Who was Stephen McNally?
Stephen McNally was an American actor who appeared in many films and TV shows from the 1940s to the 1970s. He was born as Horace Vincent McNally on July 29, 1911, in New York City. He graduated from Fordham University Law School and practiced as an attorney until he decided to pursue an acting career in the late 1930s. He changed his stage name to Stephen McNally in 1948, taking the name of his son.
What were his notable roles?
McNally was known for playing both heroes and villains, often in westerns, action, and noir films. He made his film debut in Grand Central Murder (1942) and his Broadway debut in Johnny Belinda (1940). He gained recognition for his performance as a rapist in the Oscar-winning film Johnny Belinda (1948), which was a different role from the doctor he played in the original play. Some of his other memorable films include Winchester ’73 (1950), where he played a rifle-stealing outlaw opposite James Stewart; Criss Cross (1949), where he played a casino owner who manipulates Burt Lancaster and Yvonne De Carlo; The Black Castle (1952), where he played a murderous count who torments Boris Karloff and Richard Greene; and Violent Saturday (1955), where he played a bank robber who clashes with Victor Mature and Lee Marvin.
McNally also appeared in many TV shows, such as The Outer Limits, Wagon Train, The Texan, Zane Grey Theatre, The Virginian, Fantasy Island, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, and The Rockford Files. He portrayed historical figures such as General George S. Patton and Father Flanagan in the anthology series Crossroads. He was also a president of the Catholic Actors Guild.
How did he die?
McNally died of a heart attack on June 4, 1994, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 82 years old. He was survived by his wife Rita Wintrich, whom he married in 1941, and their eight children. He was buried in his hometown of Okarche, Oklahoma. His heart, however, was left in Hollywood, as a sign of his love and devotion to the film industry.
