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Old-time radio actor · 1901–1970

Ed Begley

Lt. Walt Levinson on Richard Diamond, Private Detective.

We have him in 148 episodes of 32 series, 1943 to 1970, and 19 of our live channels play them around the clock, free.

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About Ed Begley

Ed Begley in 1958, on The United States Steel Hour
Ed Begley in 1958, on The United States Steel Hour.Public domain in the United States (published without a copyright notice). Wikimedia Commons

Hear all 148 Ed Begley episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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Edward James Begley was born on March 25, 1901, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Irish immigrant parents. Source: Wikipedia

He quit school in the fifth grade, worked for carnivals and small circuses, sold brushes, delivered milk and spent four years in the U.S. Navy; he began acting on Broadway and radio while still in his teens. Source: Wikipedia

He had the title role in NBC's The Adventures of Charlie Chan in 1944-45. Source: Wikipedia

He co-starred as Sgt. O'Hara on The Fat Man, the detective series heard on ABC from January 1946 to September 1951. Source: Wikipedia

On Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1949-1953), starring Dick Powell, he often played police Lt. Walt Levinson, Diamond's friend and former partner; Arthur Q. Bryan, Ted de Corsia and Alan Reed also played the part. Source: Wikipedia

His other radio work included Stroke of Fate, The Whistler, Let George Do It, Our Miss Brooks and Fibber McGee and Molly. Source: Wikipedia

He is listed in the cast of the long-running CBS crime drama The FBI in Peace and War. Source: Old Time Radio Researchers

On stage and screen he won a Tony Award for Inherit the Wind (1956) and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sweet Bird of Youth (1962), and he played Juror #10 in 12 Angry Men (1957). Source: Wikipedia

He died of a heart attack in Los Angeles on April 28, 1970; actor Ed Begley Jr. is his son. Source: Wikipedia

Listen live: the channels that play Ed Begley

Free 24/7 stations. These play the episodes below, in rotation with the rest of their shows.

Bob Bailey in a Los Angeles detective's office at night

The series' own channel

Let George Do It

12 of his episodes: Let George Do It (12)

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Illustrated cover for The Whistler: a lonely rain-slicked city street at night

The series' own channel

The Whistler

9 of his episodes: The Whistler (9)

Now Tuning in…

Illustrated cover for Lux Radio Theatre: a 1930s Hollywood theatre stage before a closed gold curtain, a single ribbon microphone in a spotlight

The series' own channel

Lux Radio Theatre

6 of his episodes: Lux Radio Theatre (6)

Now Tuning in…

Illustrated cover for Our Miss Brooks: an empty 1940s high-school English classroom, a blank chalkboard

The series' own channel

Our Miss Brooks

2 of his episodes: Our Miss Brooks (2)

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Larry Thor on a rain-slick Broadway at night

The series' own channel

Broadway Is My Beat

1 of his episodes: Broadway Is My Beat (1)

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Illustrated cover for Escape: a jungle trail at dusk, an old brass compass and a torn map on a rock, a rope bridge over a gorge

The series' own channel

Escape

1 of his episodes: Escape (1)

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Illustrated cover for Suspense: a single desk lamp in a dark room, a revolver and a telephone off the hook on the desk, long shadows across the floor

The series' own channel

Suspense

1 of his episodes: Suspense (1)

Now Tuning in…

Sal Vitale, the host of Gumshoe

Mixed channel

Gumshoe

89 of his episodes: Richard Diamond, Private Detective (37), This Is Your FBI (13), Let George Do It (12), Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar (7), The Line Up (7), The Adventures of Philip Marlowe (6), The Man Called X (2), This is Your FBI (2), Broadway Is My Beat (1), Jeff Regan, Investigator (1), Rocky Fortune (1)

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Illustrated cover for Opening Night: the front of a 1930s art-deco movie palace on premiere night, crossed searchlight beams in the sky

Mixed channel

Opening Night

24 of his episodes: Cavalcade of America (7), Lux Radio Theatre (6), Family Theater (4), Hallmark Playhouse (2), Words at War (2), Screen Directors Playhouse (1), Stroke Of Fate (1), Railroad Hour (1)

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Ophelia Crane, the host of The Midnight Exchange

Mixed channel

The Midnight Exchange

12 of his episodes: The Whistler (9), Suspense (1), Escape (1), Molle Mystery Theatre (1)

Now Tuning in…

Buster Pratt, the host of Laugh Track

Mixed channel

Laugh Track

10 of his episodes: Fibber McGee and Molly (5), Our Miss Brooks (2), Father Knows Best (2), The Harold Peary Show (1)

Now Tuning in…

Marshal Ramrod, the host of Dry Gulch

Mixed channel

Dry Gulch

5 of his episodes: Tales of the Texas Rangers (5)

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Dr. Morty Ghoulsby, a grinning mad-scientist horror host in a green lab coat

Mixed channel

Creature Feature Kids

2 of his episodes: Don't Touch That Dial (1), The Night Shift (1)

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Ed Begley’s shows on Stupid Potato

SeriesYearsEpisodes
Richard Diamond, Private Detective1949 to 195037
This Is Your FBI1949 to 195213
Let George Do It1949 to 195112
The Whistler1948 to 19529
Cavalcade of America1950 to 19537
The Line Up1950 to 19527
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar1950 to 19547
Lux Radio Theatre1949 to 19516
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe1949 to 19506
Don't Touch That Dial19705
Fibber McGee and Molly1950 to 19545
Tales of the Texas Rangers1951 to 19525
Family Theater1949 to 19524
Father Knows Best19512
Hallmark Playhouse1948 to 19512
Our Miss Brooks19492
The Man Called X1951 to 19522
This is Your FBI19492
Words at War1943 to 19452
Broadway Is My Beat19491
Crime and Peter Chambers19541
Escape19491
Jeff Regan, Investigator19481
Molle Mystery Theatre19471
Railroad Hour19501
Rocky Fortune19531
Screen Directors Playhouse19491
Stroke Of Fate19531
Suspense19481
The Harold Peary Show19511
The Night Shift1
Wild In The Streets1

Ed Begley episodes: 5 free to hear

Each one names Ed Begley on the air, in its cast list or in the show itself. Each title opens the episode’s page: what happens, the transcript from the moment he is named, and listens from any line.

  1. Ralph Chase CaseRichard Diamond, Private Detective · May 15, 1949 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  2. The Stolen PurseRichard Diamond, Private Detective · May 22, 1949 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  3. The Betty Moran CaseRichard Diamond, Private Detective · May 29, 1949 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast
  4. Fred Sears Murder CaseRichard Diamond, Private Detective · June 19, 1949 · Whole and free in the podcast
  5. Penny SerenadeHallmark Playhouse · July 1, 1948 · Episode guide · Whole and free in the podcast

Hear all 148 Ed Begley episodes, and every episode of every show, on demand: Potato Plus, $5 a month.

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All 148 Ed Begley episodes, by show

The 143 marked Potato Plus are for members: join to hear every one of them, whole, from any moment.

Richard Diamond, Private Detective 37 episodes, 1949 to 1950
  1. Ralph Chase CaseMay 15, 1949 · Episode guide · Free
  2. The Stolen PurseMay 22, 1949 · Episode guide · Free
  3. The Betty Moran CaseMay 29, 1949 · Episode guide · Free
  4. Fred Sears Murder CaseJune 19, 1949 · Free
  5. The Bloody Hat CaseJuly 2, 1949 · Potato Plus
  6. Charles Walsh and Bob WellsJuly 9, 1949 · Potato Plus
  7. The Man Who Hated WomenJuly 16, 1949 · Potato Plus
  8. The Martin Hyer CaseJuly 23, 1949 · Potato Plus
  9. The Lynn Knight CaseAugust 6, 1949 · Potato Plus
  10. The Jean Cooper Murder CaseAugust 20, 1949 · Potato Plus
  11. The Eddie Garrett CaseAugust 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  12. The Harry Baker CaseSeptember 3, 1949 · Potato Plus
  13. The Jerome J Jerome CaseSeptember 17, 1949 · Potato Plus
  14. Gibson Murder CaseOctober 8, 1949 · Potato Plus
  15. Rene Bennet Protection CaseOctober 22, 1949 · Potato Plus
  16. Bill Kirby Murder CaseOctober 29, 1949 · Potato Plus
  17. The Singing CriticNovember 5, 1949 · Potato Plus
  18. The Jacoby CaseNovember 19, 1949 · Potato Plus
  19. William Carter Loses MemoryNovember 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  20. The Ruby Idol CaseDecember 3, 1949 · Potato Plus
  21. The House Of Mystery CaseDecember 10, 1949 · Potato Plus
  22. The John Blackwell CaseDecember 17, 1949 · Potato Plus
  23. Thomas Jason CaseDecember 31, 1949 · Potato Plus
  24. Butchers and Protection RacketJanuary 7, 1950 · Potato Plus
  25. Mr Victor's DaughterJanuary 15, 1950 · Potato Plus
  26. Martin White Sees Dead MenJanuary 22, 1950 · Potato Plus
  27. To Guard A SealFebruary 5, 1950 · Potato Plus
  28. Elaine Tanner CaseFebruary 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  29. The Jewel ThiefFebruary 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  30. The Blind Man And The Cop KillerFebruary 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  31. Louis Spence CaseMarch 5, 1950 · Potato Plus
  32. Joyce WallaceMarch 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  33. Private Eye TestMarch 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  34. Photographer's CardMarch 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
  35. The Man Who Hated WomenApril 12, 1950 · Potato Plus
  36. Messenger Service, Paddy ClarkApril 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  37. The Ralph Baxter CaseApril 26, 1950 · Potato Plus
This Is Your FBI 13 episodes, 1949 to 1952
  1. The Trans-Atlantic ShakedownJuly 8, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Big CaseoutNovember 11, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The Blundering FelonNovember 25, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. Larceny Goes to SeaJanuary 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
  5. The Telltale CalendarFebruary 24, 1950 · Potato Plus
  6. The Muscle FactoryApril 21, 1950 · Potato Plus
  7. The Innocent HijackerFebruary 2, 1951 · Potato Plus
  8. Captain LarcenyMarch 9, 1951 · Potato Plus
  9. The SaboteursMarch 30, 1951 · Potato Plus
  10. The ProfiteersMay 4, 1951 · Potato Plus
  11. The Knock OutJanuary 18, 1952 · Potato Plus
  12. The Unwelcome FugitiveFebruary 22, 1952 · Potato Plus
  13. The CorruptorsMarch 21, 1952 · Potato Plus
Let George Do It 12 episodes, 1949 to 1951
  1. One Against a CityFebruary 7, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Motif Is MurderMarch 14, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Perfect AlibiAugust 1, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. The Perfect AlibiAugust 1, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. The Man Under the Elm TreesSeptember 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  6. The Rose Petal StaircaseOctober 24, 1949 · Potato Plus
  7. Partner in PanamaDecember 12, 1949 · Potato Plus
  8. The Silent WaterfallJanuary 9, 1950 · Potato Plus
  9. The Old StyleFebruary 6, 1950 · Potato Plus
  10. The Brothers Mc IntoshApril 3, 1950 · Potato Plus
  11. The Man Behind the FrameJanuary 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
  12. How Guilty Can You GetFebruary 19, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Whistler 9 episodes, 1948 to 1952
  1. Letter from YesterdayOctober 31, 1948 · Potato Plus
  2. Hired AlibiDecember 5, 1948 · Potato Plus
  3. Poor HenrySeptember 18, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. Flee from EvilDecember 17, 1950 · Potato Plus
  5. Hit and RunJanuary 7, 1951 · Potato Plus
  6. Fatal StepDecember 30, 1951 · Potato Plus
  7. A Matter of TimeFebruary 24, 1952 · Potato Plus
  8. A Matter of Time ep AFRSFebruary 24, 1952 · Potato Plus
  9. Ski MasterMarch 23, 1952 · Potato Plus
Cavalcade of America 7 episodes, 1950 to 1953
  1. Golden HarvestSeptember 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Melody ManSeptember 2, 1952 · Potato Plus
  3. One Way OutOctober 7, 1952 · Potato Plus
  4. Billy the KidDecember 30, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. A Medal for Miss WalkerJanuary 6, 1953 · Potato Plus
  6. Down BrakeJanuary 13, 1953 · Potato Plus
  7. The Nugget and the LawJanuary 27, 1953 · Potato Plus
The Line Up 7 episodes, 1950 to 1952
  1. The Cop Killer (aka-Narcotics Agent Killer)November 30, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Holsteder Case (aka-Hilston Brothers Robbery)December 21, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Yudo in Ypsilanti (aka-The Goldberg Murder Case)January 18, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. The Cigar Box Boys Case (aka-The Cigar Box Bandit)February 15, 1951 · Potato Plus
  5. The Molly About Seven CaseFebruary 27, 1951 · Potato Plus
  6. The Bromell and Bellows Bloody Bullet CaseApril 24, 1951 · Potato Plus
  7. The Cornered Cop Killer CaseApril 8, 1952 · Potato Plus
Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar 7 episodes, 1950 to 1954
  1. The Archeologist (The Disappearance of Bruce Lambert)February 24, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. The Port-O-Call MatterJanuary 13, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. The Byron Hayes MatterMarch 24, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. The Jackie Cleaver MatterMarch 31, 1951 · Potato Plus
  5. The Virginia Towne MatterMay 5, 1951 · Potato Plus
  6. The Youngstown Credit Group MatterDecember 8, 1951 · Potato Plus
  7. The Hampton Line MatterAugust 3, 1954 · Potato Plus
Lux Radio Theatre 6 episodes, 1949 to 1951
  1. Street with No NameJanuary 31, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. Sitting PrettyFebruary 14, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. Green Dolphin StreetSeptember 19, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. Scudda Hoo Scudda HayOctober 24, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. Youre My EverythingNovember 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
  6. Strangers on a TrainDecember 3, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Adventures of Philip Marlowe 6 episodes, 1949 to 1950
  1. The Long RopeFebruary 5, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Friend from DetroitMarch 5, 1949 · Potato Plus
  3. The Dancing HandsMarch 19, 1949 · Potato Plus
  4. The Heat WaveApril 16, 1949 · Potato Plus
  5. The Open WindowOctober 8, 1949 · Potato Plus
  6. The Sea Horse JockeyMay 2, 1950 · Potato Plus
Don't Touch That Dial 5 episodes, 1970
  1. The Dunwich Horror (trailer)1970 · Potato Plus
  2. AIP Movie Trailer Compilation Vol. 1[via torchbrowser.com]Potato Plus
  3. Grindhouse Movie TrailersPotato Plus
  4. Grindhouse Trailer (late 60s)Potato Plus
  5. Roger Corman Movie Trailer Compilation Vol. 1Potato Plus
Fibber McGee and Molly 5 episodes, 1950 to 1954
  1. The PostmanDecember 19, 1950 · Potato Plus
  2. Hitchhiking BureauMay 1, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. Paying The BillsFebruary 5, 1952 · Potato Plus
  4. Running Kremer's DrugstoreMarch 25, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. Tea at Whitney's Hilltop EstateJuly 22, 1954 · Potato Plus
Tales of the Texas Rangers 5 episodes, 1951 to 1952
  1. No Living WitnessesMay 6, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Paid in FullMay 13, 1951 · Potato Plus
  3. The Blow OffNovember 25, 1951 · Potato Plus
  4. Birds of a FeatherJanuary 6, 1952 · Potato Plus
  5. HitchhikerFebruary 10, 1952 · Potato Plus
Family Theater 4 episodes, 1949 to 1952
  1. Robin HoodJuly 27, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Man Without a CountryJune 7, 1950 · Potato Plus
  3. Robert of SicilyDecember 6, 1950 · Potato Plus
  4. Cass Wiggins - RookieApril 23, 1952 · Potato Plus
Father Knows Best 2 episodes, 1951
  1. Carrot Costume PartyApril 12, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Locked Out of the HouseMay 17, 1951 · Potato Plus
Hallmark Playhouse 2 episodes, 1948 to 1951
  1. Penny SerenadeJuly 1, 1948 · Episode guide · Free
  2. FOB AmericaApril 19, 1951 · Potato Plus
Our Miss Brooks 2 episodes, 1949
  1. Easter OutfitApril 17, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. School Safety AdvisorOctober 16, 1949 · Potato Plus
The Man Called X 2 episodes, 1951 to 1952
  1. Orient ExpressJanuary 27, 1951 · Potato Plus
  2. Ha' Penny StampFebruary 19, 1952 · Potato Plus
This is Your FBI 2 episodes, 1949
  1. The Hapless HijackersAugust 26, 1949 · Potato Plus
  2. The Meticulous MobsterOctober 7, 1949 · Potato Plus
Words at War 2 episodes, 1943 to 1945
  1. They Call It PacificJuly 10, 1943 · Potato Plus
  2. At War45-01-1681Verdict On IndiaJanuary 16, 1945 · Potato Plus
Broadway Is My Beat 1 episode, 1949
  1. The Tori Jones Murder CaseDecember 10, 1949 · Potato Plus
Crime and Peter Chambers 1 episode, 1954
  1. And Peter Chambers54-05-1807La Grand Maison-3rd BoothMay 18, 1954 · Potato Plus
Escape 1 episode, 1949
  1. 061- Finger of DoomMarch 19, 1949 · Potato Plus
Jeff Regan, Investigator 1 episode, 1948
  1. The Guy from Gower GulchNovember 13, 1948 · Potato Plus
Molle Mystery Theatre 1 episode, 1947
  1. Goodbye DarlingAugust 8, 1947 · Potato Plus
Railroad Hour 1 episode, 1950
  1. A Connecticut YankeeNovember 27, 1950 · Potato Plus
Rocky Fortune 1 episode, 1953
  1. Murder Among the StatuesDecember 1, 1953 · Potato Plus
Screen Directors Playhouse 1 episode, 1949
  1. Hired WifeFebruary 6, 1949 · Potato Plus
Stroke Of Fate 1 episode, 1953
  1. America's First Secret WeaponDecember 20, 1953 · Potato Plus
Suspense 1 episode, 1948
  1. Hitch-Hike PokerSeptember 16, 1948 · Potato Plus
The Harold Peary Show 1 episode, 1951
  1. Loses His Sponsor and Tries a New ShowJanuary 10, 1951 · Potato Plus
The Night Shift 1 episode,
  1. The Dunwich Horror (trailer)Potato Plus
Wild In The Streets 1 episode,
  1. Movie PromoPotato Plus

Who Ed Begley worked with most

Named in the same cast lists, counted across the episodes above.

The supporting cast of old-time radio: every actor · Every series, A to Z

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