| Robert Quarry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Walter Quarry 3 November 1925 Santa Rosa, California, U.S. |
| Died | 20 February 2009 (aged 83) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film, television actor |
| Years active | 1943-1999 |
Robert Walter Quarry (3 November 1925 – 20 February 2009) was an American actor, known for several prominent horror film roles.
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Quarry was born in Santa Rosa, California, the son of Mable and Paul Quarry, a doctor. His grandmother was an actress. He left school at the age of 14 to pursue a career in radio.[1]
In November 1943, Quarry joined the Army, where he formed a theatrical troupe. After the war he acted again, first for RKO and then for MGM. It was at this time that he befriended Katherine Hepburn.[1]
His films include Count Yorga, Vampire (1970), its sequel The Return of Count Yorga (1971), and Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972), in which he played alchemist Dr. Biederbeck pitted against Vincent Price's Phibes in a race to find the mythical elixir of eternal life. Although it is well-known that Price did not care for his co-star - once, when Quarry was singing in his dressing room during the making of Dr Phibes Rises Again, he said to Price, "You didn't know I could sing did you?" and Price replied: "Well I knew you couldn't act." - the two were later also paired in Madhouse (1974).[2] American International Pictures had plans for Quarry to succeed Price, but the decline in the company's fortunes, and old style horror films falling out of fashion, meant that it never happened. Quarry did make further horror film appearances, as the hippy guru vampire Khorda in 1973's The Deathmaster and as a gangster in the 1974 zombie movie Sugar Hill. A third Count Yorga film was often rumored to be in the works, but never materialised.
Quarry made several memorable guest appearances on TV shows, notably The Rockford Files episode, "Requiem For a Funny Box", as Lee Russo. He also played disfigured gunrunner Commander Corliss in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode "Return of the Fighting 69th".
Quarry's career was further set back in 1980 by a road accident that resulted in serious facial injuries (in which he was hit by a drunk driver).[3] He was also mugged In Hollywood shortly thereafter.[1]
In the 1987, Quarry returned to film with Cyclone.[1] He became a favorite of director Fred Olen Ray.
Quarry died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 83.[4]