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Leif Erickson (October 27, 1911 – January 29, 1986) was an American film and television actor. Leif Erickson was born William Wycliffe Anderson in Alameda, California. His father was commander of a fleet of ships and his mother was a noted newspaperwoman and writer. He worked as a soloist in a band as vocalist and trombone player and played in Max Reinhardt's productions, then gained a small amount of stage experience in a comedy Vaudeville act. Initially billed by Paramount Pictures as Glenn Erickson, he began his screen career as a leading man in Westerns. Erickson made his film debut... MORE

Leif Erickson (October 27, 1911 – January 29, 1986) was an American film and television actor. Leif Erickson was born William Wycliffe Anderson in Alameda, California. His father was commander of a fleet of ships and his mother was a noted newspaperwoman and writer. He worked as a soloist in a band as vocalist and trombone player and played in Max Reinhardt's productions, then gained a small amount of stage experience in a comedy Vaudeville act. Initially billed by Paramount Pictures as Glenn Erickson, he began his screen career as a leading man in Westerns. Erickson made his film debut in two 1933 band films with Betty Grable before starting a string of Buster Crabbe Westerns based on Zane Grey novels. Erickson took four years off to serve in the Navy during World War II as a combat photographer. Erickson served as an instructor, was shot down twice in the Pacific, and was twice wounded. Erickson appeared in films such as College Holiday (1937), Conquest (1937), Ride a Crooked Mile (1938), Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), The Snake Pit (1948), Fourteen Hours (1951), Invaders from Mars (1953), On the Waterfront (1954), The Fastest Gun Alive (1956), Twilight for the Gods (1958), A LESS