Norman Alden
ActingAbout Norman Alden
Norman Alden (né Adelberg; September 13, 1924 – July 27, 2012) was an American character actor. His career lasted nearly 50 years, including many diverse and memorable performances. Some of his notable roles include the voice of Sir Kay in The Sword in the Stone (1963), Dr. Linstrom in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), diner owner Lou in Back to the Future (1985), the voice of Kranix in The Transformers: The Movie (1986), the construction foreman in They Live (1988), and cameraman Bill in Ed Wood (1994). Alden also made numerous guest appearances in popular shows like Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, and The Twilight Zone. Alden first discovered his passion for acting while attending Texas Christian University, where he participated in on-campus theater productions. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he pursued a career in acting, making his first television appearance in 1957 on The 20th Century Fox Hour. Alden continued to work steadily until his retirement in 2006.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Norman Alden reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Norman Alden's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 38% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Norman Alden remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Back to the Future, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Norman Alden Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Norman Alden's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Norman Alden.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Looking Back to the Future | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Looking Back at the Future | Himself | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Night of the Wolf | Carl Casey | Flop | Similar → |
| 2001 | K-PAX | Babbling Man | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Patch Adams | Truck Driver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Ed Wood | Cameraman Bill | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Roller Blade Warriors: Taken by Force | Bartender | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | Cutting Class | Officer Fondulac | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders | Chief of Police | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | They Live | Foreman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Lady Mobster | Sal Borolo | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Off the Mark | Coach Elam | Flop | Similar → |
| 1986 | The Transformers: The Movie | Kranix (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Back to the Future | Lou | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story | Ray Arcel | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | California Girls | Mr. Pegem | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Victor/Victoria | Man in Hotel with Shoes (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Desperate Lives | Coach | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Borderline | Willie Lambert | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Back to the Planet of the Apes | Zako | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | Cloud Dancer | Dr. Putman | Average | Similar → |
| 1979 | No Other Love | Les Hollister | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Ring of Passion | Max Machon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Semi-Tough | Coach Alvin Parks | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | I Never Promised You a Rose Garden | McPherson | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Terror on the 40th Floor | Capt. Parker | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | Cry Panic | Doc Potter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Kansas City Bomber | Horrible Hank Hopkins | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Where Does It Hurt? | Katzen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1972 | Ben | Policeman | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Stand Up and Be Counted | Businessman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Trackers | Pete Dilworth | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Cannon | Mitchell | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Major Truman Landon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Great Bank Robbery | The Great Gregory - Balloonist | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Killers Three | Guthrie | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Devil's Brigade | MP Lieutenant | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Chubasco | Frenchy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | Good Times | Warren | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | First to Fight | Sergeant Schmidtmer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Wild Angels | Medic | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | Red Line 7000 | Pat | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | Andy | Andy Chadakis | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Patsy | Bully at the Gym | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Bedtime Story | Dubin | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Man's Favorite Sport? | John Screaming Eagle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Sword in the Stone | Kay (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Nutty Professor | Football Player | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Operation Bottleneck | Cpl. Lester 'Merc' Davenport | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Walking Target | Sam Russo | Flop | Similar → |
Norman Alden - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Norman Alden?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Norman Alden is "Back to the Future" with a rating of 8.3/10.
How many movies has Norman Alden acted in?
Norman Alden has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Norman Alden?
Other notable films include "Andy", "First to Fight", and "Ed Wood".