Roy Thinnes

Roy was born on April 6, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois. During his formative years, he had wanted to become a doctor or football player - or, if one wants to believe his early press releases, both. He started in show business at a radio station, where he did everything: engineering, DJ shows, news and dramatizations. That led to an interest in acting in general. After a hitch in the army, he went to New York and then to California, where he started working in episodes of TV shows.

He made guest appearances on both of the longest running prime time dramas in US television history: Gunsmoke (1955) and Law & Order (1990).

Having made his professional acting debut as a teen-aged firebug in a 1957 pilot for the never-sold TV series, "Chicago 212", Thinnes spent several lean years "between engagements", working as a hotel clerk, vitamin salesman and copy boy to Chicago columnist Irv Kupcinet.

Best known as architect David Vincent in the 1960s cult television series, The Invaders (1967). He appeared in a mini-series remake of that series, The Invaders (1995), also in the role of David Vincent.

His first regular TV work was as "Phil Brewer" on the daytime soap opera, General Hospital (1963); during this period, the young actor became the television equivalent of a matinée idol, sparking a barrage of protest mail when he briefly left "GH" in pursuit of other acting jobs.

While "Summer" was unsuccessful, Thinnes enjoyed a longer run as "David Vincent" on the The Fugitive (1963)-like sci-fi series, The Invaders (1967).

Aggressively campaigning for the starring role of "Ben Quick" on The Long, Hot Summer (1965) -- the TV version of the film, The Long, Hot Summer (1958) -- Thinnes won the part, as well as a whole new crop of adoring female fans.

Success with this popular show also led to marriage to first wife, Lynn Loring, who acted with him in the show as well as in the movie, Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (1969) (aka "Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun"); she is now a CBS film executive.

James Whitman" on The Psychiatrist (1970), "Capt. (and later Maj.

He was considered for the role of Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) before Robert Duvall was cast.

Though he'd occasionally show up in such features as The Hindenburg (1975), Airport 1975 (1974) and Blue Bayou (1990), Thinnes has remained essentially a TV star. Among his post-"The Invaders" TV-series roles was "Dr.

Was originally hired to play Arthur Adamson in Alfred Hitchcock's final film, Family Plot (1976), but Hitchcock had always wanted William Devane for the part. Devane was originally unavailable, so Hitchcock began filming with Thinnes in the role. When Devane became suddenly available one month into filming, Hitchcock unceremoniously fired Thinnes without explanation and replaced him with Devane (Hitchcock later claimed he was dissatisfied with Thinnes' performance). The way Hitchcock handled the firing led to a famously public confrontation between the two men in a crowded Chasen's Restaurant. Thinnes can be seen in several publicity stills from the production, but no footage apparently exists.

) Holms" on From Here to Eternity (1980), "Nick Hogan" on Falcon Crest (1981) (who, in 1983, married "Victoria Gioberti" [Jamie Rose] in a highly-rated ceremony) and the dual role of "Roger Collins" and "Rev.

They parted in 1984.

Trask" in the 1991 prime-time revival, Dark Shadows (1991).

Roy's more recent appearances on the The X-Files (1993) put him back in the forefront.