John Hoyt (October 5, 1905 – September 15, 1991) was a highly respected American character actor of stage, film, and television, known for his tall, aristocratic presence and for portraying a wide array of stern, intellectual, and often villainous characters.
A veteran of the Broadway stage and a member of Orson Welles’ acclaimed Mercury Theatre, Hoyt brought a powerful presence to his many film roles. He is well-remembered as the selfish industrialist Sydney Stanton in the sci-fi classic When Worlds Collide (1951), the frustrated teacher Mr. Warneke in Blackboard Jungle (1955), and Decius Brutus in the MGM epic Julius Caesar (1953).
Hoyt became one of the most prolific and recognizable faces on television, guest-starring in hundreds of shows. He cemented his place in science-fiction history as Dr. Phillip Boyce, the first chief medical officer of the Starship Enterprise, in the original Star Trek pilot, “The Cage.” He also appeared in the classic Twilight Zone episode “Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?” and, late in his career, showed his comedic side with a recurring role on the sitcom Gimme a Break!
