Bert Freed; Character Actor, Officer in Screen Actors Guild

Bert Freed, veteran character actor for five decades and longtime officer of the Screen Actors Guild, has died. He was 74.

Freed died of heart failure late Tuesday while vacationing near Vancouver, his son, Carl, said Wednesday.

Born in New York, Freed made his Broadway debut in 1943 in “Johnny 2 x 4.” He subsequently appeared in several stage plays, about 75 films and more than 200 television programs.

Freed served on the board of the Screen Actors Guild from 1969 to 1989, was its first vice president, a trustee of its Producers’ Pension and Health Plans and founding chairman of its Seniors Committee. He was also active in the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and for the last 15 years had chaired the AFTRA-SAG Credit Union.

Among Freed’s film credits were “Paths of Glory,” “Norma Rae,” “Billy Jack,” “Halls of Montezuma,” “Hang ‘Em High” and “There Was a Crooked Man.”

In addition to his son, Carl, of Scarsdale, N.Y., Freed is survived by his wife of 37 years, Nancy Lee; a daughter Jennifer, of Santa Barbara; stepson Andrew Sutton, of Arizona, and two grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Leo Baeck Temple, 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd. A Hollywood tribute is planned for 3 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Radisson Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd.

The family has asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Academy Foundation or the Motion Picture and Television Fund.