Harold Vincent Guardino (December 23, 1925 – July 17, 1995) was an American actor whose career ran from the early 1950s to the early 1990s.

Harry Guardino
Guardino in 1964
Born
Harold Vincent Guardino

(1925-12-23)December 23, 1925
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 17, 1995(1995-07-17) (aged 69)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1951–1993
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouses
Ann Norwood
(m. 1958; div. 1969)
Jennifer Revson
(m. 1973; div. 1974)
Elyssa Paternoster
(m. 1985)

Biography edit

Guardino was born on December 23, 1925[1] on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, New York.[2] He joined a Police Athletic League dramatic group while attending high school.[3] After graduation, Guardino joined the Navy, serving in World War II. After the war, he became a merchant seaman.[3] Guardino appeared on stage, in films, and on television. His Broadway theatre credits included A Hatful of Rain, One More River (earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance), Anyone Can Whistle, The Rose Tattoo, The Seven Descents of Myrtle, and Woman of the Year.

Guardino's other film credits include Houseboat, Pork Chop Hill (about the Korean War), The Five Pennies, Mission Impossible, King of Kings, Madigan, Lovers and Other Strangers, Dirty Harry and The Enforcer. He was nominated twice for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.[citation needed]

In 1971 Guardino starred in the short-lived series Monty Nash. Guardino had a continuing role as Perry Mason's nemesis Hamilton Burger in the 1973 television series The New Perry Mason and a recurring role on Murder, She Wrote. He made guest appearances in dozens of television series, including Studio One, Target: The Corruptors!, The Eleventh Hour, Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kraft Television Theatre, Playhouse 90, Dr. Kildare, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Route 66, Ben Casey, Hawaii Five-O, Night Gallery, Twelve O'Clock High, Love, American Style, The Greatest Show on Earth, Kojak, Wonder Woman 1978 TV series episode 'The Girl from Ilandia', Hunter, The F.B.I., The Streets of San Francisco, Jake and the Fatman, and Cheers. He had the lead role of Det. Lee Gordon in the 1969 TV movie The Lonely Profession.

In 1993, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.[4]

Guardino died of lung cancer in Desert Hospital in Palm Springs, California on July 17, 1995.[5]

Personal life edit

Guardino was married three times and had no children. Guardino married Ann Norwood in 1958. They divorced in 1969. He then married Jennifer Revson in 1973, and they divorced in 1974. Guardino married Elyssa Paternoster in 1985 and they remained together until his death in 1995.

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1951 Up Front Orderly uncredited
Sirocco Lieutenant Collet uncredited
Purple Heart Diary Lieutenant Roberts
1952 Flesh and Fury Lou Callan, Paul's brother
Son of Ali Baba Hamid, Ali's Cadet Friend uncredited
1955 The Big Tip Off Hood #2
Hold Back Tomorrow Detective
The Court Jester Forester uncredited
1957 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Gerry Daniels Season 3 Episode 8: "Last Request"
1958 Houseboat Angelo Donatello
1959 Pork Chop Hill Private Forstman
The Five Pennies Tony Valani
1960 Five Branded Women Branco
1961 King of Kings Barabbas
1962 The Pigeon That Took Rome Sergeant Joseph Angelico
Hell Is For Heroes Sergeant Larkin
1964 Rhino! Alec Burnett
1965 The Virginian Sam Willick season 4, episode 13 ("The Horsefighter")
1966 Treasure of San Gennaro Jack
1967 The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin Sam Trimble
1968 Madigan Detective Rocco Bonaro
Jigsaw Arthur Belding
The Hell with Heroes Lee Harris
1970 Lovers and Other Strangers Johnny
1971 Red Sky at Morning Romeo Bonino
Dirty Harry Lieutenant Al Bressler
Slingshot unknown
1972 They Only Kill Their Masters Captain Daniel Streeter
1975 Capone Johnny "The Fox" Torrio
Whiffs "Chops" Mulligan
1976 St. Ives Detective Frank Deal
The Enforcer Lieutenant Al Bressler
1977 Rollercoaster Keefer
Contract on Cherry Street Ron Polito
1978 Matilda Uncle Nono
Evening in Byzantium Jerry Olson
Every Which Way but Loose James Beekman uncredited
1979 Goldengirl Valenti
1980 Any Which Way You Can James Beekman
1987 The Law & Harry McGraw Angelo Spinelli Episode: "She's Not Wild About Harry"
1988 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Phil Mansfield Season 3 Episode 13: "User Deadly"
1989 The Neon Empire Nick
1991 Under Surveillance Ben Hirsch
1993 Fist of Honor Dino Diamond

References edit

  1. ^ Ward, Jack (1993). "Harry Guardino". Television Guest Stars: An Illustrated Career Chronicle for 678 Performers of the Sixties and Seventies. McFarland & Company. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-89950-807-8.
  2. ^ Stout, David (July 18, 1995). "Harry Guardino, 69, an Actor In Romantic and Gangster Roles". The New York Times. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Harry Guardino Dies. The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "Harry Guardino" (PDF). Palm Springs Walk of Stars. May 28, 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Stout, David (July 18, 1995). "Harry Guardino, 69, an Actor In Romantic and Gangster Roles". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 5, 2015.

External links edit