Liam Sullivan

Interviewed in the book The Encyclopedia of Feature Players of Hollywood by Tom and Jim Goldrup (BearManor Media publishers in 2012). The actual interview took place in the 1990's.

Among his many TV credits two stand out above all: his sadistic philosopher-king Parmen from the Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) episode "Plato's Stepchildren",; and his obnoxious social-climbing upstart Jamie Tennyson in "The Silence" (The Twilight Zone (1959)) who unwisely accepts a bet for a half-million dollars that he can remain silent for a year (based on a short story by Anton Chekhov, entitled "The Bet"). Liam appeared in another Twilight Zone episode, "The Changing of the Guard", but this time was overshadowed by Donald Pleasence, who delivered arguably the most poignant performance of his career. During the latter stages of his life, Liam combined acting with writing and, just prior to his death, was working on a novel.

Liam Sullivan was schooled at Illinois College while having his first fling with the acting profession in regional theater. He then studied drama at Harvard, made his way to New York and first appeared on Broadway in "The Constant Nymph" in 1951. He later returned to the West Coast to perform in an LA stage production of "Mary Stuart".

By the early 1950's, he began appearing in television, his Romanesque features and precisely modulated voice ideally suited to smoothly roguish, arrogant or cynical gents, adept at caustic or witty repartee. He was a familiar presence across all genres, from western to science fiction.