From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Basil Ruysdael July 24 1888 October 10 1960 was an American film actor and opera singer Description above from the Wikipedia article Basil Ruysdael licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia He started his career as a baritone singer for the Metropolitan Opera Company in the early 1900s and appeared on the New York stage in 1918 Moving to California in 1923 he was a voice teacher for many actors Encouraged to try acting himself he made his big screen debut in Cocoanuts 1929 For the next 30 years he was a frequent character performer in films to include Come to the Stable 1949 Broken Arrow 1950 People Will Talk 1951 The Last Hurrah 1958 and The Horse Soldiers 1960 He also did voice over in 101 Dalmatians 1961 and appeared on the TV shows Perry Mason Official Detective Father knows Best and Walt Disneys Wonderful World of Color He at the age of 72 of complications following surgery