Robert Culp, who starred in `I Spy,' dead at 79

[Kadie]

Robert Culp, who starred in `I Spy,' dead at 79

By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer Bob Thomas, Associated Press Writer – 13 mins ago

LOS ANGELES – Robert Culp, the versatile actor who teamed with Bill Cosby in the groundbreaking comedy-adventure TV series "I Spy," has died. He was 79.

The actor's agent Hillard Elkins says Culp died after collapsing Wednesday on a sidewalk outside his Hollywood home. Los Angeles police say he hit his head while on a walk and was pronounced dead after arriving at a hospital.

A preliminary investigation found that his death is accidental.

"I Spy," which aired from 1965 to 1968, was a television milestone. Its combination of humor and adventure broke new ground, and it was the first integrated television show to feature a black actor in a starring role.

news...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100324/ap_on_en_tv/us_obit_robert_culp_5





Actor Robert Culp, one of the stars of the film "Most Wanted" arrives for the film's premiere in Los Angeles.
REUTERS/Fred Prouser


FILE - This May 5, 2002 file photo shows Robert Culp arriving at NBC's 75th anniversary celebration in New York. Culp, the versatile actor who teamed with Bill Cosby in the groundbreaking comedy-adventure TV series 'I Spy' and was Bob in the critically acclaimed sex comedy 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,' died Wednesday March 24, 2010. He was 79.
(AP Photo/Ron Frehm, file)

[babylonsister]

1. Wow. I remember him and the show well. Sigh. nt

[spanone]

2. bob, carol, ted & alice....

[WeekendWarrior]

3. Bummer

I always liked Culp. Never thought he really got his due.

There was a show on many years ago called THE NAME OF THE GAME. One of the stars, Tony Franciosa, got into a contract dispute with the producers, so he was replaced for several episodes by Robert Culp, playing the role of a reporter. Culp was fantastic. I couldn't WAIT to see those episodes and was bummed when Franciosa returned.

RIP.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Loved that show!! Gene Barry, from Wiki..

* Tony Franciosa as Jeff Dillon (first and second seasons; 3 episodes in 3rd season.)
* Gene Barry as Glenn Howard
* Robert Stack as Dan Farrell
* Robert Culp as Paul Tyler (third season)
* Peter Falk as Lewis Corbett (third season)
* Robert Wagner as David Corey (third season)
* Darren McGavin as Sam Hardy (2nd season, 1 episode only)
* Susan Saint James as Peggy Maxwell
* Ben Murphy as Joe Sample (supporting role)
* Mark Miller as Ross Craig (supporting role)
* Cliff Potts going as Cliff Potter, as Andy Hill (first season; supporting role)

The series was based on a 1966 television movie called Fame Is the Name of the Game directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Franciosa. The show had a relatively large budget for a television series.<1> Franciosa was fired from the series during the third season of the show's run, and his rotation taken by various characters played by actors including Peter Falk, Robert Culp, and Robert Wagner. Serving as a common connection was newcomer Susan Saint James as Peggy Maxwell, the editorial assistant for each. Franciosa, Barry and Stack occasionally crossed over into each others' shows as well, though all three leads never appeared on screen simultaneously. Although the network would have had viewers believe that each actor would appear every third week, the reality was thus, for example: In the first season there are eleven Gene Barry segments, nine Robert Stack segments and only six Tony Franciosa segments. In order to provide continuity (in the first season only), Barry appeared in four Stack episodes and four Franciosa episodes.

The Name of the Game provided Steven Spielberg with his first long-form directing assignment: the dystopic science fiction episode, "L.A. 2017," written by Philip Wylie. In the episode, Barry's character, Glenn Howard, is hunted down in a lethally polluted Los Angeles of the future, where the fascist government is ruled by psychiatrists and the populace has been driven to live in underground bunkers to survive the pollution.

Steven Bochco received one of his first writing credits on the series, and served as story editor for the third-season Robert Stack episodes.

[villager]

13. Loved that show *and* that episode!

Even though I haven't seen it since it was aired, I still remember it...

Always like the Gene Barry episodes...

And RIP to fellow high school alumnus Robert Culp...

[WeekendWarrior]

24. I guess my memory is faulty

because I thought Franciosa returned. Maybe those were reruns.

Whatever the case I loved that show as well. Great stuff.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Awww. I liked him...He was a part of my younger years.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. I liked him.

How sad. Condolences to his family. :(

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Sad to hear....Watching I Spy was the first time how cool I thought it was to be a secret agent

I followed his TV careers for years after where he never did a crapy TV show.




and yes that's Bill Cosby first Black in a starring role on TV. Great Show for its time.

[pokerfan]

23. That show was full of wonderfulness

I was just old enough to watch it in its first run.

[WilliamPitt]

7. Aw shoot.

Is he Steven Culp's father?

[Kadie]

12. No relation that I can see.

Did a quick wiki search and didn't see any information that ties them together.

Robert Culp is one of my all time favorites. :(

[liberal N proud]

9. RIP

Peter Graves from Mission Impossible and now Robert Culp, All the old spy shows are losing their alumni.

[Bill219]

10. Damn, Agent Bill Maxwell is dead

Loved him on The Greatest American Hero

RIP

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. That was a decent show which I watched

and I loved how played his role

[Faygo Kid]

11. Yet another Boomer icon. Peter Graves, Fess Parker and now Robert Culp.

Big fan of I Spy and all the spy shows back in the mid-60s as a young teen boy. Who wasn't?

[Hepburn]

15. Oh, dang...

...another one...:cry:

RIP, Mr. Culp.

[joeybee12]

16. Oh, how sad...great actor...

RIP.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. Watchmen.

Remember the connection?

[avaistheone1]

18. Bummer. And Peter Graves from Mission Impossible recently passed away too.

Double bummer.

[quiet.american]

19. No! Has always been one of my faves. I've stopped counting how many I Spy dvds I have.

Coolest show ever.

Damn.

[tonysam]

20. All the television icons are dying off

RIP, Mr. Culp.

[monmouth]

21. Oh how handsome he was without any ego. Loved him, RIP....n/t

[CatWoman]

22. aw man

he was one of my favorite "Columbo" villians...........

:cry:

[Ichingcarpenter]

25. Yet another not crapy TV show he was on

He always played an intelligent character be it good or bad.
I think he was able to choose his roles more than others cause he was respected
by the Art and his Craft.

I loved Columbo

[Drix]

28. You can say that again.

One of his best roles ever. Man could he play an arrogant snot.

The Outer Limits episode was great too. The Demon with the Glass Hand.

[Cheap_Trick]

26. Loved him on "Greatest American Hero" nt

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

27. Sad news. He was such a vibrant man.