Bert Remsen, the character actor who started on the New York stage before moving west to roles on TV and film, died April 22 in southern California, the New York Times reported. He was 74. Mr. Remsen was born in Glen Cole, NY., and studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He performed in stock and on Broadway, appearing in Diamond Lil and The Rainmaker.
Mr. Remsen played television roles and, in the 1960s, became a casting director before Robert Altman encouraged him to come back to acting. After 1970, he appeared in "Brewster McCloud," "Thieves Like Us," "Maverick," "Lookin' to Get Out," "Independence Day" and more.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, two daughters, a brother and two grandchildren.
-- By Kenneth Jones
