Gene Lyons - Actor Profile

Gene Lyons

Acting
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
8Total Films
7.3 Highest Rated
Born: Feb 9, 1921
Birth Place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

About Gene Lyons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Gene Lyons (February 9, 1921 – July 8, 1974) was an American television actor from Pittsburgh, best known for his role as police commissioner Dennis Randall on the NBC detective series Ironside starring Raymond Burr. A life member of The Actors Studio, Lyons was in the Broadway production of Witness for the Prosecution for two years. His other Broadway credits include Masquerade (1958), The Trip to Bountiful (1953), Harriet (1942), and This Rock (1942). In 1953, Lyons played a police detective on the CBS drama series Pentagon U.S.A.. He appeared in 1954 as Steve Rockwell on the CBS daytime drama Woman with a Past. Before joining Raymond Burr as a regular on Ironside, he appeared on Perry Mason in 1965 as murderer Ralph Balfour in "The Case of the Wrathful Wraith." He also made guest appearances on nearly two dozen other series including The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Fugitive, Ben Casey, Star Trek ("A Taste of Armageddon"), The Twilight Zone ("King Nine Will Not Return"), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Untouchables. He also appeared in films including Kiss Her Goodbye and The Young Don't Cry. Lyons died in Los Angeles, California on July 8, 1974 and is buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

Gene Lyons Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of Gene Lyons reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 8 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of Gene Lyons's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 25% of Gene Lyons's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Sentence of Death, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best Gene Lyons Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Gene Lyons's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie Gene Lyons has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1996 The People vs. Larry Flynt DC Reporter Hit Similar →
1969 Daddy's Gone A-Hunting Dr. Blanker Flop Similar →
1967 Ironside Police Commissioner Dennis Randall Flop Similar →
1965 Sylvia Gavin Cullen Average Similar →
1959 Kiss Her Goodbye Corey Sherman Flop Similar →
1957 The Young Don't Cry Max Cole Average Similar →
1953 Sentence of Death Paul Cochran Hit Similar →
1953 The Trip to Bountiful - Flop Similar →

Gene Lyons - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Gene Lyons?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Gene Lyons is "Sentence of Death" with a rating of 7.3/10.

How many movies has Gene Lyons acted in?

Gene Lyons has been featured in at least 8 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Gene Lyons?

Other notable films include "The People vs. Larry Flynt", "The Young Don't Cry", and "Sylvia".

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