Robert Vaughn

Robert Francis Vaughn (November 22, 1932 – November 11, 2016) was an American actor and political activist, whose career in film, television and theatre spanned nearly six decades. He was a Primetime Emmy Award winner, a four-time Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award, and a BAFTA Award nominee.

Vaughn had his breakthrough role as disabled, drunken war veteran Chester A. Gwynn in ''The Young Philadelphians'', earning him a 1960 Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He subsequently appeared in scores of films, notably as gunman Lee in ''The Magnificent Seven'' (1960), Walter Chalmers in ''Bullitt,'' Major Paul Krueger in ''The Bridge at Remagen'' (1969), the voice of Proteus IV in ''Demon Seed'' (1977) and Ross Webster in ''Superman III'' (1983).

To television audiences, Vaughn was known for his roles as secret agent Napoleon Solo on ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' (1964–68), private detective Harry Rule on ''The Protectors'' (1972–74), Morgan Wendell in the miniseries ''Centennial'' (1978–79), and Albert Stroller on the BBC Television drama ''Hustle'' (2004–12). He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of the White House Chief of Staff in the miniseries ''Washington: Behind Closed Doors''. He also appeared in the British soap opera ''Coronation Street'' as Milton Fanshaw from January until February 2012.

Aside from his acting career, Vaughn was active in Democratic Party politics. He was chair of the California Democratic State Central Committee speakers bureau during the 1960s, and publicly campaigned against the Vietnam War as a member of the peace group Another Mother for Peace. A Ph.D. in communications, his 1970 doctoral thesis "The Influence of the House Committee on Un-American Activities on the American Theater 1938–58" is considered "the most complete and intelligent treatment of the virulent practice of blacklisting now available." Provided by Wikipedia