Marcuse was born in Seattle, Washington to Margaret and Theodore M. Marcuse, a World War I veteran and co-owner of Klementis-Marcuse, Co., fur retailer.^{[citation needed]}

After growing up in San Francisco, he studied dramatic arts at Stanford University and was active in theatrical productions there.^[2] Later he received a master's degree in classical literature from Stanford.^{[citation needed]}

Marcuse served with the Navy during World War II and was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, and a Presidential Unit Citation for his heroism while serving as a lieutenant on the famed submarine USS Tirante. Other officers on board included future Massachusetts governor Endicott Peabody and author Edward L. Beach, Jr., who wrote the submarine classic Run Silent, Run Deep.^{[citation needed]}

Marcuse trained under Guthrie McClintic in his theatre company, along with Charlton Heston, and appeared on Broadway with Katharine Cornell, Maurice Evans and others. In 1948-1949, he toured nationally for nine months in a production of Medea.^[2]

On television he appeared on many series, including The Beverly Hillbillies, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Wild Wild West, Have Gun – Will Travel, Bonanza, Hogan's Heroes (the 1967 episode "The Hostage", as General von Heiner), Batman, Star Trek (episode "Catspaw"), The Time Tunnel, I Spy, The Monkees, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone episodes "The Trade-Ins" and "To Serve Man", and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. episodes "The Re-collectors Affair," "The Minus-X Affair," and "The Pieces of Fate Affair". His film career included roles in The Two Little Bears (1961), Hitler (1962, as Julius Streicher), A Tiger Walks (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Mara of the Wilderness (1965), Harum Scarum (1965), The Last of the Secret Agents? (1966), The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968) and The Picasso Summer (1969).

Marcuse died in a traffic accident in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 47.^[3] He was buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.^[1]

• Theo Marcuse at IMDb
• Theo Marcuse at the Internet Broadway Database
• Theo Marcuse at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Theo Marcuse at Find a Grave
• Theo Marcuse at Memory Alpha
• Theodore Marcuse: Character Actor Cut Down In His Prime at Invisible Themepark