls her skirt down and smugly smiles at Kimble. Langer's wife (40's movie star Phyllis Thaxter) has seen what happened and it is clear Langer will have some explaining to do. Elizabeth tells Kimble that he may be like Langer in a ten years, dreaming of the "legs that got away."

After his role in "The Fugitive" he went on to become the radio and TV consultant for the Republican Senatorial and Congressional Committee in Washington and later for Bethlehem Steel, coaching politicians and businessmen in speaking and on-camera techniques.

Lee died, 3 days before officially becoming a senior citizen,  in Brentwood, Los Angeles of a heart attack on Dec 25. 1979