Person Biography:
Guy Stockwell was born to a family of performers. His father, Harry Stockwell, was a Broadway singing baritone, and his mother, Elizabeth Margaret Veronica, was a former chorus girl and dancer who went by the stage name "Betty Veronica." Both Guy and his older brother, Dean Stockwell, were sent to an open call for a 1943 Broadway show, "The Innocent Voyage," which was directed by Herbert Berghof. The play needed about a dozen children, and by chance, both boys were cast.
Guy's early career was marked by minor film and TV roles, but he got his big break in 1961 as a regular cast member of the outdoor sea adventure series "Adventures in Paradise." He played the role of first mate to star Gardner McKay for one season. Following that, he became one of 11 performers who made up the company for Richard Boone's television anthology series.
In 1965, Guy became a Universal contract player and went on to star in several standard tales of adventure and intrigue, including "The War Lord," "Tobruk," and "Blindfold." He was initially promoted as a dashing Errol Flynn type in swordplay adventures and outdoor epics, and the studio had him star in the remake of Gary Cooper's classic "Beau Geste" opposite Doug McClure. He also co-starred with McClure again in "The King's Pirate" and played the role of Buffalo Bill Cody in a remake of Cooper's "The Plainsman."
However, most of Guy's high-profile roles came off routine at best, and the films failed at the box office. He made his last picture for Universal in 1968 before his contract ended.
Guy subsequently gravitated towards the small screen and local stage, creating the Los Angeles Art Theater and playing leading roles in well-received productions of "Hamlet" and his own adaptation of "Crime and Punishment." He gained respect in later years as an acting teacher and wrote a textbook for actors called "Cold Reading Advantage." He also taught acting at the University of California for two years and was involved in extensive voice-over work.
Guy was married and divorced three times and had three children. He suffered from diabetes in later years and died of complications in 2002 at the age of 68.
