John Fiedler

Biography

John Donald Fiedler was born in Platteville, Wisconsin on February 3, 1925, to beer salesman parents Donald and Margaret Phelan. The son of an Irish-German family, he graduated from Shorewood High School in 1943 before enlisting in the United States Navy. After World War II, Fiedler attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in Manhattan, where he befriended future acting peers including Tony Randall and James Doohan. Fiedler's career spanned over 55 years in stage, film, television, and radio. He began on the radio with The Aldrich Family, followed by roles in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet and his iconic portrayal of Juror No. 2 in 12 Angry Men. Fiedler frequently played delicate or high-strung characters but occasionally took on more substantial roles. In the 1960s, Fiedler's work became more prominent with appearances in A Raisin in the Sun and The Odd Couple. He also narrated several commercials for McDonaldland during the 1980s and lent his voice to Winnie-the-Pooh productions from 1966-2005. Fiedler passed away on June 25, 2005, at the age of 80 due to cancer.