STAFFORD REPP

April 26, 1918

Stafford Alois Repp was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He is best known for his role as Police Chief O’Hara on ABC’s “Batman” television series. Soon after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, he served a stint in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II where he was active in producing shows. After his military service, he began his acting career.

He made his screen debut in an uncredited role in 1954′s Fireman, Save My Child!  Coincidentally, the cast also included Madge Blake, with whom he would co-star in “Batman”.  She played Aunt Harriett.  That same year he also made his TV debut in in episode of “Public Defender.”  Blake was again in the cast, although only as a voice actor. 

He first worked for Desilu on a 1956 episode of “Cavalcade
of America” titled “The Jackie Jensen Story.”   He also appeared in a 1958 episode of Desilu’s “Official Detective Stories” titled “Hijackers” on New Years Day. 

He did two episodes of Desilu’s “The Real McCoys” in 1957 and 1959.  In between, he also appeared on Desilu’s “The Walter Winchell File” titled “David and Goliath”. 

In 1959, he made single appearances on two of Desilu’s top-rated shows: “The Untouchables” and “December Bride” where he played a cop. Also in 1958 and 1959 he did three episodes of “The Californians” (above) which was filmed at Desilu Studios backlot. 

In 1960, he appeared on “The Texan” (above) co-produced by Desilu, and Desilu’s “Guestward Ho!”.  That year he also filmed an episode of “Angel” at Desilu Studios, which was aired in January 1961. 

He played two different officers of the law on “Dennis the Menace” in 1962 and 1963, alongside “The Lucy Show’s" Mr. Mooney, Gale Gordon. Coincidentally, “Dennis the Menace” had their own Mr. Mooney, who was a police officer!

He returned to the series in a silent, but hilarious role in “Lucy Is a Process Server” (TLS S2;E27), filmed in color, but first aired in black and white on  April 20, 1964.  He played a counterman in a trackside café. The counterman does not have any lines, but Repp listens attentively to Mr. Mooney’s ramblings.

In 1966, he created the character that would be his legacy, Chief O’Hara on “Batman” starring Adam West.  

He appeared in 117 episodes as well as the 1966 Batman feature film. 

For Desi Arnaz Productions’, he appeared in two episodes of “The Mothers-in-Law” in 1967 and 1968.  Both times as policemen!

He did an episode of “Here’s Lucy” titled “Lucy and Ma Parker” (HL S3;E15) in December 1970 as (what else?) a police detective!  

He died on November 5, 1974 after a heart attack at age 56. His final screen appearance was posthumously on a March 1974 episode of “M*A*S*H”.  

After his death, his sister, a television writer, established the Stafford Repp Memorial Scholarship for alumni of his alma mater, Lowell High School.