Vince Edwards

Vince Edwards, born Vincent Edward Zoine (July 9, 1928 – March 11, 1996)

He was best known for his TV role as doctor Ben Casey and as Major Cliff Bricker in the 1968 war film The Devil's Brigade. In 1950, he was signed to a contract by Paramount Pictures, making his film debut as Vincent Edwards in 1951's Mister Universe. The following year he played the lead role in Hiawatha. Although he had major roles in several films, including film noirs The Killing (1956) and Murder by Contract (1958), it was not until he was featured as the title character in the highly successful Ben Casey television series that he achieved stardom. The medical drama, which he occasionally directed, ran from 1961 to 1966. As a result of the show's and his own popularity, Edwards also released several music albums and appeared in the all-star war film The Victors in 1963. He also appeared in films such as The Desperados (1969), The Mad Bomber (1973), and Space Raiders (1983). He directed a number of episodes in a variety of television series including the original Battlestar Galactica. Edwards was married three times, and had three children. Edwards died of pancreatic cancer in Los Angeles, California, on March 11, 1996, age 67. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.