Cec Linder Biography
Cec Linder was a Polish-born Canadian actor who made his mark in the film and television industry with his captivating performances. Born Cecil Yekuthial Linder on March 10, 1921, he grew up in Timmins, Ontario, where his father was a respected rabbi to the local Jewish community.
During his early years in the professional world, Linder worked as an announcer at CKGB in Timmins. However, his true passion lay in acting, and he soon found himself pursuing his dream in the industry.
Linder’s successful career spanned both sides of the Atlantic, with his most prominent TV role being that of the palaeontologist Roney in the original BBC version of Quatermass and the Pit (1958–59) in the UK. In the United States, he was a regular in the CBS soap operas The Secret Storm and The Edge of Night, and in the 1980s, he appeared in several of the Perry Mason revival TV films as District Attorney Jack Welles.
In film, Cec Linder is best remembered for his role in James Bond film Goldfinger (1964), where he was cast as James Bond’s old friend, CIA agent Felix Leiter.
The actor also enjoyed guest roles in a variety of popular British, American, and Canadian television programs, including The Forest Rangers, Doomwatch, The Littlest Hobo, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Ironside, The Saint, Danger Bay, The New Avengers, The Secret Storm (as Peter Ames), and The Edge of Night as Senator Ben Travis #2. Linder was also a regular on the popular 1980s Canadian crime series Seeing Things, playing Crown Attorney Spenser.
Linder passed away on April 10, 1992, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto due to complications from emphysema. Throughout his long and illustrious career, he accumulated over 225 credits in film and television productions.
