“Ironside” men don the cloth

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33213, 1 May 1973, Page 4

“Ironside” men don the cloth

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LOS ANGELES. Raymond Burr, in his first outside dramatic role since he began the television show, “Iron- ■ side,” six years ago, portrayed Archbishop Angelo Roncalli in an Easter night show called “A Man Whose Name Was John.” The A.B.C. television drama recounted a littleknown incident in the life of the man who became Pope | John XXIII. Burr, who had several audiences with Pope John, underwent extensive makeup changes for the role. His hair was clipped short and bleached white, the shape of his eyebrows was altered, he was given a Roman nose. The show recounted an Incident in Turkey in World War II when Archbishop Roncalli helped save 647 displaced Jewish children from Nazi persecution. As apostolic delegate to Turkey, he obtained baptismal certificates that placed the children ' under the protection of Portugal. Don Galloway, also of “Ironside,” played Monsignor i Thomas Ryan, who was then i secretary to Roncalli. Burr ; and Galloway flew to Ireland a few days before last i Christmas to confer with the 1 now Bishop Ryan. He served ' as ecclesiastical consultant i for the film. I Burr said of Pope John: I "He was a gentle man with (great strength, and his influence was felt far beyond the

confines of the Roman Catholic church. Next to Jesus Christ, he has had more effect on the world than any other person who ever lived." In keeping with the spirit of John’s five-year reign as Pontiff, the production was ecumenical. David Victor, the executive producer, and Buzz Kulik, the director, are Jewish. David J. O’Connell, the producer, and John McGreevey, the writer, are Roman Catholics, and Burr and Galloway are Protestants.