Kerwin Mathews (January 8, 1926 – July 5, 2007) was an American actor best known for playing the titular heroes in '' The 7th Voyage of Sinbad'' (1958), '' The Three Worlds of Gulliver'' (1960), and '' Jack the Giant Killer'' (1962).

Early life

Mathews was born on January 8, 1926, in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

, and was two years old when he moved with his divorced mother to

Janesville, Wisconsin Janesville is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 65,615, making it the List of cities in Wisconsin, tenth-most populous city in Wis ...

, where he attended Janesville High School, graduating in 1943. Mathews said that "a kind high school teacher put me in a play, and that changed my life." After serving in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

as a

pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...

and swimming instructor, he attended and performed at nearby Milton College for two years before transferring to

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1846 when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It has an enrollment of roughly 1,000 undergradua ...

on drama and music scholarships. He remained at Beloit three years after graduation, teaching speech and dramatic arts, and appeared in regional theater. He also taught high school English in

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Lake Geneva is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located in Walworth County and situated on Geneva Lake, it was home to 8,277 people as of the 2020 census, up from 7,651 at the 2010 census. It is located southwest of Milwaukee and no ...

Columbia Pictures

After moving to Los Angeles in 1954, Mathews acted at the

Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse is a Tony Award-winning historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engag ...

, including a production of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

Comedy of Errors ''The Comedy of Errors'' is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farce, farcical Shakespearean comedy, comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addit ...

''. While there he met the head of casting for

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

, leading to a seven-year studio contract. One of his first roles was in the episode "The Escape of Mr. Proteus" in '' Space Patrol''. He had an uncredited bit in '' Cell 2455, Death Row'' (1955) for Columbia. His first credited film role was in '' 5 Against the House'' (1955), an early role for

Kim Novak Marilyn Pauline "Kim" Novak (born February 13, 1933) is an American retired actress and painter. Her contributions to cinema have been honored with two Golden Globe Awards, an Honorary Golden Bear, a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and a s ...

. His pay was $200 per week. Mathews then was cast in the title role of a treatment of ''

Joseph and his Brothers ''Joseph and His Brothers'' (, ) is a four-part novel by Thomas Mann, written over the course of 16 years. Mann retells the familiar stories of Genesis, from Jacob to Joseph (chapters 27–50), setting it in the historical context of the ...

'' with

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer, and Pin-up model, pin-up girl. She achieved fame in the 1940s as one of the top stars of the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of ...

. However, the film was cancelled shortly before filming started. Mathews appeared in several episodes of '' The Ford Television Theatre'' as well as episodes of ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 134 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of t ...

'' and '' Matinee Theatre''. Mathews' first sizable role was as Lee J. Cobb's son in '' The Garment Jungle'' (1957). He was promoted to star for '' Tarawa Beachhead'' (1958), a war film produced by Charles Schneer. Schneer liked the actor's work and cast him in the role of Sinbad in '' The 7th Voyage of Sinbad'' (1958), directed by

Nathan Juran Naftuli Hertz "Nathan" Juran (September 1, 1907 – October 23, 2002) was an Austro-Hungarian-born film art director, and later film and television director. As an art director, he won the Oscar for Best Art Direction in 1942 for '' How Green Wa ...

with effects by

Ray Harryhausen Raymond Frederick Harryhausen (June 29, 1920 – May 7, 2013) was an American-British animator and special effects creator who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of both fields. In a career spanning more than 40 ...

. The movie was a big success and remains Mathews' most famous film. Juran called Mathews "the epitome of professionalism." He was announced for ''Stop 424'' to be shot in Australia by Columbia but the film was not made. Mathews co-starred with Van Johnson in '' The Last Blitzkrieg'' (1959), a war film for Sam Katzman, and '' Man on a String'' (1960) with

Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine ( ; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular perf ...

(Mathews replaced

Cliff Robertson Clifford Parker Robertson III (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned over six decades. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film ''PT 109 (film), PT 109'', a ...

for the latter). In ''The Last Blitzkrieg'' Mathews was cast against type as a fanatical Nazi. He did an episode of '' Goodyear Theatre'' and went to Italy to make '' The Warrior Empress'' (1960) with Tina Louise. He was on standby to replace

Dirk Bogarde Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as ''Doctor in the House (film), Doctor in the Hous ...

on ''

Song Without End ''Song Without End'', subtitled ''The Story of Franz Liszt'', is a 1960 biographical film romance about Franz Liszt made by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Charles Vidor, who died during the shooting of the film and was replaced by George ...

'' (1960) when Bogarde was clashing with the director. Schneer cast Mathews in an unofficial follow-up to ''The 7th Voyage of Sinbad'', '' The 3 Worlds of Gulliver'' (1960), playing the title role, with effects by Harryhausen. Columbia then put him in a prestigious film, ''

The Devil at 4 O'Clock ''The Devil at 4 O'Clock'' is a 1961 American adventure film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra. Based on a 1958 novel with the same title by British writer Max Catto, the film was a precursor to '' Krakat ...

'' (1961), billed underneath

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

and

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the ...

. Mathews went to England to star in a swashbuckler film for Hammer Films released through Columbia, '' The Pirates of Blood River'' (1962). Edward Small cast him as '' Jack the Giant Killer'' (1962), directed by Juran, an attempt to repeat the success of ''Sinbad'' only without Harryhausen or Schneer. Hammer called him back for '' Maniac'' (1963), a psycho thriller released by Columbia. He then left Columbia.

Freelance actor

Mathews went to France to play Jean Bruce's OSS 117 in '' OSS 117 se déchaîne'' (1964). In Hollywood, he played Johann Strauss Jr. in the

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

two-part telefilm ''The Waltz King'' (1963), which was his favorite role. He did another OSS 117 film, '' Panic in Bangkok'' (1964), then starred in '' The Viscount'' (1967), also from a novel by Bruce. In between, he starred in a pilot for ''Ghost Breakers'', a TV show that did not go to series. Mathews starred in some low-budget films, such as '' Battle Beneath the Earth'' (1968), filmed in England, and '' The Killer Likes Candy'' (1968). He had supporting parts in '' A Boy... a Girl'' (1969) directed by

John Derek John Derek (born Derek Delevan Harris; August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) was an American actor, filmmaker and photographer.

and ''Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon'' (1969), a pilot for a proposed series that was not picked up.

Later career

Mathews had supporting roles in '' Barquero'' (1970), the TV movie ''Death Takes a Holiday'' (1971), and '' Octaman'' (1971). He guest-starred on ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...

'' and'' Ironside''. His last lead was '' The Boy Who Cried Werewolf'' (1973), directed by Juran.

Retirement and death

Mathews retired from acting in 1978 and moved to San Francisco, where he ran a clothing and antiques shop. Mathews died in his sleep in San Francisco on July 5, 2007, at age 81. He was survived by his partner of 46 years, Tom Nicoll, a British display manager at

Harvey Nichols Harvey Nichols Group Limited ( trading as Harvey Nichols) is a British luxury department store chain founded in 1831 by Benjamin Harvey; it is headquartered at its flagship store in Knightsbridge, London. It sells designer fashion collections ...

, the British luxury department store. The two met in 1961.

Legacy

The city of Janesville renamed a one-block street adjacent to the former Janesville High School as Kerwin Mathews Court. The renovated building houses the Janesville Performing Arts Center.

Filmography

Film

* '' Cell 2455 Death Row'' (1955) – Reporter (uncredited) * '' 5 Against the House'' (1955) – Ronnie * '' The Garment Jungle'' (1957) – Alan Mitchell * '' Tarawa Beachhead'' (1958) – Sgt. Thomas A. 'Tom' Sloan * '' The 7th Voyage of Sinbad'' (1958) – Sinbad * '' The Last Blitzkrieg'' (1959) – Wilitz * '' Man on a String'' (1960) – Bob Avery * '' The Warrior Empress'' (1960) – Phaon * '' The 3 Worlds of Gulliver'' (1960) – Dr. Lemuel Gulliver * ''

'' (1961) – Father Joseph Perreau * '' Pirates of Blood River'' (1962) – Jonathon Standing * '' Jack the Giant Killer'' (1962) – Jack * '' Maniac'' (1963) – Jeff Farrell * '' OSS 117 Is Unleashed'' (1963, ‡) – Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS 117 * '' Shadow of Evil'' (1964, ‡) – Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath / OSS 117 / Tony Burt * '' The Viscount'' (1967) – Clint de la Roche, le Vicomte * '' Battle Beneath the Earth'' (1967) – Cmdr. Jonathan Shaw * '' The Killer Likes Candy'' (1968) – Mark * '' A Boy... a Girl'' (1969) – Mr. Christian * '' Barquero'' (1970) – Marquette * '' Octaman'' (1971) – Dr. Rick Torres * '' The Boy Who Cried Werewolf'' (1973) – Robert Bridgestone * '' Nightmare in Blood'' (1978) – Prince Zaroff (final film role) ‡ '' OSS 117'' film

Television

* '' Space Patrol'' ** ''The Escape of Mr Proteus'' (1954) – Major Caldwell * ''

Ford Theatre ''Ford Theatre'', spelled ''Ford Theater'' for the original radio version and known, in full, as ''The Ford Television Theatre'' for the TV version, is a radio and television anthology series broadcast in the United States in the 1940s and 195 ...

'' ** ''Charlie C company'' (1954) – Lt. Norton ** ''The Lady in the Wind'' (1955) – Ivor ** ''Catch at Straws'' (1956) – Fred Karns * ''

'' ** ''The Country Husband'' (1956) – Clay Farrell * '' Matinee Theatre'' ** ''Show of Strength'' (1957) ** ''The Suicide Club'' (1958) * ''

Goodyear Television Playhouse ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television. Goodyear alternated sponsorship with Philco, and ''The Philco Television Playhouse'' ...

'' ** ''The Obenauf Story'' (1959, †) – Lieutenant James Obenauf * ''

Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology series, anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 onwa ...

'' ** ''The Waltz King'' (1963) (two parts) – Johann Strauss Jr. * ''Ghostbreaker'' (1967, TV Movie, †) – Dr. Barnaby Cross * ''Dead of Night: A Darkness at Blaisedon'' (1969, TV movie, †) – Jonathan Fletcher * '' Ironside'' * ''Death Takes a Holiday'' (1971, TV Movie) – Senator Earl Chapman, Jr. ** "Hey, Buddy, Can You Spare a Life?" (1972) – Eric Oates ** "Achilles' Heel" (1972) – Paul Arnstein † Pilots for unsold series

References

Notes

* *

External links

*
Kerwin Mathews
at Brian's Drive-In Theater
The Final Taxi Podcast on Kerwin Mathews
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathews, Kerwin 1926 births 2007 deaths 20th-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century American male actors American gay actors American male film actors American male television actors Beloit College alumni Columbia Pictures contract players Joseph A. Craig High School alumni LGBTQ people from Wisconsin Male actors from Wisconsin Military personnel from Seattle Military personnel from Washington (state) Military personnel from Wisconsin Milton College alumni People from Janesville, Wisconsin United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II