Career
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wessel appeared in more than 270 films between 1935 and 1966. He is best remembered for his chilling portrayal of the ruthless strangler Harry "Cueball" Lake in Dick Tracy versus Cueball. Modern viewers will remember Wessel for his appearances in the Three Stooges short subjects Punchy Cowpunchers and Fright Night, in which he played Chopper Kane, and its remake, Fling in the Ring.
From 1959 to 1961, Wessel co-starred as Carney Kohler in all forty-two episodes of Darren McGavin"s National Broadcasting Company western television series, Riverboat, set along the Mississippi River prior to the American Civil War.
In 1959, he appeared as police captain Bob Rattigan in the episode "Rattigan and the Cat" of the syndicated Border Patrol series, starring Richard Webb. He also appeared in the John Bromfield syndicated crime drama, Sheriff of Cochise.
He was cast as Charlie in the episode, "A Kind of a Stopwatch" of Columbia Broadcasting System"s The Twilight Zone. He also guest starred in Jackie Cooper"s Columbia Broadcasting System sitcom/drama Hennesey and on Stanley Holloway"s American Broadcasting Company sitcom, Our Manitoba Higgins.
Wessel died of a sudden heart attack at his home in Studio City, California on his 52nd birthday.
He had just finished his role as Eddie the garbage man in the Disney film The Ugly Dachshund. Voice artist Paul Frees dubbed in Wessel"s voice during post-production.
