Kevin Mccarthy
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
He has an official website at www.bodysnatchers.com
"I must say the thing that gives me the greatest pleasure is to hear people laugh. I'm a theater actor. I came out of the theater and started in theater back in the University of Minnesota, and all the background I have had on Broadway, and in films and then into television and radio, I usually found ways to make audiences laugh. I think I have a reputation for being a legitimate actor with an appeal to do nutty things." --Kevin McCarthy
Biography
A prolific performer who bridged the divide between leading man of decidedly B-movies and character player in more prestige offerings, Kevin McCarthy was a working actor since he made his Broadway debut in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" (1938). The younger brother of famed writer Mary McCarthy, he served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, toured in "Winged Victory," and reprised his stage role in the 1944 film. But McCarthy earned more attention for what was considered his feature acting debut - the role of the disillusioned son Biff in the 1951 screen adaptation of Arthur Miller's classic, "Death of a Salesman." Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, the actor seemed poised for a major film career. He marked time, however, until Don Siegel cast him as Dr. Miles Bennel in the sci-fi classic, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956). As the somewhat hysterical survivor of a community infested by space alien pod people, McCarthy anchored the film which only grew in stature since its initial release. In fact, in Philip Kaufman's 1978 remake, the actor had a small but pivotal role that was an homage to the original. His subsequent film career included playing Henry Fonda's campaign aide in "The Best Man" (1964), a roller derby magnate in "Kansas City Bomber" (1972), and a smarmy lobbyist in "The Distinguished Gentlemen" (1992).
The stage-trained McCarthy frequently appeared on Broadway throughout his career, notably as Jerry in "Two for the Seesaw" (1959) and Van Ackerman in "Advise and Consent" (1960). He has also scored a personal triumph as President Harry Truman in the one-man show "Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" But the busy actor perhaps found the best outlet for his talent on the small screen. A frequent guest actor, McCarthy co-starred with Lana Turner on the short-lived series, "The Survivors" (ABC, 1969-1970). He was engaging as the wealthy patriarch of a Florida family on the primetime soap "Flamingo Road" (NBC, 1981-83), but fared less well as the romantic interest for Beatrice Arthur in the short-lived sitcom, "Amanda's" (ABC, 1983). In 1987, he portrayed Franklyn Hutton, the father of Barbara Hutton (Farrah Fawcett) in the NBC miniseries "Poor Little Rich Girl," while in the 1995 biography, "Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story" (NBC), he played Sol Siegel and was in turn played onscreen as a character by actor Patrick Robert Smith. McCarthy showed no signs of retiring, playing the chief of staff in the acclaimed HBO movie "The Second Civil War" (1997) and recurring on the critically lauded drama, "The District" (CBS, 2000-04), as well as numerous feature films - continuing an astonishing output well into his 90s. The esteemed actor passed away on Sept. 11, 2010 at the age of 96.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1938
Made his Broadway debut in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois"
1942
Served in the US Air Force; achieved rank of sergeant
1944
Toured in "Winged Victory"; reprised role in the film version
1949
London stage debut, played Biff in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"
1949
Made TV debut playing Romeo in "Romeo & Juliet" on "Cameo Theatre"
1951
Earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for playing Biff in the film version of "Death of a Salesman"
1956
Had perhaps best-known film role as Dr. Miles Bennel in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
1959
Replaced Henry Fonda as Jerry Ryan in "Two for the Seesaw" on Broadway; also toured with the show
1960
Starred on Broadway as Van Ackerman in "Advise and Consent"
1960
Played the title role in an episode of "The Twilight Zone" entitled "Long Live Walter Jameson"
1969
Debut as series regular on ABC's "The Survivors"
1969
TV-movie debut, "U.M.C." (CBS)
1978
Made cameo appearance in the remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
1980
First playe Claude Weldon in the NBC movie "Flamingo Road"
1980
Reprised role of Claude Weldon in the NBC series version of "Flamingo Road"
1983
Cast as Beatrice Arthur's brother-in-law on the short-lived ABC sitcom "Amanda's"
1984
First screen collaboration with Joe Dante, "Twilight Zone - The Movie"
1987
First appeared as Harry Truman in the one-man show "Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" at the Pasadena Playhouse; later toured with the show
1987
Portrayed Barbara Hutton's father in the NBC miniseries "Poor Little Rich Girl"
1992
Co-starred in "The Distinguished Gentleman"
1993
Had uncredited role in the film-within-the-film in Joe Dante's "Matinee"
1995
Cast as Sol Siegel in the NBC miniseries "Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story"; in the same production McCarthy was portrayed by actor Patrick Robert Smith
1996
Was featured as a film director in the interactive CD-ROM "The Pandora Detective"
1997
Appeared in the HBO movie "The Second Civil War"
2000
Portrayed King Arthur in the stage play "Knights of the Round Table"
2007
Appeared as himself in the Anthony Hopkins film "Slipstream"
Photo Collections
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
He has an official website at www.bodysnatchers.com
"I must say the thing that gives me the greatest pleasure is to hear people laugh. I'm a theater actor. I came out of the theater and started in theater back in the University of Minnesota, and all the background I have had on Broadway, and in films and then into television and radio, I usually found ways to make audiences laugh. I think I have a reputation for being a legitimate actor with an appeal to do nutty things." --Kevin McCarthy
