Robert Vaughn biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Born in New York City on November 22, 1932, Robert Francis Vaughn is the son of two show business parents. His father, Walter Vaughn, was a radio actor, and his mother, Marcella Gaudell Vaughn, was a stage actress. Vaughn was still a baby when his parents divorced, and afterward, he and his mother went to live with relatives in Minnesota. He was interested in acting at an early age, and a good student and athlete, he won a scholarship to attend the University of Minnesota. After living with his grandparents and attending school there for a year, he moved to Los Angeles to be with his mother, graduating from Los Angeles City College with a degree in theater in 1956.

Acting jobs came Vaughn's way soon after graduating from City College, including stage work and small roles in several films. As he was hitting his stride as a young actor, he was suddenly drafted and served in the U.S. Army as a drill instructor.

Acclaimed Acting Career

Following his stint in the military, Robert Vaughn continued his life as a working actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1960 for his supporting role as an alcoholic war veteran in The Young Philadelphians. That same year, he completed his master’s degree in performing arts. He also starred in the hit film The Magnificent Seven and made guest appearances on several television shows, including The Lieutenant, Follow the Sun and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

On the radar of industry writers and casting directors, Vaughn was cast in what would become a career-defining role, that of Napoleon Solo on the hit television show The Man From U.N.C.L.E. The role would make Vaughn a household name, opening the door for more TV and film work. While working on U.N.C.L.E., he attended night school and earned his Ph.D. in communications from the University of Southern California in 1972.

Vaughn's acting career has encompassed more than six decades, including appearances in The Towering Inferno, Superman III, The Delta Force and classics like The Ten Commandments and Bullitt, starring opposite Steve McQueen. Additionally, he has consistently appeared as a guest star on hit television programs, including Gunsmoke; Father Knows Best; Bonanza; Murder, She Wrote; The A Team; and Law & Order.

Vaughn won a BAFTA Award (best supporting actor) for his work in the 1968 film Bullitt. In 1977, he won an Emmy Award (outstanding continuing performance by a supporting actor in a drama series) for his performance on Washington: Behind Closed Doors.