IMDB

Actor

1926-02-23 · Brooklyn, New York, USA · Male

30 series in the catalog

John Anthony Fetto, II (February 23, 1926 – January 22, 2010), known professionally as Johnny Seven, was an American character actor who appeared in 26 films and approximately 600 television shows during his career, which spanned more than 40 years. His credits included the 1960 film The Apartment and a recurring role as Lt. Carl Reese on the 1968–1975 television series Ironside.

Early life

Seven was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. His parents, who were Italian immigrants, also had five daughters. He began acting and singing as a teenager. He served with the United States Army in the Philippines during World War II and performed with the United Service Organizations (USO). Fetto earned his nickname "Johnny Seven" while serving in the Army and kept it as his stage name following the end of the war.

Career

Seven began his acting career in New York City theater. He portrayed Karl Matuschka, the brother in-law of Shirley MacLaine's character, in The Apartment. His other film credits include The Last Mile (1959), Guns of the Timberland (1960), What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1968) and Murder at the World Series (1977). Seven co-wrote, produced, directed, and starred in Navajo Run, his western independent film released in 1964.

On television, in addition to Ironside, he was cast in the spin-off series Amy Prentiss. His other television credits included roles on Rescue 8, The Man from Blackhawk, Bonanza, Hennesey, The Everglades, Gunsmoke (as murderous outlaw “Barens” in 1965’s S11E1’s “Seven Hours to Dawn“), CHiPs, Naked City, Route 66, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, The Phil Silvers Show, Batman (episodes 25 and 26), Death Valley Days, Peter Gunn, The Untouchables, The Rockford Files, The Wild Wild West,The Rookies and Charlie's Angels.

In 1962, he was cast as farmer Carlo Farelli in the episode "The Last Shot" on the anthology series Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. In the story, Carlo sees saloon singer Della (Grace Lee Whitney as a wife but soon encounters competition from another suitor.

In addition to his acting career, Seven also owned a real estate business in the San Fernando Valley.

Death

Seven died of complications from lung cancer at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California on January 22, 2010, at age 83. He was survived by his wife of sixty years, Edith. and his son, John Anthony Fetto, III, an attorney in Walnut Creek, California. His memorial service was held at St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish in Granada Hills, California on February 6, 2010.

Johnny Seven at the TCM Movie Database (archived)