Anthony Zerbe

Born on May 20, 1936, in Long Beach, California, Anthony Zerbe has established a significant career as a character actor. After serving in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1961, he pursued acting, studying drama under Stella Adler in New York. His screen debut was in the 1967 western “Will Penny,” where he played Dutchie. Zerbe became known for portraying complex characters, often villains, across various genres. A notable early film role was as Matthias, a post-apocalyptic messiah, in “The Omega Man” (1971), and he also appeared as a hustler alongside Paul Newman in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” (1972).

Zerbe’s television career includes multiple guest roles and recurring characters. He gained significant recognition for his role as the urbane Lieutenant K.C. Trench in the series “Harry O” (1973-1976), for which he received an Emmy Award in 1976 for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. His filmography also features appearances in major productions such as “Papillon” (1973), “The Dead Zone” (1983), and as Milton Krest in the James Bond film “Licence to Kill” (1989). Later in his career, he played Councillor Hamann in “The Matrix Reloaded” (2003) and “The Matrix Revolutions” (2003).

Beyond film and television, Zerbe has maintained a prominent presence in theatre. He held residencies at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia, the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston. He performed in Broadway productions, including “The Little Foxes,” “Terra Nova,” and “Solomon’s Child.” In 2003, he toured with Roscoe Lee Browne in “Behind the Broken Words,” a performance centered on 20th-century poetry, comedy, and drama. Zerbe’s career demonstrates a consistent engagement with diverse acting roles across different mediums.