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"Stand By For Mars!"

Sanborn's Reviews

Robert Culp, an appreciation by Matt Sanborn Robert Culp passed away on March 24, 2010, at 79 years old, after falling near a Los Angeles park. The actor was an important figure in the history of American television, working on the first program to break racial stereotypes. From 1965-68 he starred with Bill Cosby in I Spy, the first television series to feature an African-American co-starring in a leading role. The TV show broke ground, knocking down racial stereotypes showing African Americans on an even par with whites. Culp continued this type of work narrating the documentary For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots, with his very distinctive voice. Culp played many roles over his career which began in 1953 on the show You Are There. It was the first of over 160 different television programs or films in which he would act. The scope of these programs stretches through almost every genre and decade since television entered the American home. Rober Culp had memorable roles in such shows as Columbo, Zane Grey Theatre, Rawhide, Bonanza, Disneyland, Ben Casey, Police Story, Love Boat, Lonesome Dove, Diagnosis: Murder, The Cosby Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Robot Chicken. Although Culp did very little science fiction work, the work that he did do, was "cherce." Culp will always be known to sci-fi and cult TV fans for his work on The Greatest American Hero, Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and The Dead Zone. His most famous sci-fi role is probably the Outer Limits episode "Demon with a Glass Hand," which was written by Harlan Ellison. He was also the star in two other episodes, "Corpus Earthlings" and "Architects of Fear." Read the plot of "Demon With a Glass Hand" at its Wikipedia entry. It is also available for download from Amazon Unbox at Demon With A Glass Hand for only $1.99. Culp had a supporting role in The Greatest American Hero as FBI agent, Bill Maxwell, who was the sidekick of William Katt's hero, Ralph Hinkley. Culp wrote and directed two episodes of this series. Culp might not have had the greatest range as an actor, but he played the tough-faced, kind hearted, no-nonsense man as well as anyone. He had a distinctive voice, and a great sense of delivery, especially in comedy. Like many TV stars, his jump to the big screen in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, had mixed reviews. I remember liking him on Greatest American Hero, as a kid. He was the tough kind of older guy who would chew you out and then do anything for you. That was how he projected quite often on the screen. Culp is survived by his fifth wife, five children and five grand children. Click on the icons for new features in The Thunder Child. Radiation Theater: 1950s Sci Fi Movies Discussion Boards The Sand Rock Sentinel: Ripped From the Headlines of 1950s Sci Fi Films