In line with the “Twilight Zone” Museum archives, Robert L. McCord made a whopping 67 appearances over the course of the unique 156-episode run of the collection. That is a little bit over 40 p.c. Nonetheless, lower than 5 of his appearances had been credited on display, as a majority of his performances went uncredited. Character actor Dick Miller may need the popularity as cinema’s biggest “Hey, it is that man!” performer, however McCord is a legend within the eyes of the “Twilight Zone” fandom, regardless of the very fact he by no means performed a number one position. Generally credited as “Bud McCord,” his nondescript look and timelessness allowed him to play quite a lot of characters no matter setting. Whether or not he was taking part in a cowboy, milkman, police officer, everyman, or a part of the rich elite, all it took was a little bit of a fancy dress change and McCord would disappear into the position.

One would suppose that the one who appeared in essentially the most variety of “Twilight Zone” episodes can be some big-named celeb, however that is simply not the fact of this business. Take into consideration a present like “Regulation & Order: SVU” with over 500 episodes however shot in the identical metropolis each time — it could be unsurprising if there are some New York Metropolis background actors boasting episode appearances within the triple digits taking part in roles like “Lady Shopping for Bagel” or “Juror #4.” These performers are very important to the business, which is why studios try to exchange them with digital replicas so they do not need to correctly compensate them. Eradicating background actors additionally means eradicating craft companies required to feed them, costumers to dress them, hair and make-up artists to type them, and casting administrators to seek out them.

“Twilight Zone” nightmare tales are higher as episode plots, not the fact of the leisure business. I am positive profession background actors like Robert L. McCord would agree.