Charles Aidman, Often Seen But Little Known Character Actor

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Charles Aidman, the often seen, often heard but little known character actor whose sophisticated and measured tones provided him with appearances in more than 400 television programs and countless commercial voiceovers, died yesterday.

A family spokeswoman said he was 68 and died of complications from cancer at his Beverly Hills home.

The veteran supporting actor appeared in one of the earliest and eeriest "Twilight Zone" episodes in 1959, then returned to narrate a color revival of the series in 1985.

In the 1959 episode titled "And When the Sky Opened," Mr. Aidman played an astronaut who vanished.

He also appeared in many crime dramas, sitcoms and Westerns over the years, including "Quincy, M.E.," "The Fugitive," "MASH," "Gunsmoke" and "Little House on the Prairie." He often was cast as a villain, gunman or psychotic.

Mr. Aidman's appearances in television movies included the 1973 miniseries "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Red Badge of Courage."

His career began in 1957 on the New York stage, playing the lead in "Career" and he stayed close to the stage throughout his life.

When he came to Hollywood, he helped found Theater West, where one of his projects was to develop the free verse poems of Edgar Lee Masters into a play, writing the music and lyrics himself.

Mr. Aidman received an Emmy nomination for acting in the 1969 television adaption of Masters' "Spoon River Anthology," based on the poet's observation of a small Illinois town near the turn of the century.

Arthur Miller cast Mr. Aidman as Quentin, the lead of the national company of "After the Fall," Miller's play loosely based on his failed marriage to Marilyn Monroe.

He also narrated numerous commercials.

Mr. Aidman is survived by his wife, Betty, and a stepson, Chuck.

Memorial services are scheduled at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles.