Kevin McCarthy (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin McCarthy
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McCarthy in 2000
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| Born | February 15, 1914 Seattle, Washington, U.S.
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| Died | September 11, 2010 (aged 96) Hyannis, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1937–2010 |
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| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Mary McCarthy (sister) |
Kevin McCarthy (born February 15, 1914 – died September 11, 2010) was an American actor. He was well-known for his work in plays, movies, and TV shows. Many people remember him as the main character in the science fiction horror film Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).
Before his big movie roles, McCarthy appeared in several TV shows. His first important movie part was in Death of a Salesman (1951). In this film, he played Biff Loman. This role earned him a Golden Globe Award and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Early Life and Discovering Acting
Kevin McCarthy was born in Seattle, Washington. His parents were Roy Winfield McCarthy and Martha Therese. His father came from a wealthy Irish American family. His mother had a mixed background and later became Catholic.
Kevin had a sister, Mary McCarthy, who became a famous writer. His parents passed away when he was young. Kevin and his younger brothers went to live with relatives in Minneapolis.
He graduated from Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1932. Later, he attended the University of Minnesota. There, he acted in his first play, Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. This is where he found his love for acting.
Kevin McCarthy's Acting Career
Early Career and Military Service
During World War II, Kevin McCarthy served in the United States Army Air Forces. Besides his acting, he appeared in many training films for the military. Some of these films are even available on DVD today. McCarthy was also one of the first members of The Actors Studio, a famous acting school.
Breakthrough in Film
McCarthy's big break came with the movie Death of a Salesman (1951). He played the character Biff Loman. He had already played this role in the play's London debut. He was the only actor from that play to be chosen for the movie version.
His performance in the film was highly praised. He won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Famous Roles: 1956–1975
One of his most famous roles was the lead part in the science fiction movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). This film is still widely known today.
On television, he was a guest star in many popular shows. He played different kinds of characters. For example, he appeared in The Twilight Zone in an episode called "Long Live Walter Jameson" (1960). He also played the historical figure Mark Twain in an episode of The Rifleman (1961).
McCarthy also appeared in Hawaii Five-O as a bad guy named Victor Reese. He worked with actor Rod Taylor in several films and TV shows like Bearcats!.
Later Career: 1975–1996
In 1978, McCarthy had a special cameo role in a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He played a man running through the streets and shouting a warning. This was a nod to his original role in the 1956 film.
He often worked with director Joe Dante. McCarthy's most notable role in Dante's films was as the main villain, Victor Scrimshaw, in Innerspace (1987). They also worked together on the movie Matinee.
In 1996, he acted in a video game called The Pandora Directive. He played the character Gordon Fitzpatrick.
21st Century Appearances
In 2007, Kevin McCarthy appeared as himself in the film Slipstream, which mentioned his famous movie Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
He was honored at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in 2009. His very last movie role was in the sci-fi musical comedy The Ghastly Love of Johnny X (2012). This movie was released after he passed away.
Personal Life
Kevin McCarthy was married twice. He had three children with his first wife, Augusta Dabney. They were married from 1941 until their divorce in 1961. In 1979, he married Kate Crane, and they had two children together. Kate Crane survived him.
Kevin McCarthy passed away from pneumonia on September 11, 2010. He was 96 years old and died at Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts.
Selected Filmography
- 1951 Death of a Salesman as Biff Loman
- 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers as Dr. Miles Bennell
- 1961 The Misfits as Raymond Tabor
- 1963 A Gathering of Eagles as General Jack 'Happy Jack' Kirby
- 1964 The Best Man as Dick Jensen
- 1965 Mirage as Sylvester Josephson
- 1967 Hotel as Curtis O'Keefe
- 1978 Piranha as Dr. Robert Hoak
- 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers as Running Man (cameo appearance)
- 1981 The Howling as Fred Francis
- 1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie as Uncle Walt (segment "It's a Good Life")
- 1987 Innerspace as Victor Eugene Scrimshaw
- 1989 UHF as R.J. Fletcher
- 1993 Matinee as General Ankrum (uncredited)
- 2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action as Dr. Miles Bennell (cameo)
- 2007 Slipstream as Himself
- 2012 The Ghastly Love of Johnny X as The Grand Inquisitor (final film role, posthumous release)
Images for kids
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McCarthy in 2000
See also
In Spanish: Kevin McCarthy (actor) para niños
