About

Known credits:
66
Birthday:
1924-02-17
Place of birth:
New York City, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Mel Welles

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mel Welles (February 17, 1924 - August 18, 2005) was an American film actor. His best-remembered role may be that of hapless flower shop owner Gravis Mushnik in the 1960 low-budget Roger Corman dark comedy, The Little Shop of Horrors (which featured Jack Nicholson as a masochistic dental patient).

Not much is known of Welles' early life, except that he was born Ira Meltcher in New York City. He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, in 1940. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University, a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University.

Welles held a number of jobs during his lifetime; at one time or another he worked as a clinical psychologist, radio DJ, television actor, writer and film director. He did some stage work before traveling to Hollywood, where in 1953 he appeared in his first film, Appointment in Honduras. His favorite role (The Little Shop of Horrors) was also his last in the U.S. for many years.

In the early 1960s, he left the United States to act, produce and direct primarily in European film productions including the cult horror films Maneater of Hydra (1967) and Lady Frankenstein (1971). His fluency in five languages proved to be most helpful. He also served as a film consultant. Later he returned to the U.S., appearing in a number of films, doing voice work, and teaching voice acting.

Probably his most widely seen work in the late 1970's was his English adaptation of the Japanese television show, "Spectreman" which was seen on UHF and cable across the United States. While he shares writing credit with two other people, it's clear that most of the English voice work, and the offbeat humor, is his.

In 1998, Welles took to the stage in a community theater production of Little Shop of Horrors (musical) as Mushnik, the role he created in the original Roger Corman film. Welles had never performed in the musical and was happy to be asked to do the role, which he described as a "mitzvah" for Scotts Valley Performing Arts. Jonathan Haze, who played Seymour in the original film, attended the opening, and Welles also received a visit from Martin P. Robinson, the designer of the Audrey II plant puppets used in the off-Broadway production (Robinson is also famous for his puppetry on Sesame Street).

Welles was working on a horror screenplay, tentatively titled House of a Hundred Horrors, at the time of his death.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Mel Welles, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Acting

2018 Piecing Together Lady Frankenstein Actor 59
Average
2018 Howard Actor Gravis Mushnick (archive footage) 59
Average
2007 The Truth About Lady Frankenstein Actor Self 59
Average
1989 Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II Actor Caedmon 56
Average
1988 Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here Actor Mr. Davar 58
Average
1987 Rented Lips Actor Milo 58
Average
1987 Commando Squad Actor Quintano 58
Average
1987 Medium Rare Actor Doctor 58
Average
1986 Chopping Mall Actor Cook 58
Average
1982 Homework Actor Doctor 58
Average
1981 Body and Soul Actor Joe Gillardi 58
Average
1981 Smokey Bites the Dust Actor Abu Habib Bibubu 58
Average
1981 Wolfen Actor ESS Voice (voice) 58
Average
1980 Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype Actor Dr. Vince Hinkle 58
Average
1977 Joyride to Nowhere Actor Tank McCall 58
Average
1972 Cut-Throats Nine Actor Ray (voice) (uncredited) 59
Average
1968 The Day the Hot Line Got Hot Actor 59
Average
1966 The She Beast Actor Ladislav Groper 58
Average
1963 The Keeler Affair Actor Yevgeni Ivanovich 59
Average
1962 The Reluctant Saint Actor 59
Average
1962 The Red Sheik Actor Hassan 59
Average
1962 Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man Actor Italian Sergeant (uncredited) 58
Average
1960 The Little Shop of Horrors Actor Gravis Mushnick 60
Fair
1960 Code of Silence Actor 59
Average
1960 Little Shop of Horrors Actor Gravis Mushnick 59
Average
1958 High School Confidential! Actor Charlie O'Flair 58
Average
1958 The Brothers Karamazov Actor Trifon Borissovitch 59
Average
1957 Hell on Devil's Island Actor Felix Molyneaux N/A
N/A
1957 Rock All Night Actor Sir Bop 59
Average
1957 The Shadow on the Window Actor Polikoff (uncredited) 58
Average
1957 The Undead Actor Gravedigger Smolkin 57
Average
1957 Attack of the Crab Monsters Actor Jules Deveroux 57
Average
1957 The 27th Day Actor Russian Marshal 59
Average
1956 Flight to Hong Kong Actor Boris 59
Average
1956 Calling Homicide Actor Valensi (uncredited) 59
Average
1956 Outside the Law Actor Milo 58
Average
1955 The Fighting Chance Actor Al Moreno 58
Average
1955 Hold Back Tomorrow Actor First Guard 58
Average
1955 The Big Knife Actor Mustached Party Guest 58
Average
1955 Kismet Actor Beggar (uncredited) 58
Average
1955 Duel on the Mississippi Actor Sheriff 58
Average
1955 Spy Chasers Actor Nick 59
Average
1955 Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy Actor Iben 59
Average
1955 Soldier of Fortune Actor Fernand Rocha 58
Average
1955 The Racers Actor Fiori (uncredited) 58
Average
1954 The Silver Chalice Actor Marcos (uncredited) 58
Average
1954 Pushover Actor Detective (uncredited) 59
Average
1954 Massacre Canyon Actor Gonzales 59
Average
1954 Jesse James vs. the Daltons Actor 58
Average
1954 Wyoming Renegades Actor 'Whiskey' Pearson 58
Average
1953 Appointment in Honduras Actor Hidalgo (uncredited) 58
Average

Directing

1977 Joyride to Nowhere Directing Director 58
Average
1971 Lady Frankenstein Directing Director 58
Average
1968 The Last Mercenary Directing Director 59
Average
1968 Llaman de Jamaica, Mr. Ward Directing Director 59
Average
1967 Island of the Doomed Directing Director 58
Average
1965 Our Man in Jamaica Directing Director 58
Average
1960 The Little Shop of Horrors Directing Second Unit Director 60
Fair
1960 Code of Silence Directing Director 59
Average

Writing

1977 Joyride to Nowhere Writing Writer 58
Average
1967 Island of the Doomed Writing Story 58
Average
1967 Island of the Doomed Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1960 Code of Silence Writing Writer 59
Average

Production

1990 Secret Agent 00 Soul Production Production Manager 59
Average
1977 Joyride to Nowhere Production Producer 58
Average
1971 Lady Frankenstein Production Producer 58
Average