Career
Ober often appeared in roles as a straight man in farcical circumstances. He made his debut on stage, playing Tom Faulkner in Technique in 1931. He appeared in Lawrence Riley"s Broadway show Personal Appearance (1934) opposite Gladys George.
From 1954 to 1967, he frequently appeared in television series.
He played a general determined to find the truth of an alleged desertion and an Indian attack on a fort in the episode "The Vultures" of the American Broadcasting Company/Warner Brothers western series, Sugarfoot. Ober was twice cast on I Love Lucy, first playing "Arnold" in "The Quiz Show", and later portraying the Hollywood producer Dore Schary when Schary decided not to play himself in the episode.
He also appeared in one episode of The Twilight Zone ("Spur of the Moment"), co-starring Diana Hyland, and made four guest appearances in the comedy series Hazel. He had a recurring role as General
Wingard Stone in the early episodes of National Broadcasting Company situation comedy I Dream of Jeannie, and appeared in two episodes of McHale"s Navy as tough-as-nails Admiral "Iron Pants" Rafferty and on one episode of The Munsters in 1965.
Ober continued to work as an actor in films. He played the United Nations ambassador in Alfred Hitchcock"s North by Northwest (1959) whom Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) meets, to clarify who had occupied his mansion. He also played Captain Dana "Dynamite" Holmes, the neglectful, unsympathetic husband of Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr), in the film version of From Here to Eternity (1953).
He retired from acting and went into the United States. diplomatic service, and died while working at the United States. consulate in Mexico City.
In 1941, Ober married actress Vivian Vance, who portrayed Ethel Mertz in the Columbia Broadcasting System comedy series I Love Lucy (1951–1957). They divorced in 1959.
Ober died of a heart attack in 1982.