How Carl Betz Kept His Lung Cancer a Secret Until His Death

Carl Betz was a popular American actor who starred in several television shows and movies in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best remembered for playing Donna Reed’s husband, Dr. Alex Stone, in the sitcom The Donna Reed Show, and for winning an Emmy Award for his role as defense attorney Clinton Judd in the drama Judd, for the Defense. But behind his successful career, Betz was hiding a devastating diagnosis that he kept from the public until his final days.

Early Life and Career of Carl Betz

Carl Betz was born on March 9, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of four children of Carl W. and Mary Leona Betz. His father was a chemist and his mother was a homemaker. Betz developed an interest in acting at a young age and formed a theatrical company with his friends when he was 10 years old. They performed plays in his grandmother’s basement.

Betz graduated from Mount Lebanon High School in 1939 and won a scholarship to Duquesne University. He later transferred to Carnegie Mellon University, where he majored in drama. He interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he was a technical sergeant in the Corps of Engineers. He saw action in North Africa and Italy.

After the war, Betz returned to Carnegie Tech and earned his degree in drama. He moved to New York City and worked as a radio announcer and disk jockey. He made his Broadway debut in 1952 in The Long Watch, and toured with Veronica Lake in the play The Voice of the Turtle. He also appeared in several soap operas, such as Love of Life, where he played Collie Jordan for 18 months.

Betz made his film debut in 1953 in Dangerous Crossing, where he played John Bowman, the husband of Jeanne Crain’s character. He also had uncredited roles in My Pal Gus and O’Henry’s Full House. He continued to work in television, guest-starring in shows like Sheriff of Cochise, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, The Millionaire, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

The Donna Reed Show and Judd, for the Defense

In 1958, Betz landed his most famous role as Dr. Alex Stone, the pediatrician husband of Donna Reed’s character, Donna Stone, in the ABC sitcom The Donna Reed Show. The show revolved around the home and school problems of a middle-class American family in the late 1950s and mid-1960s. Betz’s character was often called upon to rescue his wife from awkward situations and to monitor the behavior of their children, Mary (Shelley Fabares) and Jeff (Paul Petersen).

The Donna Reed Show was a hit with audiences and critics alike, running for eight seasons and 275 episodes from 1958 to 1966. Betz received four Emmy nominations for his performance as Dr. Alex Stone, but never won.

After The Donna Reed Show ended, Betz starred in another ABC series, Judd, for the Defense, where he played Clinton Judd, a flamboyant lawyer who defended controversial cases across the country. The show was inspired by real-life attorneys such as F. Lee Bailey and Percy Foreman. Betz won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series for his work on Judd, for the Defense in 1969.

However, Judd, for the Defense was not as popular as The Donna Reed Show and was canceled after two seasons and 50 episodes. Betz later said that he was proud of the show and that it was one of his favorite roles.

Personal Life and Death of Carl Betz

Betz married twice in his life. His first wife was Lois Harmon, whom he married in 1952 and divorced in 1961. They had one son together, Richard Lawrence Betz. His second wife was Gloria Stone Martin, whom he married in 1963 and remained with until his death. They had one daughter together, Rio Kelly.

Betz was diagnosed with lung cancer sometime in the early 1970s, but he kept it a secret from the public and continued to work as an actor. He appeared in several TV shows and movies throughout the decade, such as Spinout (1966), Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976), Quincy M.E. (1977), Starsky and Hutch (1976), Matt Helm (1975), The Magical World of Disney (1975), S.W.A.T. (1975), Marcus Welby M.D. (1974), Police Story (1976), Most Wanted (1977), Kingston: Confidential (1977), The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977), and The Meal (1975).

Betz’s condition worsened in late 1977 and he was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He died on January 18, 1978, at the age of 56. His death was announced by his wife, Gloria, who said that he had been suffering from pneumonia. She did not reveal that he had lung cancer until later.

Betz was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. He was survived by his wife, Gloria, his son, Richard, his daughter, Rio, his mother, Mary Leona, and his three siblings, Mary Louise, Leona Ruth, and William Harlow.

Betz was remembered by his co-stars and friends as a talented and versatile actor, a loving husband and father, and a kind and generous person. Donna Reed said that he was “a wonderful man and a fine actor.” Paul Petersen said that he was “a great guy and a terrific actor.” Shelley Fabares said that he was “a very special man.” Clinton Judd’s creator, Paul Monash, said that he was “a superb actor and a warm human being.”

Carl Betz left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a loyal fan base that still admires his work to this day. He was one of the most popular TV actors of his time and one of the most courageous ones as well. He kept his lung cancer a secret until his death because he wanted to focus on his passion for acting and not on his illness. He lived his life to the fullest and entertained millions of people with his talent and charm. He was a true star who will never be forgotten.

Doms Desk

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