Richard Basehart was a talented and versatile actor who had a successful career in film, television, and theater. He was best known for his roles in the films The Enemy Below and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, as well as the TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Knight Rider. He also had a distinctive voice that he used for narration in documentaries and other projects. However, his life was cut short by a series of strokes that claimed his life in 1984. Here is a brief overview of his life and death, and how his fans reacted to the tragic news.
Early Life and Career
Richard Basehart was born on August 31, 1914, in Zanesville, Ohio. His father was a newspaper editor who died when Richard was eight years old. His mother also died in childbirth, leaving him and his siblings in orphanages. He developed an interest in acting at an early age and joined a local theater group. He later moved to Philadelphia and New York, where he performed on stage and radio. He won critical acclaim for his performance as a dying Scottish soldier in The Hasty Heart, a play by John Patrick, in 1945. He also received the New York Drama Critics Circle Best Newcomer Award for his role.
He made his film debut in Repeat Performance, a film noir with Joan Leslie, in 1947. He soon established himself as a versatile actor who could play a wide range of characters, from villains to heroes, from historical figures to ordinary people. Some of his notable films include He Walked by Night, where he played a sociopathic killer; Moby Dick, where he played Ishmael; La Strada, where he played an acrobat and clown; The Brothers Karamazov, where he played Ivan; and The Enemy Below, where he played a German submarine captain.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Beyond
In 1961, Basehart starred in the film Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, directed by Irwin Allen. He played Admiral Harriman Nelson, the commander of a futuristic nuclear submarine that had to save the world from a global catastrophe. The film was a hit and spawned a TV series of the same name, which ran from 1964 to 1968. Basehart reprised his role as Nelson and became one of the most popular TV stars of the time. He also narrated many episodes of the show.
Basehart continued to work in film and TV after Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ended. He appeared in films such as Kings of the Sun, Chato’s Land, Being There, and The Island. He also guest-starred in TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, Little House on the Prairie, and The Name of the Game. He also voiced Wilton Knight, the founder of Knight Industries, in the pilot episode of Knight Rider, a show that starred David Hasselhoff as a crime-fighter with a talking car.
Basehart also lent his voice to many documentaries and other projects. He narrated Four Days in November, a film about the assassination of John F. Kennedy; Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War, a miniseries about the Vietnam War; The Winds of War, a miniseries based on Herman Wouk’s novel; and The Flame Is Love, a poem that accompanied the dousing of the flame at the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics.
Death and Legacy
On September 17, 1984, Basehart suffered a stroke while walking his dog near his home in Los Angeles. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he had another stroke and fell into a coma. He died later that day at the age of 70. His death shocked his fans and colleagues, who remembered him as a kind and generous person and a brilliant actor.
Basehart was survived by his third wife Diana Lotery and his three children from his previous marriages: Jackie Basehart (an actor), Gayla Basehart (a writer), and Antonio Cortese (a photographer). He was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Basehart’s legacy lives on through his films and TV shows, which are still enjoyed by many viewers around the world. He is also remembered for his humanitarian work with animals and children. He was an active supporter of Actors and Others for Animals, an organization that promotes animal welfare. He also founded Richard Basehart Playhouse for Children with Disabilities, an organization that provides theater opportunities for children with special needs.
Basehart was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for his film work at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard and one for his TV work at 1600 Vine Street. He was also nominated for several awards during his career, including a BAFTA Award for Time Limit (1957), an Emmy Award for The Name of the Game (1970), and a Golden Globe Award for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1965).
Richard Basehart was a remarkable actor who left a lasting impression on his fans and peers. He was a master of his craft who could bring any character to life with his skill and charisma. He was also a compassionate and generous human being who cared for others. He will always be remembered as one of the finest actors of his generation and a true legend of the screen.
