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| Kevin McCarthy/ Feb.15,1914- Sept.12,2010 The actor, Kevin McCarthy, passed away on Sept. 12, 2010, at the age of 96. He was the brother of the renowned author, Mary McCarthy. He played the role of "Biff" in the original London production of "Death of a Salesman", and in the 1951 film version, when he received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. But in 1956, he was cast in a low budget film about a California town where residents are gradually replaced by pods from outer space. The pods turn into creepy duplicates of the townsfolk. McCarthy and co-star, Dana Wynter, spend the movie trying to escape "podification". The way to do this is to stay awake. Falling asleep, allows the pods to transform into humans. In 2008, the movie was named one of the Top 10 Science Fiction films of all time, by the American Film Institute. McCarthy saw it as a metaphor about conformity. He went on to play multiple roles in film, TV, and on stage. He toured for two decades in, "Give 'Em Hell, Harry", as Pres.Harry Truman. He also had a cameo role in the 1978 remake of the "Body Snatchers...", playing the man who throws himself against the car driven by Donald Sutherland, (the star), shouting, "Help! They're coming! Listen to me!" RIP |
4 comments:
Wow, I remember that movie! I'm having a hard time imagining that he was 96. Amazing.
Hi Everyday Goddess-
I agree..the years rush by, but he had quite a life!
Hi Lyn,
Like EG I couldn't have guessed that Mr McCarthy was 96! I've seen him in things but can't think what! Which is rather sad I suppose. My only thought is that he wasn't playing nice men!
Hi Derrick-
He was in a zillion things..The Best Man, Twilight Zone..the Movie, The Misfits, etc, and mostly did play unsavory characters!
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