For a classically trained actor, it has probably been a source of much amusement to him that he is best remembered for his role in a low budget sci-fi film that has since become a classic. As the lead in the 1950s film THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, Kevin McCarthy played a doctor who becomes alarmed when he discovers that the people in his small town have been transformed.....into aliens. The fact that the film, produced at the height of the McCarthy period, was a deep allegory has made one of the most iconic of the Eisenhower era.
McCarthy will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award this Friday evening at the opening night gala ceremonies of the 24th edition of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Kevin McCarthy will receive The Lifetime Achievement Award following the screening of his short film, I DO, on Friday at The Miniaci Theatre.
Although his iconic role is still his most famous, McCarthy's career extends far beyond that. A stage player from Washington, McCarthy earned a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his first film, playing the role of the elder son Biff in the filmed version of the Arthur Miller classic DEATH OF A SALESMAN (1951). McCarthy had originated the role on the London stage.
Over the next 10 years he alternated leads in small movies: NIGHTMARE (1956) with supporting roles in larger movies THE MISFITS (1961 playing Marilyn Monroe's husband), and THE BEST MAN (1964). Later, director Joe Dante cast McCarthy in colorful roles in a number of his films, including THE HOWLING (1981), TWILIGHT ZONE-THE MOVIE (1983), INNERSPACE (1987), and MATINEE (1993). He can still be seen both in large-scale theatrical films and made-for-video cheapies, though he takes greater pride, no doubt, in his long-running stage vehicle "Give 'Em Hell, Harry!" (as Harry Truman).
His sixty one film roles and nearly television roles combined with Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional and London stage roles combine to chronicle an amazing career working with such actors as Henry Fonda, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Edward G. Robinson, Farrah Fawcett, Fredric March, Mickey Rooney, Joel McCrea, Clark Gable, Montgomery Cliff, Eli Wallach, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, Rod Taylor, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck Walter Matthau, George Kennedy, Geraldine Page, Shelly Winters, Joanne Woodward, Jason Robards, Burgess Meredith, Karl Malden, Melvyn Douglas, Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie, Carmen McRae, Jodie Foster, Raquel Welch, Brock Peters, Donald Sutherland, Harvey Keitel, Jeff Goldblum, John Ritter, Frank Langella, Meg Ryan, Dennis Quaid, Slim Pickens…and oh so many more. This actor's actor will greet his fans at the opening night festivities.
Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
23.10.2009 | Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival's blog
Cat. : actor Biff Brock Peters Carmen McRae CDATA Cinema of the United States Clark Gable Dennis Quaid Director Donald Sutherland editor Edward G. Robinson Eli Wallach Elizabeth Taylor Entertainment Entertainment Farrah Fawcett Festival Dailies Film FLIFF Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Frank Langella Frank Langella Fredric March George Kennedy Geraldine Page Give 'Em Hell, Harry! Gregory Peck Walter Harry Truman Harvey Keitel Henry Fonda I DO, on Friday at The Miniaci Theatre Innerspace Invasion of the Body Snatchers Jason Robards Jeff Goldblum Jeff Goldblum Joanne Woodward Jodie Foster Joe Dante Joel McCrea John Ritter Karl Malden Kevin McCarthy Kevin McCarthy Kevin McCarthy Lana Turner London Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe McCarthy Meg Ryan Melvyn Douglas Merle Oberon Michael Rennie Mickey Rooney Oscar Paul Newman Person Career player Raquel Welch Rod Taylor salesman Sandy Mandelberger Shelly Winters the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival The Lifetime Achievement Award Tony Curtis Walter Matthau Washington PEOPLE