According to Deadline, legendary actor Robert Vaughn has passed away at the age of 83 after battling acute leukemia.
Vaughn was perhaps best known for his role as the dashing spy Napoleon Solo in the NBC series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” which ran from 1964 to 1968, as well as in the 1983 TV reunion movie “Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.” The role was played by Henry Cavill in 2015’s big screen remake. Another of his biggest hits was also remade this year, the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven, which co-starred Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson. Ethan Hawke played the Vaughn role in this year’s version.
Vaughn’s career dates all the way back to the 1956 version of The Ten Commandments, where he played an extra. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role opposite Paul Newman in The Young Philadelphians, and re-teamed with McQueen in the iconic cop thriller Bullitt and with both McQueen and Newman in 1974’s disaster film The Towering Inferno. He also gave a spiritual reprise of his Magnificent Seven character in Roger Corman’s classic Star Wars rip-off Battle Beyond the Stars.
One of his most iconic roles was as the villainous millionaire Ross Webster in Richard Lester’s Superman III, in which he plotted with Richard Pryor to destroy the Man of Steel. A prolific actor, he was directed by Louis C.K. in the cult comedy Pootie Tang, and had a prominent co-starring role as a con artist in the hit BBC series “Hustle.” His last major role was in this year’s indie drama Gold Star, written and directed by friend of ComingSoon.net Victoria Negri.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
