John Forsythe

 John Forsythe, born John Lincoln Freund (January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010)

Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning four decades and three genres: as single playboy father Bentley Gregg, in the sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–62) as the unseen millionaire, Charles Townsend, on the crime drama Charlie's Angels (1976–81); and as patriarch Blake Carrington on Dynasty (1981–89)]. He also hosted World of Survival (1971–77). Throughout the 1950s, Forsythe successfully appeared in the new medium and worked regularly on all the networks, especially as a guest star. For example, during this period, he appeared on the popular anthology Alfred Hitchcock Presents in an episode titled "Premonition" opposite Cloris Leachman. In the early 1960s, Forsythe returned to acting in movies including Kitten with a Whip (1964), Madame X (1966) and In Cold Blood (1967). In 1964 he starred in See How They Run which is notable for being the first film made for television. He also attempted two new television programs: The John Forsythe Show on NBC with Guy Marks, Elsa Lanchester, Ann B. Davis, Peggy Lipton, and Forsythe's two young daughters, Page and Brooke (1965–1966), and To Rome with Love on CBS (1969–1971) with co-star Walter Brennan. On every episode of Charlie's Angels, Forsythe, as Townsend, is heard over a speaker phone, instructing the eponymous Angels on their mission for the episode. Character actor David Doyle played Charlie's on-screen liaison to the Angels, who in later seasons included Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack, and Tanya Roberts. Charlie's Angels was a huge success, and was shown in more than 90 countries. In 1981, nearing the end of Charlie's Angels, Forsythe was selected as a last-minute replacement for George Peppard in the role of conniving patriarch Blake Carrington in Dynasty. Another Aaron Spelling production, Dynasty was ABC's answer to the highly successful CBS series Dallas.

Between 1985-87, Forsythe also appeared as Blake Carrington in the short-lived spinoff series The Colbys. Forsythe continued to act into the 2000's, reprising his role as Charlie in the Charlie's Angels movies in 2000 and 2003. John Forsythe died on April 1, 2010, from pneumonia in Santa Ynez, California, age 92. He is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Santa Barbara, California.