Kevin McCarthy
February 15, 1914 – September 11, 2010
Best known for his portrayal of Dr. Miles Bennell in the film adaptation of Jack Finney’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Seattle-born Kevin McCarthy’s film and television career spanned more than five decades. As both series regular and guest star, McCarthy was familiar on television throughout the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. His genre roles included (among others) the title character in Twilight Zone’s Long Live Walter Jameson.
I knew Kevin, as did many of us who love horror and science fiction. He loved attending conventions across the country and meeting and greeting his fans. It was at one of these many shows that I was able to ask him about my favorite role of his; that of campaign manager Dick Jensen in Gore Vidal’s The Best Man. He was truly astonished that a “horror chick” like me would know that film, but there you are; I’m a political junkie. What did he say about it? “It was the greatest role of my entire career. I wish I’d had a hundred like that one.” But he never forgot, and always tipped his hat, to the role that made him famous; “Miles was a good guy.” He told me. “I liked him a lot.”
For many years, he and fellow genre icon, Robert Quarry (of Count Yorga fame) were great pals, when they were in New York together, doing television. As is not unusual in show business, paths cross, un-cross and cross again decades later. In this case, Bob and Kevin ran into each other in the late 90s in a grocery store in the San Fernando Valley. They hadn’t seen each other in 20 or more years and Bob told me, “Kevin looked at me and said, ‘Bob Quarry! I thought we were both dead.’ ”
Nope, both were still alive, kicking and working. One of McCarthy’s last roles was as The Grand Inquisitor in Paul Bunnell’s The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, which is due out in 2011. The last time I saw him was this past spring at Eliot Brodsky’s Monsterpalooza, in Burbank, CA. We spoke for only a moment and shared a smile and his usual warm handshake. He will be missed by his family, of course, but also by his genre family; those of us who were lucky enough to know some small part of him and those who never had the pleasure, but will always remember his work.
Thanks Kevin, for all the memories and for generously sharing your talent and humor with us. You’re already missed.
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WELL SAID, JESSIE, WELL SAID!