Kevin McCarthy, 96, 'Body Snatchers' actor
HYANNIS, Mass. - Actor Kevin McCarthy, who played the frantic doctor trying to save his friends and neighbors in the science-fiction movie classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, has died.
HYANNIS, Mass. - Actor Kevin McCarthy, who played the frantic doctor trying to save his friends and neighbors in the science-fiction movie classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, has died.
Mr. McCarthy, 96, died Saturday, said Cape Cod Hospital spokesman Dave Riley, who would not reveal the cause of death or any other details.
Mr. McCarthy's acting career began in 1938 with his Broadway debut in Abe Lincoln in Illinois.
Soon after, he became an early member of the Actors Studio and was chosen by Elia Kazan to play Biff, the son of Willy Loman, in the London production of Death of a Salesman. He repeated the role in the 1951 film and earned an Oscar nomination as supporting actor.
But his most lasting fame would come for Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In the 1956 film, he vainly tried to warn residents in his small town of the evil pod people from outer space who were quietly taking over the personalities of everyone on Earth.
His frantic shouting of "You're next!" to those in approaching cars became so well-known among science-fiction fans that he was often asked to spoof the role. He more or less did that in the opening minutes of the 1978 remake.
Mr. McCarthy also appeared in one other classic film, although in a much smaller role. He was Marilyn Monroe's estranged husband in her last movie, 1961's The Misfits.
Mr. McCarthy was born in Seattle on Feb. 15, 1914. He, his sister, author Mary McCarthy, and their two brothers were orphaned when their parents died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. They were raised by relatives.
His first marriage, to Augusta Dabney, produced three children. His second, to Kate Crane, produced two children.
