
Mel Welles
Born
February 17, 1924
Died
August 19, 2005 (81 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mel Welles (February 17, 1924 - August 18, 2005) was an American film actor. His best-remembered role may be that of hapless flower shop owner Gravis Mushnik in the 1960 low-budget Roger Corman dark comedy, The Little Shop of Horrors (which featured Jack Nicholson as a masochistic dental patient).
Not much is known of Welles' early life, except that he was born Ira Meltcher in New York City. He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, in 1940. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Penn State University, a Master of Arts degree from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University.
Welles held a number of jobs during his lifetime; at one time or another he worked as a clinical psychologist, radio DJ, television actor, writer and film director. He did some stage work before traveling to Hollywood, where in 1953 he appeared in his first film, Appointment in Honduras. His favorite role (The Little Shop of Horrors) was also his last in the U.S. for many years.
In the early 1960s, he left the United States to act, produce and direct primarily in European film productions including the cult horror films Maneater of Hydra (1967) and Lady Frankenstein (1971). His fluency in five languages proved to be most helpful. He also served as a film consultant. Later he returned to the U.S., appearing in a number of films, doing voice work, and teaching voice acting.
Probably his most widely seen work in the late 1970's was his English adaptation of the Japanese television show, "Spectreman" which was seen on UHF and cable across the United States. While he shares writing credit with two other people, it's clear that most of the English voice work, and the offbeat humor, is his.
In 1998, Welles took to the stage in a community theater production of Little Shop of Horrors (musical) as Mushnik, the role he created in the original Roger Corman film. Welles had never performed in the musical and was happy to be asked to do the role, which he described as a "mitzvah" for Scotts Valley Performing Arts. Jonathan Haze, who played Seymour in the original film, attended the opening, and Welles also received a visit from Martin P. Robinson, the designer of the Audrey II plant puppets used in the off-Broadway production (Robinson is also famous for his puppetry on Sesame Street).
Welles was working on a horror screenplay, tentatively titled House of a Hundred Horrors, at the time of his death.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Mel Welles, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Piecing Together Lady Frankenstein
2018

Howard
Gravis Mushnick (archive footage)
2018

The Truth About Lady Frankenstein
Self
2007

Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II
Caedmon
1989

Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here
Mr. Davar
1988

Rented Lips
Milo
1987

Commando Squad
Quintano
1987

Medium Rare
Doctor
1987

Chopping Mall
Cook
1986

Homework
Doctor
1982

The Last American Virgin
Druggist
1982

Body and Soul
Joe Gillardi
1981

Smokey Bites the Dust
Abu Habib Bibubu
1981

Wolfen
ESS Voice (voice)
1981

Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype
Dr. Vince Hinkle
1980

Joyride to Nowhere
Tank McCall
1977

The Day the Hot Line Got Hot
1968

Revenge of The Blood Beast
Ladislav Groper
1966

The Keeler Affair
Yevgeni Ivanovich
1963

The Reluctant Saint
1962

The Red Sheik
Hassan
1962

Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man
Italian Sergeant (uncredited)
1962

The Little Shop of Horrors
Gravis Mushnick
1960

Code of Silence
1960

Mr. Lucky
Hoodlum · (1 episode)
1959

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
(1 episode)
1958

The Texan
Matt Lane · (1 episode)
1958

High School Confidential!
Charlie O'Flair
1958

The Brothers Karamazov
Trifon Borissovitch
1958

The Walter Winchell File
(1 episode)
1957

Maverick
Carlos · (1 episode)
1957

Have Gun, Will Travel
(1 episode)
1957

Hell on Devil's Island
Felix Molyneaux
1957

Rock All Night
Sir Bop
1957

The Shadow on the Window
Polikoff (uncredited)
1957

The Undead
Gravedigger Smolkin
1957

Attack of the Crab Monsters
Jules Deveroux
1957

The 27th Day
Russian Marshal
1957

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
(3 episodes)
1956

Flight to Hong Kong
Boris
1956

Calling Homicide
Valensi (uncredited)
1956

Outside the Law
Milo
1956

The Fighting Chance
Al Moreno
1955

Hold Back Tomorrow
First Guard
1955

The Big Knife
Mustached Party Guest
1955

Kismet
Beggar (uncredited)
1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Police Inspector Kafir · (1 episode)
1955

Jungle Jim
(1 episode)
1955

Cheyenne
(1 episode)
1955

Duel on the Mississippi
Sheriff
1955

Spy Chasers
Nick
1955

Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
Iben
1955

Soldier of Fortune
Fernand Rocha
1955

The Racers
Fiori (uncredited)
1955

The Silver Chalice
Marcos (uncredited)
1954

Pushover
Detective (uncredited)
1954

Massacre Canyon
Gonzales
1954

Jesse James vs. the Daltons
1954

Wyoming Renegades
'Whiskey' Pearson
1954

Appointment in Honduras
Hidalgo (uncredited)
1953

Gun Fury
1953
Private Secretary
(1 episode)
1953

I Led Three Lives
(1 episode)
1953

The Ford Television Theatre
Fat Man · (1 episode)
1952

The Lone Ranger
Sheriff Pender · (1 episode)
1949