Joe Ploski

Joseph Henry Ploski (April 16, 1904 – May 17, 1993) was a Polish-American film and television actor. He was known for his appearance in the 1953 film Stalag 17, which starred William Holden, Don Taylor and Otto Preminger.[1]

Joe Ploski
Ploski in Man with a Camera, 1958
Born	Joseph Henry Ploski (1904-04-16)April 16, 1904 Poland
Died	May 17, 1993(1993-05-17) (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Film and television actor
Years active	1932–1970

Ploski Was born in Poland.[2] Initially working as a baker,[2] he saved his money to attend at a drama school.[2] Ploski performed in vaudeville in Hollywood, California,[2] and worked as a straight man for comedian Joe Lewis.[3] He made his Broadway debut in 1932,[3] and also worked in New York with Imogene Coca and Danny Kaye.[4]

Ploski’s first screen credit was in the 1936 film Lady Be Careful. In 1938 he appeared in There Goes My Heart and Romance in the Dark.

Ploski appeared in over 200 films including Dr. Broadway (1942), The Dark Corner (1946), The Reckless Moment (1949) and Experiment Alcatraz (1950). His final credit was in 1970 for the film Airport. Ploski’s appearances in television programs included Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Tales of Wells Fargo, Wagon Train, The Fugitive, 77 Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone and Perry Mason.[5]

During World War II Ploski was inducted into the Army, serving as a mess-hall cook.[2]

Ploski died in May 1993 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 89.[6]