John Lincoln Forsythe ( Freund; January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010) was an American stage, film/television actor, producer, narrator, and drama teacher whose career spanned six decades. He also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety shows and as a panelist on numerous game shows.

In 1943, he signed up with Warner Bros. as a minor contract player, but he starred in The Captive City (1952) and co-starred opposite Loretta Young in It Happens Every Thursday (1953), Edmund Gwenn and Shirley MacLaine in The Trouble with Harry (1955), and Olivia de Havilland in The Ambassador's Daughter (1956).

He also enjoyed a long successful television career, starring in three television series in three genres: as the single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–1962); as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend in the crime drama Charlie's Angels (1976–1981)- a role he reprised in the 2000 and 2003 film adaptations; and as patriarch Blake Carrington in the prime time soap opera Dynasty (1981–1989). He hosted the series World of Survival (1971–1977),

He was raised in Brooklyn, New York, where his father worked as a Wall Street businessman during the Great Depression of the 1930s. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn at the age of 16, and began attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1936, at the age of 18, he took a job as the public address announcer for Brooklyn Dodgers games at Ebbets Field, confirming a childhood love of baseball.

Movie career and Army service

right|thumb|250px|The handprints of John Forsythe in front of [[The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.]]

Despite showing initial reluctance, Forsythe began an acting career at the suggestion of his father. As a bit player for Warner Brothers, Forsythe successfully appeared in several small parts.

In 1955, Alfred Hitchcock cast him in the movie The Trouble with Harry, with Shirley MacLaine in her first movie appearance, for which she won a Golden Globe. In 1969, Forsythe appeared in another Hitchcock film, Topaz. on NBC with Guy Marks, Elsa Lanchester, Ann B. Davis, Peggy Lipton, and Forsythe's two young daughters, Page and Brooke (1965–1966), and To Rome with Love on CBS (1969–1971) with co-star Walter Brennan. Another Spelling production, Dynasty was ABC's answer to the highly successful CBS series Dallas. Between 1985 and 1986, Forsythe also appeared as Blake Carrington in the short-lived spinoff series The Colbys.

The series reunited Forsythe with one-time Bachelor Father guest star Linda Evans, who would play Blake's wife, Krystle. During the run of the series, Forsythe, Evans and co-star Joan Collins, who played Blake's ex-wife Alexis, promoted the Dynasty line of fragrances. Dynasty came to an end in 1989, after nine seasons. Forsythe was the only actor to appear in all 220 episodes.

Forsythe was nominated for Emmy Awards three times between 1982 and 1984 for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" but did not win. He was also nominated six times for Golden Globe Awards, winning twice. He was nominated five times for the Soap Opera Digest Awards, also winning twice. In 1983, Forsythe was presented with the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award at a ceremony in Coronado, California.

The Powers That Be

In 1992, after a three-year absence, Forsythe returned to series television starring in Norman Lear's situation comedy The Powers That Be for NBC, co-starring Holland Taylor, Peter MacNicol, Valerie Mahaffey and David Hyde Pierce.

On May 2, 2006, Forsythe appeared with Dynasty co-stars Linda Evans, Joan Collins, Pamela Sue Martin, Al Corley, Gordon Thomson and Catherine Oxenberg in Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar. The one-hour reunion special of the former ABC series aired on CBS.

Thoroughbred racing

Forsythe owned and bred Thoroughbred racehorses for many years and was a member of the board of directors of Hollywood Park Racetrack. Among his successes, in partnership with film producer Martin Ritt he won the 1976 Longacres Mile with Yu Wipi.

With partner Ken Opstein, he won the 1982 Sixty Sails Handicap with Targa, and the 1993 La Brea Stakes with a daughter of Targa, Mamselle Bebette, which he raced under the name of his Big Train Farm, a stable he named for Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, Walter Johnson.

In the 1980s, Forsythe served as the regular host for the annual Eclipse Awards. He was the recipient of the 1988 Eclipse Award of Merit for his contribution in promoting the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Personal life

Forsythe married actress Parker Worthington McCormick (December 29, 1918 – July 22, 1980) in 1939. They had a son, Dall (born February 14, 1941), and divorced in 1943.

Also in 1943, Forsythe met Julie Warren (October 20, 1919 – August 15, 1994), initially a theatre companion, but later a successful actress in her own right, landing a role on Broadway in Around the World. She became Forsythe's second wife, and in the early 1950s they had two daughters.

Julie Warren died at age 74 from cancer in hospital after Forsythe made the decision to disconnect her life-support system. She had been in a coma following severe breathing difficulties.

In July 2002, Forsythe married businesswoman Nicole Carter (May 27, 1941 – May 11, 2010) at Ballard Country Church; they remained married until his death. Nicole Carter Forsythe died five weeks after her husband.

Besides spending time with his family, he enjoyed ownership of an art gallery.

Forsythe appeared each year to read to children during the annual Christmas program near his home at the rural resort community of Solvang, California.

Forsythe was treated for colorectal cancer in the fall of 2006. Surgery was reportedly successful and his cancer was considered to be in remission at the time of his death.

Death

Forsythe died on April 1, 2010, from pneumonia in Santa Ynez, California, at the age of 92. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Ballard, Santa Barbara County, California.

Legacy

thumb|[[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]

Forsyth received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

Filmography

Films

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

|-

| rowspan=2|1943

| Northern Pursuit

| Corporal

| Uncredited

|-

| Destination Tokyo

| Sparks

|

|-

| 1949

| Arson, Inc.

| Race Track Announcer

| Voice; uncredited

|-

| 1951

| American Harvest (16mm film)

| Narrator

|-

| 1952

| The Captive City

| Jim Austin

|

|-

| rowspan=3|1953

| It Happens Every Thursday

| Bob MacAvoy

|

|-

| The Glass Web

| Don Newell

|

|-

| Escape from Fort Bravo

| Capt. John Marsh

|

|-

| 1955

| The Trouble with Harry

| Sam Marlowe

|

|-

| rowspan=2|1956

| The Ambassador's Daughter

| Sgt. Danny Sullivan

|

|-

| Everything but the Truth

| Ernie Miller

|

|-

| 1959

| Dubrowsky

| Wladia

|

|-

| 1964

| Kitten with a Whip

| David

|

|-

| 1966

| Madame X

| Clay Anderson

|

|-

| 1967

| In Cold Blood

| Alvin Dewey

|

|-

| rowspan=3|1969

| Marooned

| Olympus / President

| Uncredited

|-

| Topaz

| Michael Nordstrom

|

|-

| The Happy Ending

| Fred Wilson

|

|-

| 1978

| Goodbye & Amen

| The American Ambassador

|

|-

| 1979

| ...And Justice for All.

| Judge Henry T. Fleming

|

|-

| 1988

| Scrooged

| Lew Hayward

|

|-

| 1992

| Stan and George's New Life

| Father

|

|-

| 1999

| We Wish You a Merry Christmas

| Mr. Ryan

| Voice; Direct to video

|-

| 2000

| Charlie's Angels

| rowspan=2|Charles "Charlie" Townsend

| rowspan=2|Voice

|-

| 2003

| Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

|}

Television

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

|-

| rowspan=3|1948

| Stage Door

| Keith Burgess

| TV movie

|-

| Kraft Television Theatre

|

| 2 episodes

|-

| Actors Studio

|

| Episode: "The Widow of Wasdale Head"

|-

| 1949

| NBC Presents

|

| Episode: "Just for Tonight"

|-

| 1949–1955

| Studio One in Hollywood

| Various

| 10 episodes

|-

| rowspan=4|1951

| The Ford Theatre Hour

| Peter Flint

| Episode: "The Golden Mouth"

|-

| Robert Montgomery Presents

| Dr. Frederick Steele

| Episode: "Dark Victory"

|-

| Starlight Theatre

|

| 2 episodes

|-

| Cosmopolitan Theatre

|

| Episode: "Time to Kill"

|-

| rowspan=3|1951–1952

| Lights Out

| Various

| 3 episodes

|-

| Suspense

| Various

| 5 episodes

|-

| Danger

|

| 2 episodes

|-

| 1951–1958

| Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

| Various

| 5 episodes

|-

| rowspan=3|1952

| Pulitzer Prize Playhouse

|

| 2 episodes

|-

|Curtain Call

|

| Episode: "The Season of Divorce"

|-

| The Philco Television Playhouse

|

| 2 episodes

|-

| 1954

| The United States Steel Hour

| Prof. Gilbert Jardine

| Episode: "King's Pawn"

|-

| rowspan=2|1955

| The Elgin Hour

| George Conway

| Episode: "Driftwood"

|-

| Alfred Hitchcock Presents

| Kim Stanger

| Season 1 Episode 2: "Premonition"

|-

| 1955–1958

| Climax!

| Various

| 5 episodes

|-

| rowspan=3|1956

| Playwrights '56

| Joe Neville

| Episode: "Return to Cassino"

|-

| Star Stage

|

| Episode: "A Place to be Alone"

|-

| Goodyear Television Playhouse

| Lt. John Stahlman

| Episode: "Stardust II"

|-

|rowspan=2|1957

| Zane Grey Theatre

| CSA Lt. David Marr

| Episode: "Decision at Wilson Creek"

|-

| General Electric Theater

| rowspan=2|Bentley Gregg

| Episode: "New Girl in His Life"

|-

| 1957–1962

| Bachelor Father

| 157 episodes

|-

| 1958

| The Major and the Minor

|

| TV movie

|-

|rowspan=2|1959

| Lux Playhouse

| Colonel Bill Adams

| Episode: "The Miss and Missiles"

|-

| Sunday Showcase

| Al Manheim

| 2 episodes

|-

| 1962

| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

| Michael Barnes

| 'Episode: "I Saw The Whole Thing"

|-

| rowspan=3|1963

| Alcoa Premiere

| Andy Ballard

| Episode: "Five, Six, Pick Up Sticks"

|-

| The Dick Powell Show

| Peter Kent

| Episode: "The Third Side of a Coin"

|-

| Kraft Mystery Theater

|

| Episode: "Go Look at the Roses"

|-

| rowspan=2|1964

| See How They Run

| Martin Young

| TV movie

|-

| Kraft Suspense Theatre

|

| 2 episodes

|-

| 1965

| Theatre of Stars

| Charlie King

| Episode: "In Any Language"

|-

| 1965–1966

| The John Forsythe Show

| Major John Foster

| 29 episodes

|-

| 1966

| Insight

| Ray

| 2 episodes

|-

| rowspan=2|1967

| Run for Your Life

| Spencer Holt

| Episode: "A Choice of Evils"

|-

| The Red Skelton Show

| Millionaire's Son

| Episode: "A New York Stripper Is Not Always a Steak"

|-

| A Bell for Adano

| Maj. Victor Joppola

| rowspan=2|TV movie

|-

| 1968

| Shadow on the Land

| Gen. Wendell Bruce

|-

| 1969–1971

| To Rome with Love

| Michael Endicott

| 48 episodes

|-

| 1971

| Murder Once Removed

| Dr. Ron Wellesley

| TV movie

|-

| rowspan=2|1973

| The Letters

| Paul Anderson

| Unsold pilot

|-

| Lisa, Bright and Dark

| William Schilling

| rowspan=2|TV movie

|-

| rowspan=4|1974

| Cry Panic

| David Ryder

|-

| Police Story

| Sam McCullough

| Episode: "Chief"

|-

| The Healers

| Dr. Robert Kier

| rowspan=3|TV movie

|-

| Terror on the 40th Floor

| Daniel 'Dan' Overland

|-

| rowspan=2|1975

| The Deadly Tower

| Lt. Elwood Forbes

|-

| Medical Story

| Amos Winkler

| Episode: "Million Dollar Baby"

|-

| 1976

| Amelia Earhart

| G.P. Putnam

| Miniseries

|-

| 1976–1981

| Charlie's Angels

| Charles "Charlie" Townsend (voice)

| 109 episodes; uncredited

|-

| rowspan=3|1977

| Tail Gunner Joe

| Paul Cunningham

| rowspan=2|TV movie

|-

| Emily, Emily

| Niles Putnam

|-

| The Feather and Father Gang

| E.J. Valerian

|Episode: "Never Con a Killer" (Pilot)

|-

| rowspan=3|1978

| Cruise Into Terror

| Reverend Charles Mather

|rowspan=5|TV movie

|-

| With This Ring

| General Albert Harris

|-

| The Users

| Reade Jamieson

|-

| 1980

| A Time for Miracles

| Postulator

|-

| 1981

| Sizzle

| Mike Callahan

|-

| 1981–1989

| Dynasty

| Blake Carrington

|Main role<br>Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama<br>Soap Opera Digest Award - Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role in a Prime Time Soap Opera; Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time Soap Opera><br>Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama<br>Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series<small> (1982–1984)</small><br>Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award: Favorite Super Couple on a Prime Time Serial (with Linda Evans); Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Prime Time Serial<br>Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award: Favorite Super Couple: Prime Time (with Linda Evans)

|-

| 1982

| Mysterious Two

| He

| TV movie

|-

| 1983

| The Love Boat

| Burt Gardner

| 2 episodes

|-

| 1985–1986

| The Colbys

| Blake Carrington

| 4 episodes

|-

| 1987

| On Fire

| Joe Leary Sr.

| rowspan=4|TV movie

|-

| 1989

| Champions in Kentucky: The Story of the 1988 Breeders' Cup

| Narrator

|-

| 1990

| Opposites Attract

| Rex Roper

|-

|rowspan=2|1991

| Spirit of a Champion: The Story of the 1990 Breeders' Cup

| Narrator

|-

| Dynasty: The Reunion

| Blake Carrington

| Miniseries

|-

| 1992–1993

| The Powers That Be

| Sen. William Franklin Powers

| 21 episodes

|-

| 1993–1994

| I Witness Video

| Host

|-

| rowspan=2|1996

| Adventures from the Book of Virtues

| Dadelaus (voice)

| Episode: "Responsibility"

|-

| The Goliath Chronicles

| Pat Doyle (voice)

| Episode: "Ransom"

|-

| 2006

| Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar

| Himself / Blake Carrington

| Documentary

|-

|}

Web

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

|-

| 2003

| Charlie's Angels: Animated Adventures

| Charles "Charlie" Townsend (voice)

| Episode: "Chapter One: Most Delicious Angels"; uncredited

|-

|}

Radio appearances

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Year !! Program !! Episode/source

|-

|1949

|Broadway Is My Beat

|semi-recurring role as Tom

|}

References

  • Official site
  • (2000)
  • The Forsythe Oak on the Iverson Movie Ranch
  • Iverson Movie Ranch: History, vintage photos.