Liam Sullivan was schooled at Illinois College while having his first
fling with the acting profession in regional theater. He then studied
drama at Harvard, made his way to New York and first appeared on
Broadway in "The Constant Nymph" in 1951. He later returned to the West
Coast to perform in an LA stage production of "Mary Stuart". By the
early 1950s, he began appearing in television, his Romanesque features
and precisely modulated voice ideally suited to smoothly roguish,
arrogant or cynical gents, adept at caustic or witty repartee. He was a
familiar presence across all genres, from western to science fiction.
Among his many TV credits two stand out above all: his sadistic
philosopher-king Parmen from the
Raumschiff Enterprise (1966) episode "Plato's
Stepchildren",; and his obnoxious social-climbing upstart Jamie
Tennyson in "The Silence"
(Unwahrscheinliche Geschichten (1959))
who unwisely accepts a bet for a half-million dollars that he can
remain silent for a year (based on a short story by Anton Chekhov,
entitled "The Bet"). Liam appeared in another Twilight Zone episode, "The Changing
of the Guard", but this time was overshadowed by
Donald Pleasence, who delivered arguably
the most poignant performance of his career.
During the latter stages of his life, Liam combined acting with writing
and, just prior to his death, was working on a novel. He was also in
the process of compiling a biographical history of the Eli Bridge
Company who built the innovative 'Big Eli' Ferris Wheel in
Jacksonville, Illinois in May 1900. Founded by his ancestor
W.E.Sullivan, the business is still run by members of the Sullivan
family.
