| Anthony Eisley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederick Glendinning Eisley January 19, 1925 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | January 20, 2003 (aged 78) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–1991 |
| Spouse | Judith Tubbs |
Anthony Eisley (January 19, 1925 – January 20, 2003) was an American actor best known as one of the leads in the Warner Bros. Television series Hawaiian Eye and for appearing in many schlock films.
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Born Frederick Glendinning Eisley in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, whose father[1] was a general sales manager for a large corporation. He was the father of Amanda Eisley, Jonathan Eisley,[2] Nan R. Eisley,[3] David Glen Eisley[4] and grandfather of actress [5]India Eisley.
Following service in the US Navy, he took drama classes at the University of Miami, and landed his first acting job in a Pennsylvania stock company production of A Slight Case of Murder, which starred veteran actor James Dunn. Eisley also acted in the stage play productions of Picnic, Mr. Roberts and The Desperate Hours.
His first on-screen role was as a military policeman in the 1952 movie [6]Fearless Fagan. He began appearing on television the following year. He appeared in the 1958 episode "The Trial" of the American Civil War drama Gray Ghost with Tod Andrews. Eisley was in the 1959 Roger Corman film The Wasp Woman,[1] which he described as,"...a hell of a lot of fun..." Eisley's big break was being discovered playing opposite Jerry Paris in a Pasadena, California production of Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? where he was signed to a contract with Warner Bros.. In the days of Tab, Ty and Rock, Warners didn't want a leading man with the name of "Fred" so they changed his first name to Anthony.
Eisley was, however, best known for his starring role in the series, Hawaiian Eye that ran on ABC television between 1959 and 1963. After being seen in the play Who Was that Lady? he was signed[7] to Warners. He changed his name from Fred to Anthony at the request of [8] Warner Brothers. Anthony had thought he would play a comedian but Warner Brothers Television placed him in a suave private eye role in Hawaiian Eye. Eisley said[1] he left after the third season to be replaced by Troy Donahue as an advertising executive didn't like him.
When a television critic attacked the show, Eisley penned a reply that was penned in the critic's newspaper column where he said "I too would like to see more food for thought on television. I have children whose viewpoints will be largely affected in certain areas by their many hours gazing at the one-eyed monster. But our world is solemn enough as it is. I'd hate to limit them -- or myself -- to a leisure-time diet devoid of laughter, adventure and romance."[9]
During his Warner Bros. period he also appeared in Portrait of a Mobster (1961).
In 1964, Eisley emceed a Project Prayer[10] rally of 2,500 persons at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Project Prayer had been organized to flood the United State Congress with letters in favor of school prayer. Eisley was joined at the event by Walter Brennan, Rhonda Fleming, Lloyd Nolan, Dale Evans, Pat Boone and Gloria Swanson.
He appeared at least twice in the 1967-70 "Dragnet" revival, once as a corrupt policeman, once as an attempted murderer.
Eisley co-starred as character Clint Braden, suitor to the Nancy Kovack character of Nellie Bly, in the 1966 Elvis Presley vehicle Frankie and Johnny.
His most memorable role in film was as Griff in The Naked Kiss, Sam Fuller's controversial attack on American small town hypocrisy. Eisley became known as a cult schlock star for his appearances in Antonio Margheriti's Lightning Bolt (1965), Jack Broder's' The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966), and Ted V. Mikels's The Doll Squad (1974).
Anthony Eisley died of heart failure in 2003 in Woodland Hills, California,[11] and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).