The original “Man From U.N.C.L.E.” has died. Robert Vaughn, who played secret agent Napoleon Solo on the 1960s spy comedy series, passed away at the age of 83, according to media reports.
Vaughn died from complications from acute leukemia.
After appearing as an uncredited extra in “The Ten Commandments” in 1956, Vaughn landed his first breakthrough role in “The Young Philadelpheans” in 1959, for which he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
In 1964, Vaughn was offered his own TV series, originally titled “Solo,” in which he would play the suave secret agent Napoleon Solo. The show became “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and Vaughn was partnered with David McCallum, who played his fellow agent and partner, Illya Kuryakin.
Vaughn continued to act well into the 2010’s, with roles on TV shows such as “Bonanza,” “Law & Order,” “The A-Team” and “Hawaii Five-O” and films like “Superman III,” “The Magnificent Seven” and “Bullitt.”
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RIP great actor.
The original “Solo” before “Han”.
His partner, David McCallum is still going strong as a Medical Examiner named ‘Ducky’ on the long-running, “NCIS”.
In the first season of NCIS someone askes Gibbs “what was Ducky like when he was younger?” Gibbs replies ” a lot like Illia Kuriakin”
Robert Vaughn played an excellent villain.
Thanks 13 for the in-joke line from NCIS. I always hoped Robert would get a second hit series like David.
Funny, PBS aired The Magnificent Seven last weekend. Robert displayed some of the best acting chops in that classic duster fighting off personal demons while helping Yul Brynner, Steve MacQueen and Co. save a Mexican village from Eli Wallach’s horde of bandidos.