Arthur Ellen, Hypnotist Who Helped Athletes, Actors, Dies

Arthur Ellen, a hypnotist who during his 46-year career freed noted ballplayers including Nolan Ryan, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente and Maury Wills of their pre-game jitters, died last week of throat cancer. He was 75.

Ellen, who lived in Northridge, also helped Hollywood actors, such as Tony Curtis and Eddie Albert, settle down so they could memorize scripts. But he also worked to free patients of more common fears, from medical shots to dentist drills, from claustrophobia to agoraphobia.

His method was completely conversational; he captivated subjects with his folksy demeanor, penetrating eyes and expressive mouth.

Ellen lobbied unsuccessfully to be official hypnotist to the Los Angeles Dodgers, saying athletes had special needs for hypnosis. “When an athlete has a problem, he doesn’t need to know why or how long,” he explained. “He needs help right now.”

Ellen is survived by three daughters.