RIP John Forsythe

[SouthernJet]

RIP to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heel alumni

John Forsythe, urbane star of 'Dynasty'

John Forsythe, the actor who made his fortune as TV's affable "Bachelor Father" and the scheming oil tycoon in "Dynasty," has died.

By Claudia Luther

Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — John Forsythe, the suave actor with the silvery hair and mellifluous voice familiar to millions for his roles in the popular TV series "Bachelor Father," "Charlie's Angels" and "Dynasty," died late Thursday. He was 92.

Mr. Forsythe died at his Santa Ynez, Calif., home from complications of pneumonia, publicist Harlan Boll said.

"He died as he lived his life, with dignity and grace," daughter Brooke Forsythe said.

Mr. Forsythe viewed himself with a self-effacing humor, considering himself "a vastly usable, not wildly talented actor."

In a 1981 interview with The Associated Press, he said: "I figure there are a few actors like Marlon Brando, George C. Scott and Laurence Olivier who have been touched by the hand of God. I'm in the next bunch."

Skilled at comedy and drama, the actor early in his career stepped in for Henry Fonda in "Mister Roberts" and later originated the lead role in the hit comedy "The Teahouse of the August Moon." He also appeared in many films, including Alfred Hitch****'s "The Trouble With Harry" and "Topaz."

He was best-known for three roles: Bentley Gregg, a bachelor uncle whose social life is curtailed when he must care for a young niece; the unseen Charlie, who gives three sexy young detectives their assignments in "Charlie's Angels"; and most notably Blake Carrington, the oil tycoon around whom life revolves in one of TV's most successful prime-time soap operas, "Dynasty," which aired from 1981 to 1989.

The actor once described Carrington as "ruthless, powerful, cruel, selfish, kind, loving, tender, passionate." A dashing character, he inspired catfights between his ex-wife (Joan Collins) and melancholic second wife (Linda Evans) while fending off nonstop crises.

"He was one of the last true gentlemen of the acting profession," Collins said Friday. "I enjoyed our ... feuding, fussing and fighting as the Carringtons."

Mr. Forsythe got the role partly because he had played against his good-TV-dad image as a sadistic judge in the 1979 Norman Jewison film "And Justice for All," which starred Al Pacino.

He was born John Lincoln Freund on Jan. 29, 1918, in Penns Grove, N.J.

He won an athletic scholarship to University of North Carolina, had a stint as public-address announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers and then launched his struggle to become an actor against the wishes of his father. Having had his name mispronounced all his life, he adopted the name of Forsythe, which came from his mother's family.

[Bruce Banner]

Skilled at comedy and drama, the actor early in his career stepped in for Henry Fonda in "Mister Roberts" and later originated the lead role in the hit comedy "The Teahouse of the August Moon." He also appeared in many films, including Alfred Hitch****'s "The Trouble With Harry" and "Topaz."

He had the coolest voice, I wish I could talk like that.

The Trouble With Harry is one of my favorite movies, I rewatch it every couple of years. Doesn't get a lot of attention and prolly not enough action for most people, but I love it.

[Johnny Bravo]

[Thai Jet]

[NJ]

RIP