Dean Fredericks was an American actor and voice actor. His work for Disney were the antagonist role of the Comanche chief from Savage Sam, the sequel of Old Yeller and Niskitoon in The Light in the Forest. He also appeared in Daniel Boone and Gallegher as part of The Wonderful World of Disney anthology series.
Born Frederick Joseph Foote in 1942, he enlisted as a private in the 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army and served during World War II. He received a Purple Heart medal. One of his first acting roles was a priest in the "The Lord Is Risen" segment of the 1952 film series The Living Bible. His other film appearances include Jesse James v. the Daltons, Them!, Silent Raiders, Rails Into Laramie, Wild Harvest, The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, and The Phantom Planet.
His television credits include The Virginian, The Rifleman, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bronco, Lawman, Laramie, Border Patrol, Cheyenne, and Maverick. His most notable roles are that of the Hindu manservant Kaseem in Jungle Jim with Johnny Weissmuller and the title role of Steve Canyon in the 1958 television series. Fredericks dyed his hair blonde in order to match the look of the character.
When he was not acting he repaired automobiles for other actors and in 1963 built and designed his own car.
After a failed first marriage (ca. 1948-1952), Fredericks was married to his second wife, Myda Fredericks (1922–2006) on November 19, 1956. He died of cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 75.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Light in the Forest | Niskitoon |
| 1960-1961 | "Daniel Boone" | Crow Feather |
| 1963 | Savage Sam | Comanche chief |
| 1965 | "Gallegher" | Zip Wyatt |
Roles
(The Light in the Forest)
(Savage Sam)
