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Simon Oakland made his television series regular in the role of Inspector Spooner in the ABC TV Network's "Toma" series by 1973. Oakland has guested in over 1000 TV segments, appeared in dozens of Broadway plays and in twice as many Hollywood films. He is one of entertainment industry's most popular all around actors as much at home in a strong supporting role as playing a lead. Oakland was born in New York City on August 28. He attended Tilden High School and later Columbia University. As a youngster, he was a musical prodigy and gave violin concerts as a teenager. Before the war, Oakland conducted a band on radio and during the summers played the Borscht Circuit in the Catskills for $50 a season. After four years of active duty in the Philippines during WW II, Oakland and his wife, Lois, an army nurse, returned to New York where he studied at the American Theater on the GI Bil. He made his Broadway debut in "Skipper Next to God" with the late John Garfield. Moss Hart then cast him on "Light Up The Sky" and he later played the lead on tour. Sir Cedric Hardwicke chose Oakland, the only American in the production of Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra" with Lilli Palmer. Numerous Broadway productions followed, but the turning point in his career came when he replaced Paul Muni in "Inherit The Wind." He was seen by playwrights Howard Lindsey and Russel Crouse who cast him in "The Great Sebastians" with the famous acting duo, Alfred Lunt And Lynn Fontaine. On tour with the successful play, Oakland came to Hollywood where he was discovered by filmmakers. He made his movie debut in "The Brothers Karamazov" followed by a role in "I Want To Live." Among his other films are "Sand Pebbles," "Bullitt," "On A Clear Day" and "Emperor of the North." Oakland and his wife maintain two homes, one in Palm Springs, CA. and the other in West Hollywood. They have one daughter,Barbara.

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Simon Oakland made his television series regular in the role of Inspector Spooner in the ABC TV Network's "Toma" series by 1973. Oakland has guested in over 1000 TV segments, appeared in dozens of Broadway plays and in twice as many Hollywood films. He is one of entertainment industry's most popular all around actors as much at home in a strong supporting role as playing a lead. Oakland was born in New York City on August 28. He attended Tilden High School and later Columbia University. As a youngster, he was a musical prodigy and gave violin concerts as a teenager. Before the war, Oakland conducted a band on radio and during the summers played the Borscht Circuit in the Catskills for $50 a season. After four years of active duty in the Philippines during WW II, Oakland and his wife, Lois, an army nurse, returned to New York where he studied at the American Theater on the GI Bil. He made his Broadway debut in "Skipper Next to God" with the late John Garfield. Moss Hart then cast

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