The Celluloid Casket: Case #7: Jim Siedow

Siedow was born on June 12^th 1920 in Cheyenne Wyoming and began his acting career in his high school theater department. He followed his acting ambitions to New York City where he did stage work until he was called to service in World War II serving in the Army Air Corp. After a distinguished military career he settled in Chicago where he did radio drama and met an aspiring actress who soon became his wife Ruth. After marrying in September of 1946 the couple moved to Houston where Siedow settled into a distinguished theater career directing and starring in such varied productions as ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ (as Big Daddy!), ‘Happy Birthday Wanda June’, ‘Born Yesterday’, ‘The Lion in Winter’, ‘The Iceman Cometh’, ‘After the Fall’, ‘The Visit’, etc.

His career took a decidedly different turn when he was cast by Hooper in ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’. Siedow had a field day with the part of Drayton Sawer. Justifiably impressed with Siedow’s performance, Hooper cast him once again and expanded his villainous role in the 1986 Leatherface sequel. Jim Siedow’s other filmwork was regrettably minimal with roles as Mr. Smith in ‘The Windsplitter’ and in the low-comedy ‘Hotwire’. Additional work includes his role as Howard Ives in the nuclear accident TV-Movie thriller ‘Red Alert’ with Ralph Waite, William Devane, Adrienne Barbeau, and Michael Brandon. He also appeared as Totzke in a segment of ‘Amazing Stories’ (Miss Stardust).

Sadly, the unforgettable Jim Siedow died from emphysema complications at age 83 on November 20^th 2003 and is survived by his wife of 57 years Ruth as well as three children. Hats off and a round of applause to an unforgettable actor who put his unique stamp on a great role.