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{{short description|American screenwriter}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Stanley Ralph Ross
| image = Publicity_Photo_of_Stanley_Ralph_Ross.jpg
| caption = Publicity Photo of Stanley Ralph Ross
| birth_name = Stanley Ralph Rosenberg
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|7|22}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
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}}
'''Stanley Ralph Ross''' (July 22, 1935 – March 16, 2000) was an American writer and actor.
==Career==
After graduating from high school in 1952, Ross sang with a vocal group first called The Three Feathers, and then The Formals, who recorded a single for [[Dawn Records (American label)|Dawn Records]]. Their arranger was [[Dave Lambert (American jazz vocalist)|Dave Lambert]]. Rather than going to college, Ross performed as a comedy duo with [[Paul Krassner]]. He then sold adding machines, and worked as an agent for photographers (including [[Weegee]]) and models. “I didn’t know I was a writer,” Ross later recalled. “I didn’t find that out until many years later.” <ref name="Academy"/>
Ross moved to Los Angeles in 1956, and met his wife, Neila Hyman, almost immediately. While working in advertising (“where I learned how to write,” Ross recalled later),<ref name="Academy"/> Ross teamed with [[Bob Arbogast]] to write and record the 1958 novelty record "Chaos". When it came out on [[Liberty Records]], it sold 10,000 copies in three days and then was banned from radio play when stations realized that it satirized [[Top 40 (format)|Top 40]] radio. The record became a favorite of [[Dr Demento]], and may have influenced [[George Carlin]]’s “Wonderful WINO” radio routine.<ref>{{cite book|pages=82–83|title= Seven Dirty Words: The Life and Crimes of George Carlin|first=James|last=Sullivan|year=2010|publisher=Hachette Books|ISBN= 9780786745920}}</ref>
Ross made his mark on television as a writer. While working in promotions for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], he wrote (and directed) the classic opening segment to ''[[ABC's Wide World of Sports]]'':<ref>{{cite web|url= https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/news/abcs-wide-world-of-sports-debuted-50-years-ago-today|website=Television Academy|title= ABC's Wide World of Sports debuted 50 years ago today|date=April 29, 2011|accessdate=November 23, 2024}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition… this is ''ABC's Wide World of Sports''!}}
Ross wrote for song parodist [[Allan Sherman]], and then co-wrote with Arbogast an album of parody songs titled ''My Son, the Copycat'' (as Stan Ross).<ref>{{cite web|website=Discogs|title=Stan Ross – My Son The Copy Cat|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14812629-Stan-Ross-My-Son-The-Copy-Cat|accessdate=November 23, 2024}}</ref> After the release of the album, an agent told Ross, “You’re a better writer than you are a singer. We may have some work for you.” Ross was then hired to rewrite ''[[Beach Party]]'' (1963). This led to television writing credits, although Ross wrote another parody album for singer Christine Nelson, who had partnered with Allan Sherman on his song “Sarah Jackman.” At the live recording of the Christine Nelson album (1966’s ''Did'ja Come To Play Cards Or To Talk?''),<ref>{{cite web|website=Discogs|title=Christine Nelson (2) , Conducted And Arranged By Lou Busch – Did'ja Come To Play Cards Or To Talk?|url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1633474-Christine-Nelson-2-Conducted-And-Arranged-By-Lou-Busch-Didja-Come-To-Play-Cards-Or-To-Talk|accessdate=November 23, 2024}}</ref> Ross was approached by producer [[Howie Horwitz]], who invited him to pitch story ideas for the new TV show, ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]''.<ref name="Academy"/>
Ross wrote 27 episodes of the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' series, while doing rewrites on many others. He became particularly identified with the character of [[Catwoman]], writing almost all of that character’s episodes. “What I put into the character is what I wanted to see in a woman,” Ross recalled later. “Bright, sexually aggressive, and had fun doing what she did.” <ref name="Academy"/> He had an uncredited cameo in one episode in which he played "Ballpoint Baxter." Ballpoint then became his nickname in real life.<ref name="Academy"/>
Although most recognized for his work on ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'', Ross also wrote for many other series, including ''[[The Monkees (TV series)|The Monkees]]'', ''[[Banacek]]'', ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'', ''[[Columbo]]'', ''[[The Electric Company]]'', and ''[[G.I. Joe]]''. He was the co-creator with [[Roger Price (comedy)|Roger Price]] of the 1977 [[NBC]] [[situation comedy]] ''[[The Kallikaks]]'' and also wrote for the show. He was nominated for both an Emmy and a WGA Award for writing a 1971 episode of ''[[All in the Family]]''. Ross was credited on at least one occasion as Sue Donem, a pun on "pseudonym".<ref name = "IMDb">{{cite web|website=IMDb| title=Stanley Ralph Ross|url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743853/?ref_=pro_nm_visitcons | accessdate=November 23, 2024}}</ref> He also co-wrote the pilot that became the series ''[[That's My Mama|That’s My Mama]]''.<ref name="Academy"/>
Ross was involved in multiple efforts to bring the comic book character [[Wonder Woman]] to television. Having been asked to write an alternative treatment for the [[Stan Hart]] and [[Larry Siegel]] 1967 proposal, Ross was later approached by producer [[Douglas S. Cramer]] in 1973 to write a series pilot. Ross declined, objecting to the series' updated Wonder Woman character (based on the 1960s and 70s comic book) and the casting of [[Cathy Lee Crosby]]. When the 1974 Crosby pilot failed, Ross was brought in to develop his own vision which put a high priority on visual fidelity to the look of the classic comics. The resulting ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'' aired from 1975 to 1979. Ross was instrumental in the choosing of [[Lynda Carter]] and [[Lyle Waggoner]] as the show's stars.<ref>Stanley Ross interview, Archive of American Television, accessed 6/11/15: http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/stanley-ralph-ross#</ref>
In 1977, Ross was awarded the [[Inkpot Award]].<ref>[https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot Inkpot Award]</ref>
==Acting work==
Ross was known for his distinctive voice, and did much voiceover work, in addition to dramatic roles. He did the voice of [[Gorilla Grodd]] on ''[[Challenge of the Superfriends]]'' and ''[[Super Friends (1980)|Super Friends]]'' cartoons, as well as taking over as [[Brainiac (character)|Brainiac]] in ''[[Super Friends (1980)|Super Friends]]'', ''[[Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show]]'' and ''[[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]'' (following the death of [[Ted Cassidy]]), [[Perry White]] in the 1988 ''[[Superman (TV series)|Superman]]'' cartoon, Dark Paw in ''[[Paw Paws]]''. He provided the voice for the Arab singer in the original version of ''[[The Flight of the Phoenix (1965 film)|The Flight of the Phoenix]]'' and was also the voice of the Doberman and Bull Terrier characters in the movie, ''[[Babe: Pig in the City]]''.
Ross also had numerous smaller parts (voice and acting) on television, movies, and over 1000 commercials. One of his most notable on-screen TV roles was Mr. Goodbury on ''[[The Munsters Today]]''.<ref name="IMDb"/>
His radio vignettes were heard on KFI, Los Angeles during 1973.
==Audio books==
In addition to his other work Ross also recorded audio books. Some of his recordings are'' A Book of the Five Rings'' based on [[The Book of Five Rings|the book of the same name]] by [[Musashi Miyamoto]], ''Believe and Achieve'' based on the writings of [[Napoleon Hill]] and ''Awakening Your Mind Power'', ''Channeling Your Higher Self'','' Explore Your Past Lives'', ''Meditation'' and ''Self Hypnosis'' all based on the writings of [[Edgar Cayce]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://us.macmillan.com/author/stanleyralphross|title = Stanley Ralph Ross | Authors}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.learnoutloud.com/Results/Narrator/Stanley-Ralph-Ross/693|title = Audiobooks Narrated by Stanley Ralph Ross}}</ref>
==Other work==
Ross was also a songwriter, composing over 200 pieces, collaborating with such talent as [[Henry Mancini]]. He wrote "Beat the System," the theme song for ''The Kallikaks'', which [[Roy Clark]] performed for the opening credits of the show in 1977. He also made several forays into musical theater, co-writing and co-composing the musical ''Love Is Spoken Here'' with Jacquelyn Reinach.
In theatre, Ross wrote and produced “A Play With Fire” in Dundee, Scotland.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Plays & Players|year=1984|issue=370-375}}</ref>
Ross wrote book, music, and lyrics for a stage musical called ''Chaplin'' with star [[Anthony Newley]], who played the title role of [[Charlie Chaplin]]. The show was scheduled to come to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in 1983, but fell apart after a tryout in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web| website=The New York Times| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/10/theater/why-chaplin-is-not-opening-on-broadway.html| title=WHY 'CHAPLIN' IS NOT OPENING ON BROADWAY|first=Samuel G.|last=Freedman|date=November 10, 1983|accessdate=November 20, 2024}}</ref>
He also taught at the [[University of Southern California]] film school.<ref name = "Variety">{{cite web|website=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2000/scene/people-news/stanley-ralph-ross-1117779847/|title=Stanley Ralph Ross|first=Doug|last=Galloway|date=March 26, 2000|accessdate=November 20, 2024}}</ref>
In collaboration with [[Jay Robert Nash]], Ross authored [[The Motion Picture Guide]], a comprehensive multi-volume set of encyclopedias written from the 1970s to the early 1980s, containing detailed descriptions of possibly every motion picture made up to that time, with a two-volume index, and a separate volume entirely dedicated to silent films, and yet another listing every actor (and other major creative credit) with that person's complete list of films. The regular encyclopedia editions alphabetized every sound feature from 1927 until 1983, the last volume having a separate section in the back for 1984 movies (and the deaths of that year) that were compiled too close to press time to include alphabetically among the other listings; and starting in 1985 until the early 1990s, an individual volume was released annually, with an obituary section for that year also included. It used a five-star rating system, and was perhaps the most complete single project to catalog every movie until the creation of [[The Internet Movie Database]] ([[IMDb]]).<ref name="Variety"/>
With Bob Arbogast, Ross wrote a 1975 book called ''Speak When You Hear the Beep''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Speak When You Hear the Beep'|author1=Stanley Ralph Ross|author2=Robert Ralph Arbogast|publisher=Price/Stern/Sloan|year=1975|ISBN= 978-0843103403}}</ref>
He later co-wrote the 1995 book ''Boy Wonder: My Life in Tights'' with [[Burt Ward]], who starred as [[Robin (comics)|Robin]] on the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' series.<ref>{{cite book|title=Boy Wonder: My Life in Tights|author1=Burt Ward|author2=Stanley Ralph Ross|year=1995|publisher=Logical Figments Inc.|ISBN=978-0964704800}}</ref> An ordained minister, Ross married Ward to his third wife; and married [[Milton Berle]] to his fourth wife.<ref name="Academy"/>
==Death==
Ross died of lung cancer on March 16, 2000, leaving behind his wife Neila, three children, and a granddaughter.<ref name="Variety"/> He was buried in [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]]. His grave reads: Larger Than Life Beloved Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather STANLEY RALPH ROSS July 22, 1935 * March 16, 2000 "Thanks, I Had A Wonderful Time!"<ref>{{cite web|website=Find a Grave| url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7334020/stanley-ralph-ross|title=Stanley Ralph Ross|accessdate=November 20, 2024}}</ref>
==Actor==
*''[[John Goldfarb, Please Come Home]]'' (1964) as Muezzin (uncredited)
*''[[My Favorite Martian]]'' (1964) as Folk Singer
*''[[The Flight of the Phoenix (1965 film)|The Flight of the Phoenix]]'' (1965) as Arab Singer (uncredited)
*''[[The Felony Squad]]'' (1966) as Reynolds
*''[[Tony Rome]]'' (1967) as Sam Boyd
*''[[Sleeper (1973 film)|Sleeper]]'' (1973) as Sears Wiggles
*''[[Candy Stripe Nurses]]'' (1974) as Dr. Kramer
*''[[The Lost Saucer]]'' (1975) as Dr. Frankenstein XIII
*''[[Far Out Space Nuts]]'' (1975) as Dr. Drone
*''[[Ellery Queen (TV series)|Ellery Queen]]'' (1976) as Gabe
*''[[Helter Skelter (1976 film)|Helter Skelter]]'' (1976, TV Mini-Series) as Sgt. Ross
*''[[Serpico (TV series)|Serpico]]'' (1976) as Sgt. Meyers
* ''[[Three on a Date]]'' (1978) as Al
* ''[[Flying High (TV series)|Flying High]]'' (1979) as Newscaster
* ''For the Love of It'' (1980) as Agitated Driver
* ''[[Hart to Hart]]'' (1981) as Harry Carney
* ''[[Bret Maverick]]'' (1982) as Coates
* ''[[Casablanca (1983 TV series)|Casablanca]]'' (1983) as Bou Azza
*''[[Romantic Comedy (1983 film)|Romantic Comedy]]'' (1983)
* ''Allison Sydney Harrison'' (1983) as Karate Instructor
*''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'' (1984) as Convict #1
*''[[The Paper Chase (TV series)|The Paper Chase]]'' (1985)
*''[[The Boss' Wife]]'' (1986) as Ticket Taker
*''[[Falcon Crest]]'' (1987-1989) as Bank Manager / Phillip Tindall
*''[[Side Out]]'' (1990) as Judge McKibbon
*''[[The Munsters Today]]'' (1990) as Mr. Goodbury
*''Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice'' (1994) as Milo Balian
* ''HeartPower! Sing-Along'' (1999) Tobacco Man (final role)
*''[[An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn]]'' (1997) as Stanley Ralph Ross
*''[[Babe: Pig in the City]]'' (1998) as The Pitbull / The Doberman (voice) (final film role)
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* ''[[That Girl]]'' (1967)
* ''[[Barefoot in the Park]]'' (1970)
* ''[[The Bugaloos]]'' (1971)
* ''[[All in the Family]]'' (1971, 1973)
* ''[[Love, American Style]]'' (1972)
* ''[[The New Bill Cosby Show]]'' (1972)
* ''[[The Mod Squad]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Banacek]]'' (1972-1973)
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* ''[[That's My Mama|That’s My Mama]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'' (1975-1979)
* ''[[Monster Squad]]'' (1976)
* ''[[The Kallikaks]]'' (1977)
*''[[Murder at the Mardi Gras]]'' (1978)
* ''[[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983 TV series)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Kids Incorporated]]'' (1985)
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===Films===
*''[[The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot]]'' (1965)
*''Follow Me'' (1967)
*''[[Coffee, Tea or Me * ''
* ''Sky Heist'' (1975)
* ''Best Friends'' (1977)
* ''[[Three on a Date]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Murder at the Mardi Gras]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Gold of the Amazon Women]]'' (1979) as Sue Donem
* ''For the Love of It'' (1980)
* ''The Texas Rangers'' (1981)
*''Carlo’s Wake'' (1990) (producer)
==References==
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*{{IMDb name|name=Stanley Ralph Ross|id=0743853}}
* {{Find a Grave|7334020}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121102061449/http://www.mtv.com/movies/person/54390/filmography.jhtml]
*http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/21861.html
*http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/stanley-ralph-ross
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[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American
[[Category:Jewish American songwriters]]
[[Category:Jewish American television writers]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in California]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Wide World of Sports (American TV series)]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Burials at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]]
[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American songwriters]]
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