Bellamy at Equity’s Helm

In your obituary of Ralph Bellamy (“Ralph Bellamy Dies; Veteran Actor Won Fame for F.D.R. Role,” Metro, Nov. 30), there was no mention of a very important part of Bellamy’s life. He served as president of Actors’ Equity Assn. from 1952 until 1964. In those 12 years his accomplishments were many. Bellamy did not consider his position as president to be that of a figurehead but rather made his position one of great leadership through very difficult years for theater actors.

Bellamy brought Equity through the McCarthy era of political blacklisting and formed a panel, with the producers, to protect members against unproven charges. He put the financial basis of Equity on a far better footing than it had been in years. He accomplished the establishment of the first Actors’ Pension Fund.

Bellamy was active in lobbying for the repeal of theater admission taxes and persuaded Congress to allow income averaging for performers and others who had incomes that could swing drastically from one year to another. When he refused to run for a fifth term as president of Equity, he was made president emeritus.

During the years of his presidency, he was starring in Broadway plays, and it was no small sacrifice to give most of his free time toward serving his fellow actors. He defined his goals for Equity as “to put the union on a business basis and achieve intramural unity.” This goal he achieved and, when he passed away, all of the acting community in theater as well as in other media were the poorer for his departure.

GEORGE IVES

Western Regional Director

Actors Equity Assn.

Hollywood