Paul Mantee facts for kids

Paul Mantee (born Paul Marianetti; January 9, 1931 – November 7, 2013) was an American actor. He appeared in many movies and television shows. He was especially known for his role as Commander Christopher "Kit" Draper in the science fiction film Robinson Crusoe on Mars. Paul Mantee also wrote two novels.

Life and Career

Paul Mantee was born Paul Marianetti in San Francisco, California. He studied journalism at San Mateo Junior College. After college, he joined the United States Navy for four years during the Korean War. His time in the Navy helped him decide that he wanted to be an actor. He later graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.

He changed his stage name from Marianetti to Mantee. This new name was inspired by a character played by Humphrey Bogart in the movie The Petrified Forest. Paul Mantee made many guest appearances on popular television shows. He also starred in several films. One of his most famous roles was in the 1964 science fiction movie Robinson Crusoe on Mars. This film became a "cult classic," meaning it was very popular with a small, dedicated group of fans.

Besides acting, Mantee was also a writer. He wrote two novels: In Search of the Perfect Ravioli (published in 1991) and Bruno of Hollywood (published in 1994). The second book was partly based on his own life experiences.

Paul Mantee lived in Malibu, California, for a long time. He passed away on November 7, 2013, at a rehabilitation center in Canoga Park, California. He was survived by his wife, Suzy Davis Mantee. They met in a very interesting way: while standing in line at the post office in Malibu!

Notable Film Roles

Paul Mantee appeared in many films throughout his career. Here are some of his most well-known movie roles:

• 1964 Robinson Crusoe on Mars as Commander Christopher "Kit" Draper
• 1966 An American Dream as Shago Martin
• 1969 They Shoot Horses, Don't They? as "Jiggs"
• 1975 Breakout as Cable
• 1977 Day of the Animals as Roy Moore
• 1978 The Manitou as Dr. McEvoy
• 1979 The Great Santini as Colonel Virgil Hedgepath
• 1993 Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story as Doctor
• 1995 Apollo 13 as Reporter #4

Television Appearances

Paul Mantee was also a familiar face on television. He made guest appearances on many popular TV shows. Here are some of the shows he appeared in:

• The Rifleman (1961-1963)
• Cheyenne (1961-1962)
• Twelve O'Clock High (1965-1966)
• The Invaders (1967)
• Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1968)
• Days of Our Lives (1975)
• The Fugitive (1966-1967)
• Batman (1967)
• Mission: Impossible (1967-1971)
• Ironside (1968-1975)
• Mannix (1968–1975)
• The Streets of San Francisco (1973-1975)
• Barnaby Jones (1977-1979)
• CHiPs (1977)
• Logan's Run (1978)
• Vega$ (1979, 1981)
• Quincy, M.E. (1977-1982)
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)
• Dallas (1983)
• The A-Team (1984)
• The Fall Guy (1983-1986)
• Cagney & Lacey (1983-1988)
• Seinfeld (1994)

See also

In Spanish: Paul Mantee para niños