Buck Kartalian Biography

Fast Facts

• Served with the U․S․ Navy during World War II on a destroyer ship in the Pacific Ocean
• First became interested in acting as a child at a summer camp, which was near the Ivoryton Playhouse and where the actors would rehearse on the lawn outside
• Got started as an actor after attending an audition with some friends and getting the part of Samson in a Broadway production of "Romeo and Juliet․"
• Best known for his role as Julius in 1968's "Planet of the Apes" and as Dynamite in "Cool Hand Luke․"
• Became a wrestler after joining a gym and discovering a talent for acrobatics that led him to win the Mr․ New York City Contest
• Appeared in the National Touring Company, the Summer Stock, and the film adaptation of the Broadway show "Mister Roberts․"
• During his time as a wrestler he competed under the names Mighty Mouse and Perpetual Motion Man