Biography
Akins began his film career as a heavy, beginning with his feature debut, "From Here to Eternity" (1953). He continued this trend to varying degrees in major productions like "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), "The Defiant Ones" (1958) and "Inherit the Wind" (1960). Akins also fared well portraying rednecks and assorted varmints in numerous Westerns (Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo" 1959, "Commanche Station" 1960).
TV tended to view the strapping actor in a …
Career Milestones
| Appeared as a regular, Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo, on the trucking adventure series "B.J. And the Bear" | ||
| Made stage debut with Barter Theatre, Abingdon Virginia where he appeared in "The Hasty Heart", "The Heiress" and "The Show Off" | ||
| Performed for several seasons with touring companies and in dinner theater; worked in Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville and L,A. | ||
| Raised in Bedford, Indiana | ||
| Starred in "Lobo", a somewhat darker urban crime drama spinoff from "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" | ||
| Starred in the spinoff, "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" | ||
| TV series debut, "Movin' On" | ||
| Worked as a TV and radio spokesman for Aamco transmissions | ||
| Worked as salesman in Indiana | ||
1944 | Served as master sergeant in US Army Signal Corps | |
1951 | Broadway debut as a salesman in "The Rose Tatoo" (also toured with show 1951-52) | |
1951 | TV debut, "Suspense" | |
1953 | Film debut, "From Here to Eternity" | |
1961 | Starred in "Sam Hill", a memorable busted Western pilot, directed by Robert Altman and broadcast as an episode of "Bonanza" on NBC | |
1992 | Final TV guest shot, as the ghost of a Western bank robber on "Eerie, Indiana", directed by Joe Dante | |
1992 | Final TV movie credit, playing Teddy Roosevelt in the syndicated miniseries, "Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls" | |
1992 | Final feature credit, "Falling From Grace", the directing bow of John Mellencamp | |