Richard Stapley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Stapley
Stapley appearing in a 1965 episode of The Saint
Born	(1923-06-20)20 June 1923 Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK
Died	5 March 2010(2010-03-05) (aged 86) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Other names	Richard Wyler
Occupation	Actor, author
Years active	1948–1978
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Wyler

Richard Stapley (born June 20, 1923 – died March 5, 2010) was a British actor and writer. He was also known by his stage name, Richard Wyler. He starred in many films and TV shows during his career.

Early Life and Beginnings

Richard Stapley was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, England, in 1923. He was a talented writer from a young age. He even published his first novel when he was only 17 years old. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Air Force.

A Career in Acting

After the war, Richard Stapley started acting in plays in London. Soon, he signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). This led to his first movie role in 1948. He appeared in The Three Musketeers.

Hollywood Years

In 1949, he played John Brooke in Little Women. His character was the love interest of Meg, played by Janet Leigh. He continued to act in many Hollywood films in the 1940s and 1950s. These included The Strange Door (1951) with Boris Karloff. He also appeared in King of the Khyber Rifles (1953). In 1955, he starred as a British tank commander in Target Zero. This film was about the Korean War.

Return to Europe as Richard Wyler

In 1960, Stapley moved back to Britain and Europe. Here, he started using the stage name Richard Wyler. He appeared in British TV shows like Man from Interpol. He also acted in European adventure and western films. Some of these movies were The Barbarians and The Bounty Killer. He also starred in Dick Smart 2.007 and The Girl from Rio.

Writing and Later Career

During the 1960s, Richard Stapley also wrote for motorcycle magazines. He had a monthly feature called Thru the Gears for Motorcyclist magazine. He also wrote a weekly column for Motor Cycling magazine. He even owned a shop that sold parts for motorcycles.

In the 1970s, he went back to using his birth name, Richard Stapley, for films. He acted in Connecting Rooms (1970) and had a small role in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972). When he had fewer acting roles, he worked as a radio announcer. He also raced motorbikes and worked as a motorcycle courier.

Later in his life, Richard Stapley became a naturalized US citizen. He focused more on his writing. He published a novel called Naked Legacy in 2004. He was also working on another novel and his autobiography when he passed away.

Death

Richard Stapley died on March 5, 2010, at the age of 86. He passed away from kidney failure in Palm Springs, California.

Filmography