Richard Stapley

Richard Stapley

Stapley appearing in a 1965 epidode of The Saint
Born (1923-06-20)June 20, 1923
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England
Died March 5, 2010(2010-03-05) (aged 86)
Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Other names Richard Wyler
Occupation Actor, author
Years active 1948–1978

Richard Stapley (June 20, 1923 – March 5, 2010), also known by the stage name Richard Wyler, was a British actor and writer.[1][2]

Early life

Stapley was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, in 1923.[1] A writer, Stapley published his first novel when he was just 17 years old.[1] He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.[1]

Career

Following the end of War War II, Stapley began appearing in theater roles in London.[1] He soon signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), making his film debut in a supporting role in the 1948 film, The Three Musketeers.[1] He next appeared in the 1949 remake, Little Women, in which he played John Brooke, the love interest of Janet Leigh's character, Meg.

He continued to appear in a string of Hollywood films at different studios during the 1940s and 1950s, including the 1951 period drama The Strange Door, which co-starred Boris Karlof and Charles Laughton; 1953's King of the Khyber Rifles, which starred Tyrone Power; Charge of the Lancers with Paulette Goddard; and The Iron Glove with Robert Stack in 1954.[1] In 1955 Stapley starred in Target Zero as a British UN tank commander serving in the Korean War.

Stapley returned to the United Kingdom and Europe in 1960, where he adopted the stage name, Richard Wyler.[1][2] His British television credits from that era included the crime series, Man from Interpol.[2] He also appeared in a series of European-made adventure and western films using the name, Richard Wyler, including The Barbarians, The Rattler Kid, The Bounty Killer, Dick Smart, and The Girl From Rio, which co-starred Shirley Eaton and George Sanders.

During the early part of the decade, he wrote a weekly column for Motor Cycling magazine, Richard Wyler's Coffee Bar Column,[3] and owned a shop in Central Road, Worcester Park, London, specialising in performance motorcycle parts and accessories.[4] The shop was later sold to Cyril Jones.[5]

During the 1970s, Stapley returned to film roles under his birthname, Richard Stapley.[1] He co-starred in the 1970 film, Connecting Rooms, in a supporting role to stars Michael Redgrave and Bette Davis.[1] He was also cast in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.[1]

When his acting roles became fewer he became a radio announcer in Britain, raced motorcycles,[6] and in the 1970s worked part-time as a motor cycle courier.[7]

Stapley became a naturalized U.S. citizen during his later life.[1] He focused on writing following his acting career. He published a novel entitled, Naked Legacy, in 2004.[2] Stapley also completed a second novel and corresponding adapted screenplay, both called Tomorrow Will Be Cancelled.[1] He was working on an autobiography at the time of his death in 2010.[1]

Richard Stapley died of kidney failure at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, on March 5, 2010, at the age of 86. His death was announced by his publicist, Alan Eichler.[2]

Selected filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Richard Stapley, 86, was actor, writer". Variety Magazine. March 7, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Actor Richard Stapley dies at 86". Globe Gazette. Mason City, IA. Associated Press. March 7, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Dick Wyler's Coffee-Bar Column". Motor Cycling. London: Temple Press Limited. 104-105.
  4. ↑ Motorcycle Mechanics, July 1964, p.48 Technical Topics by Bruce Cox. Accessed 5 March 2016
  5. ↑ Motorcycle Mechanics, September 1965, p.11 Full Chat by Ian Speller. Accessed 20 June 2016
  6. ↑ http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2010/03/sinister-image-tomorrow-has-been-cancelled-richard-stapley-rip/
  7. ↑ Wilkins, Julian (June 2, 2010). "Richard Stapley: Film and television actor who starred alongside Elizabeth Taylor in 'Little Women'". The Independent. London.
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