Robert Vaughn Bio

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Robert Vaughn Bio

Post by desertgal »

Robert Vaughn
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“With a modest amount of looks and talent and more than a modicum of serendipity,
I've managed to stretch my 15 minutes of fame into more than half a century of good fortune.”
A veteran of nearly 300 roles in television, feature films, and stage productions, Robert Francis Vaughn was born November 22, 1932, in New York City, NY., the son of Walter Vaughn, a radio actor, and Marcella Gaudel, a stage actress.

Vaughn graduated from Los Angeles City College, where he was close friends with fellow actor James Coburn, with an undergraduate degree in journalism. He rounded out his higher education with a master's degree in theater from Los Angeles State College, followed by a doctorate in communications from the University of Southern California. In 1972, Dr. Vaughn published his dissertation as the book Only Victims: A Study of Show Business Blacklisting.
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Vaughn in The Magnificent Seven, 1960
Vaughn first popped up on the small screen in the series Medic (1955).and on the big screen as an uncredited extra in The Ten Commandments (1956). But it wasn't until 1959, with his Academy and Golden Globe nominated (Best Supporting Actor) role as Chester “Chet” Gwynn in The Young Philadelphians that audiences began to take notice of his enduring charisma. That role was closely followed by his performance as “Lee” in The Magnificent Seven (1960). He would later play essentially the same character in Battle Beyond The Stars (1980), and also acted in a television adaption of the same work.
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Pernell Roberts and Robert Vaughn in "The Way Station"
In 1962, Vaughn appeared on Bonanza in “The Way Station”, playing drifter/outlaw Luke Martin, and giving him the first opportunity to act with personal friend Pernell Roberts. In 1999, Vaughn fondly recalled the filming, noting that he and Roberts employed subtle tactics throughout to throw the other off...
[youtube]tgEp1GfbUrA [/youtube]
...when they weren't checking out Dawn Wells' assets.
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Summary: Adam finds refuge at a way station run by ornery Jesse and Marty, his granddaughter. The girl asks Adam to help her run away. He gently says no. The station is also visited by Luke Martin, a killer on the run. He has no compunction making empty promises to Marty, nor does he hesitate to take them all hostage as the posse closes in.

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Vaughn as Napoleon Solo
In 1964, Vaughn landed his signature role as Napoleon Solo in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. He would ultimately play Solo in three different series: The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Please Don't Eat The Daisies, and The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.
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Vaughn with Steve McQueen in "Bullitt"
After The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ended, Vaughn continued to mix stage, film, and television roles, appearing in, among many others, Bullitt and The Toweing Inferno, with his Magnificent Seven costar Steve McQueen, The A-Team, Law & Order, As The World Turns, and The Protectors. He is an Emmy Award winner for Washington: Behind Closed Doors, as well as being nominated for Backstairs At The White House. He has played three American presidents: FDR (twice), Woodrow Wilson, and Harry S. Truman, and he directed episodes of Police Woman and The Protectors.
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Vaughn and wife Linda on their wedding day in 1974
In 1974, Vaughn married actress Linda Staab, and they have two children, son Cassidy and daughter Caitlin. The Vaughns currently make their home in Connecticut, with a variety of beloved pets. A lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party, Vaughn published his autobiography, A Fortunate Life, in 2009, and, in November of 2011, announced that he would guest star on the British soap Coronation Street in 2012.

Robert Vaughn passed away following a short battle with acute leukemia on November 11, 2016. He is survived by his wife, two children, and several grandchildren. His final feature film performanc was in Gold Star , currently awaiting theatrical release.

Sources:
Robert Vaughn at imdB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001816/
Robert Vaughn at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Vaughn
A Fortunate Life: http://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Life-Ro ... t_ep_dpt_1
Bonanza Boomers Episode Guide: https://bonanzaboomers.com/episodes/
Author Interview 1999
Last edited by desertgal on Sun Nov 13, 2016 11:59 pm, edited 7 times in total.

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