John Ericson - Actor Profile

John Ericson

Acting
Updated: May 09, 2026
34Total Films
9.0 Highest Rated
Born: Sep 23, 1926
Birth Place: Düsseldorf, Germany

About John Ericson

John Ericson (sometimes Erickson; born Joachim Alexander Ottokar Meibes; September 25, 1926 - May 3, 2020) was a German-American actor and film and television star. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, played the lead role in Stalag 17 by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski on Broadway (1951). He went on to make a number of films for MGM in quick succession in the 1950s. His first appearance was in Teresa (1951), directed by Fred Zinnemann, which also launched the film careers of Pier Angeli and Rod Steiger. He then went on to appear in a series of films which included Rhapsody, The Student Prince, Green Fire (all in 1954), and Bad Day at Black Rock (1955). His career continued, mostly on television, for the next thirty years. He appeared in the lead role in "The Peter Bartley Story" of CBS's fantasy drama, The Millionaire. Child actor Johnny Washbrook appeared in the same episode in a flashback segment of Ericson as a boy. He appeared with Dorothy Malone in the January 1, 1956, episode entitled "Mutiny" of CBS's Appointment with Adventure. He guest-starred in 1958 in the NBC western series The Restless Gun, starring John Payne. He also guest-starred in the 1961 ABC crime drama, Target: The Corruptors! In 1965-1966, he co-starred with Anne Francis in the detective series Honey West. He occasionally appeared in such films as Pretty Boy Floyd (1960), 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964), and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). He was married twice and had two children from his first marriage to Milly Coury. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Ericson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

John Ericson Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of John Ericson reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 34 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of John Ericson's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 35% of John Ericson's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Operation Atlantis, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best John Ericson Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from John Ericson's career based on audience ratings.

Full Filmography

Every movie John Ericson has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2002 The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller Brockie Drummond (archive footage) Average Similar →
1990 Primary Target - Super Hit Similar →
1984 Final Mission The Colonel Flop Similar →
1980 The Ghosts of Buxley Hall George Ross Hit Similar →
1978 The House of the Dead Talmudge Flop Similar →
1976 Crash! Dr. Gregg Martin Flop Similar →
1976 Hustler Squad - Flop Similar →
1974 Murder Impossible Murray Flop Similar →
1974 Hog Wild Morris Melborne Super Hit Similar →
1972 The Bounty Man Billy Riddle Average Similar →
1971 Bedknobs and Broomsticks Col. Heller Hit Similar →
1969 Heads or Tails William Huston / Will Hunter / 'Black Talisman' Average Similar →
1968 The Bamboo Saucer Fred Norwood Flop Similar →
1968 The Destructors Dutch Holland Average Similar →
1967 The Money Jungle Blake Heller Average Similar →
1967 The Vengeance of Pancho Villa Don Diego Alvarado / Diego Owens Average Similar →
1965 Operation Atlantis George Steele Super Hit Similar →
1964 7 Faces of Dr. Lao Ed Cunningham / Transformed Pan Hit Similar →
1963 I Am Semiramis Kir Average Similar →
1960 Under Ten Flags Lieutenant Krüger Average Similar →
1960 Pretty Boy Floyd Charles Arthur 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Hit Similar →
1958 Day of the Badman Sheriff Barney Wiley Hit Similar →
1957 Oregon Passage Lt. Niles Ord Flop Similar →
1957 Forty Guns Brockie Drummond Hit Similar →
1956 Heritage of Anger Johnny Hanneman Flop Similar →
1956 The Cruel Tower Tom Kittredge Flop Similar →
1955 The Return of Jack Slade Jack Slade Hit Similar →
1955 Bad Day at Black Rock Pete Wirth Hit Similar →
1954 Green Fire Donald Knowland Average Similar →
1954 The Student Prince Count Von Asterburg Average Similar →
1954 Rhapsody James Guest Hit Similar →
1954 Great Lady Has an Interview Reporter (uncredited) Flop Similar →
1951 It's a Big Country Naval Ensign (uncredited) Average Similar →
1951 Teresa Philip Cass Average Similar →

John Ericson - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of John Ericson?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Ericson is "Operation Atlantis" with a rating of 9.0/10.

How many movies has John Ericson acted in?

John Ericson has been featured in at least 34 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by John Ericson?

Other notable films include "Primary Target", "Hog Wild", and "Bad Day at Black Rock".

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