Richard Stapley
Richard Stapley | |
---|---|
Stapley appearing in a 1965 episode of The Saint | |
Born |
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK | 20 June 1923
Died |
5 March 2010 86) Palm Springs, California, US | (aged
Other names | Richard Wyler |
Occupation | Actor, author |
Years active | 1948–1978 |
Richard Stapley (20 June 1923 – 5 March 2010), also known by the stage name Richard Wyler, was a British actor and writer.[1][2]
Early life
Stapley was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England in 1923.[1] A writer, Stapley published his first novel when he was just 17 years old.[1] He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.[1]
Career
Following the end of the Second World War, Stapley began appearing in theatre roles in London.[1] He soon signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), making his film debut in a supporting role in the 1948 film, The Three Musketeers.[1] He next appeared in the 1949 remake, Little Women, in which he played John Brooke, the love interest of Janet Leigh's character, Meg.
He continued to appear in a string of Hollywood films at different studios during the 1940s and 1950s, including the 1951 period drama The Strange Door, which co-starred Boris Karlof and Charles Laughton; 1953's King of the Khyber Rifles, which starred Tyrone Power; Charge of the Lancers with Paulette Goddard; and The Iron Glove with Robert Stack in 1954.[1] In 1955 Stapley starred in Target Zero as a British UN tank commander serving in the Korean War.
Stapley returned to Britain and Europe in 1960, where he adopted the stage name, Richard Wyler.[1][2] His British television credits from that era included the crime series, Man from Interpol.[2] He also appeared in a series of European-made adventure and western films using the name, Richard Wyler, including The Barbarians, The Rattler Kid, The Bounty Killer, Dick Smart and The Girl From Rio, which co-starred Shirley Eaton and George Sanders.
During the early part of the decade, he wrote a weekly column for Motor Cycling magazine, Richard Wyler's Coffee Bar Column,[3] and owned a shop in Central Road, Worcester Park, London, specialising in performance motorcycle parts and accessories.[4] The shop was later sold to Cyril Jones.[5]
During the 1970s, Stapley returned to film roles under his birthname, Richard Stapley.[1] He co-starred in the 1970 film, Connecting Rooms, in a supporting role to stars Michael Redgrave and Bette Davis.[1] He was also cast in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.[1]
When his acting roles became fewer he became a radio announcer in Britain, raced motorbikes,[6] and in the 1970s worked part-time as a motor cycle courier.[7]
Stapley became a naturalised US citizen during his later life.[1] He focused on writing following his acting career. He published a novel entitled, Naked Legacy, in 2004.[2] Stapley also completed a second novel and corresponding adapted screenplay, both called Tomorrow Will Be Cancelled.[1] He was working on an autobiography at the time of his death in 2010.[1]
Richard Stapley died of kidney failure at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, on 5 March 2010, at the age of 86. His death was announced by his publicist, Alan Eichler.[2]
Selected filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1948 | The Challenge | Cliff Sonnenberg | |
The Three Musketeers | Albert | ||
1949 | Little Women | John Brooke | |
1951 | The Strange Door | Denis de Beaulieu | |
1953 | King of the Khyber Rifles | Lt. Ben Baird | |
1954 | Charge of the Lancers | Maj. Bruce Lindsey | |
The Iron Glove | Prince James Stuart | ||
Jungle Man-Eaters | Inspector Jeffrey Bernard | ||
1955 | Target Zero | Sgt. David Kensemmit | |
1956 | D-Day the Sixth of June | David Archer | |
1959 | High Jump | Bill Ryan | |
1960 | Identity Unknown | John | |
Revak the Rebel | Captain Lycursus, Greek Mercenary | ||
1961 | Breakfast at Tiffany's | Party Guest | Uncredited |
1965 | Coplan FX 18 casse tout | Coplan | |
1966 | The Bounty Killer | Luke Chilson | |
1967 | Dick Smart 2007 | Dick Smart | |
Un hombre vino a matar | Anthony Garnett / Rattler Kid | ||
If One Is Born a Swine | Billy Walsh | ||
1968 | Gunman Sent by God | Coleman | (as Richard Wyler) |
1969 | The Girl from Rio | Jeff Sutton | |
1970 | Connecting Rooms | Dick Grayson | |
1972 | Frenzy | Truck Driver | Uncredited |
1973 | Scorpio | Agent killed by Zharkov in car | Uncredited |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Richard Stapley, 86, was actor, writer". Variety. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Actor Richard Stapley dies at 86". Globe Gazette. Mason City, IA. Associated Press. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ↑ "Dick Wyler's Coffee-Bar Column". Motor Cycling. London: Temple Press Limited. 104-105.
- ↑ Motorcycle Mechanics, July 1964, p.48 Technical Topics by Bruce Cox. Retrieved 5 March 2016
- ↑ Motorcycle Mechanics, September 1965, p.11 Full Chat by Ian Speller. Retrieved 20 June 2016
- ↑ http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2010/03/sinister-image-tomorrow-has-been-cancelled-richard-stapley-rip/
- ↑ Wilkins, Julian (2 June 2010). "Richard Stapley: Film and television actor who starred alongside Elizabeth Taylor in 'Little Women'". The Independent. London.