Gary Lockwood

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Gary Lockwood (born John Gary Yusolfsky on February 21, 1937 in Van Nuys, California) is an American actor who is probably best known for his role as astronaut Dr. Frank Poole in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

A very familiar face to movie and television audiences for nearly fifty years, Lockwood was a movie stuntman and stand-in for Anthony Perkins prior to his film acting debut in an uncredited bit role in 1959's Warlock.

Lockwood's two TV series came early in his career and each lasted only one season. ABC's Hawaii-set Follow the Sun in 1961-1962 cast him in support of Brett Halsey and Barry Coe who played adventurous magazine writers based in Honolulu. Lockwood was Eric Jason, who did the legwork for their articles, but his on-screen time was limited since most of the drama was focused on Halsey or Coe. That situation was much improved in his next series NBC's The Lieutenant (1963-1964), where he had the title role of second lieutenant William (Bill) Rice. The drama series about peacetime U.S. Marines was produced by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and future Man from U.N.C.L.E. creator Norman Felton, and co-starred Robert Vaughn as Lt. Rice's immediate superior Capt. Rambridge. Despite moderately good reviews, The Lieutenant's Saturday night time slot opposite CBS's blockbuster Jackie Gleason's American Scene Magazine caused its cancellation after 29 episodes.

Lockwood's other notable television work includes playing Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", (filmed as the second pilot, but broadcast as the third episode) of Star Trek. He also co-starred with Stefanie Powers, his wife at the time, in a memorable episode of Love, American Style as a newlywed who gets his mouth stuck around a doorknob.

Between 1959 and 2006, Gary Lockwood had roles in some 40 theatrical and made-for-TV features and made almost 80 TV guest appearances.