Anthony Eisley (January 19, 1925 – January 29, 2003) was an American actor best known as one of the detective leads, Tracy Steele, in the
ABC/
Warner Brothers
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
television series ''
Hawaiian Eye''. Early in his career, he was credited as Fred Eisley
[Fred Eisley, aka Anthony Eisley]
at IBDB and later was sometimes billed as Tony Eisley.
Biography
Born Frederick Glendinning Eisley in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, his father was a general sales manager for a large corporation.
[
]
Stage work
Following service in the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
, he took drama classes at the University of Miami
The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, i ...
in Coral Gables, Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...
, and then landed his first acting job in a Pennsylvania stock company production of ''A Slight Case of Murder''. Eisley also acted in touring company productions of '' Mister Roberts'', '' Picnic'', and '' The Desperate Hours''.
Early career
His first on-screen role was as a military policeman in the 1952 movie '' Fearless Fagan''. In 1953, he made his first appearance on television. In 1958, he was cast in the episode "The Trial" of the American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...
drama '' Gray Ghost'' with Tod Andrews
Tod Andrews (born Theodore Edwin Anderson; November 9, 1914 – November 7, 1972) was an American stage, screen, and television actor.
Early years
Tod Andrews was born as Theodore Edwin Anderson in El Paso, Texas, to Henry Anderson and Lydia ...
. In 1957, Eisley played Joe Foss in the episode "Jose Foss, Devilbird" of the military television series '' Navy Log''. Foss was a World War II Medal of Honor winner who later became the governor of South Dakota and an American sportsman. Eisley was in the 1959 Roger Corman film '' The Wasp Woman'',[ which he described as "a hell of a lot of fun".
Eisley's big break was being discovered in a Pasadena 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, Warner Bros. did not want a leading man with the name of "Fred" so they changed his first name to "Anthony". In 1959, Eisley played Carter Henry (as Fred Eisley), '' The Young Philadelphians'' (1959).
]
''Hawaiian Eye''
Eisley is best known for his starring role in the series ''Hawaiian Eye'', which aired from 1959 to 1963. After scouts saw him in the play ''Who Was That Lady?'', Warner Bros. signed him to a contract. Eisley changed his name from Fred to Anthony at the request of the studio. Anthony had thought he would play a comedian but Warner Brothers Television
Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
placed him in a suave private eye role in ''Hawaiian Eye''. Eisley said that he left after the third season to be replaced by Troy Donahue as a hotel social director, Philip Barton. In the two previous seasons, Donahue had portrayed the detective Sandy Winfield, II, on another ABC/WB series, '' Surfside 6'', set on a houseboat in Miami Beach. Donahue was eleven years Eisley's junior.
When a ''Los Angeles Times'' television critic attacked ''Hawaiian Eye'', Eisley penned a reply that was printed in the critic's column on December 7, 1960: "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."
During his Warner Brothers period, Eisley also appeared in ''Portrait of a Mobster
''Portrait of a Mobster'' is a 1961 American crime film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Vic Morrow, Leslie Parrish and Ray Danton repeating his role as 'Legs' Diamond.PORTRAIT OF A MOBSTER, Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 28, Iss. 32 ...
'' (1961).
Support of mandatory school prayer
In 1964, Eisley acted as master of ceremonies at a "Project Prayer" rally attended by 2,500 people at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
. The gathering sought to flood the United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives, and an upper body, ...
with letters in support of mandatory school prayer, following two decisions in 1962 and 1963 by the United States Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
, which struck down mandatory school prayer as conflicting with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws that regulate an establishment of religion, or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the ...
.
Eisley declared at the Project Prayer rally that the United States was facing "an ideological crisis. Movie stars and the stars of the entertainment world will tell you what you can do about it. Everything will be from the heart." Eisley was joined at the event by Walter Brennan, on whose series ''The Real McCoys
''The Real McCoys'' is an American situation comedy starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Compan ...
'' he had once been a guest star, Rhonda Fleming, Lloyd Nolan, Dale Evans, Pat Boone
Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...
, and Gloria Swanson. Eisley added that John Wayne
Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
, Roy Rogers, Mary Pickford
Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...
, Jane Russell, Ginger Rogers, and Pat Buttram would also have attended the rally if their schedules had not been in conflict.[
Syndicated columnist Drew Pearson claimed in his "Washington Merry-Go-Round" column that Project Prayer had "backstage ties" to the ]anti-Communist
Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in the Russian Empire, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when the United States and the ...
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ideas.
T ...
. Pearson noted that the principal author of the prayer decisions, Chief Justice Earl Warren, was a Republican former Governor of California
The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Guard.
Established in the Constitution of California, t ...
and that most mainline denominations had endorsed the Court's rulings.[
]
Political views
Eisley supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.
Later career
Eisley appeared as a Soviet agent in an Armed Forces training film ''Espionage Target: You'' made in 1964. In 1965, Eisley was cast as an attorney in an anti-pornography institutional film entitled "Printed Poison"; produced by the "Citizens For Decency" movement.
Eisley co-starred as character Clint Braden, suitor to the Nancy Kovack character of Nellie Bly, in the 1966 film '' Frankie and Johnny''. He also played Ben Mitchell in the 1968 musical film ''Star!
The current incarnation of E! is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. Based on the American cable network of the same name, E! is devoted to entertainment programming including news, film, television, celebrities a ...
''. He also appeared three times on CBS's '' Perry Mason'' during the final three seasons of that series. In his second guest appearance in 1964 he played murder victim Vince Rome in "The Case of the Missing Button." In the same year he appeared albeit briefly in a strong Series 3 episode of Combat!, “The Gift Of Hope”.
Eisley guest-starred in an episode of the ABC religious drama series '' Going My Way'' and in the title role of ''The Outer Limits'' episode '' The Brain of Colonel Barham''. He appeared six times in the 1967-1970 revival of '' Dragnet''; in one segment he played a corrupt policeman and once he played an attempted murderer. During the eight-year run of ABC's ''The F.B.I.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
'', Eisley made 17 appearances as an agent.
Eisley was a guest as a villain in an episode of '' The Wild Wild West'', with his former ''Hawaiian Eye'' co-star Robert Conrad. In 1970, he guest-starred in an episode of '' The Silent Force''.
In 1973, he appeared as Ross Nelson, newscaster at Mary's Channel 8 competition, in the Season 4 episode "WJM Tries Harder" on ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show
''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Moo ...
''. He had appeared with Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore (December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017) was an American actress, producer, and social advocate. She is best known for her roles on '' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961–1966) and '' The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), whi ...
years before in "The Lady and the Tiger and the Lawyer," a 1964 episode of ''The Dick Van Dyke Show
''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Prod ...
''.
His most memorable role in film was as Griff in ''The Naked Kiss
''The Naked Kiss'' is a 1964 American neo-noir melodrama film, written and directed by Samuel Fuller and starring Constance Towers, Anthony Eisley, Michael Dante, and Virginia Grey. The film follows a former prostitute who attempts to assimilate ...
'' (1964), Sam Fuller's controversial attack on alleged American small town hypocrisy. Eisley became known as a cult schlock star for his appearances in '' Lightning Bolt'' (1966), '' The Navy vs. the Night Monsters'' (1966), ''Journey to the Center of Time
''Journey to the Center of Time'' is a 1967 U.S. science fiction film, directed by David L. Hewitt, and starring Scott Brady and Anthony Eisley. It is a remake of '' The Time Travelers'' (1964), and was also known as ''Time Warp''.
Plot
Stanton ...
'' (1967), ''The Mighty Gorga
''The Mighty Gorga'' is an American science fiction film. Released in 1969 by an independent company, the film is the brainchild of David L. Hewitt. The storyline concerns a couple hunting for a giant gorilla (The Mighty Gorga) in Africa for fin ...
'' (1969), ''Dracula vs. Frankenstein
''Dracula vs. Frankenstein'' is a 1971 American science fiction horror film directed and co-produced by Al Adamson. The film stars J. Carrol Naish as Dr. Durea, a descendant of Dr. Frankenstein who is working on a blood serum for his assistant ...
'' (1971), ''The Doll Squad
''The Doll Squad'' is a 1973 low-budget Z-grade action film by Feature-Faire that was later re-released under the title ''Seduce and Destroy''. Directed, edited, co-written and co-produced by Ted V. Mikels, it features Francine York, Michael A ...
'' (1975), '' Monstroid'' (1980) and '' Deep Space'' (1988).
Death
Anthony Eisley died of heart failure
Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...
ten days after his 78th birthday, on January 29, 2003 in Woodland Hills, California. Eisley married Judith Tubbs in 1951. They remained married until her death January 9th, 1994 and had four children.[
]
Filmography
References
External links
"Anthony Eisley, 78; Television Detective and B-Movie Actor"
- ''Los Angeles Times'' obituary
*
* (as Fred Eisley)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eisley, Anthony
1925 births
2003 deaths
American male film actors
American male television actors
Male actors from Philadelphia
Male actors from Los Angeles
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Warner Bros. contract players
20th-century American male actors
Pennsylvania Republicans
California Republicans
American Christians
Conservatism in the United States