Paul Lambert; Veteran Actor of TV, Movies

Paul Lambert, a veteran actor whose film credits include “All the President’s Men” and “Planet of the Apes,” has died. He was 74.

Lambert, who also appeared in 300 television shows and several stage productions, died Sunday at St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica.

After beginning his acting career on the New York stage in the 1950s, Lambert made his motion picture debut as Gannicus in the 1960 film “Spartacus.”

He went on to make a score of feature films, including a role as the minister in “Planet of the Apes” in 1968 and as national editor of the Washington Post in “All the President’s Men” in 1976. Among his other films were “Play It As It Lays,” “Where Does It Hurt?” and “Billionaire Boys Club.”

His stage credits included a role in the Broadway production of “A Little Night Music.”

Lambert wrote the script for “Interior Hollywood Day” and directed and acted in a small production of the play.

In an extensive television career, he appeared in movies such as “The Missiles of October” and series that included “L.A. Law,” “Night Court,” “The Man from UNCLE,”’ “Big Valley,” “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Gunsmoke.” He was in a record 14 productions of the prestigious “Playhouse 90.”

Born in El Paso, Texas, and brought up in Kansas City, Lambert was an Army Air Corps lieutenant in World War II. Using the G.I. Bill, he attended the Actors Lab in Los Angeles and several acting schools in New York.

He is survived by a daughter, Dorte, and a sister, Dorothy Blass.

The family has asked that any memorial donations be made to Public Citizen, 1600 20th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20077-7547.