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Rest In Peace Kevin McCarthy
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I was woken up today by a phone call from Harry accusing me of killing Kevin McCarthy. My last entry in the Behind the Scenes Picture of the Day was of McCarthy’s star-making role in the template-setting sci-fi film INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and now news hits of the passing of the great actor.
I think every generation starting with the kids who saw Invasion of the Body Snatchers in ’56 have a genuine soft spot for this man. That’s a testament to his work ethic and his continuing energy, even into his 70s and 80s. It’s not every actor that has impacted grandparents, parents and grandchildren the way McCarthy did.
For me, it was Joe Dante’s INNERSPACE and segment of the TWILIGHT ZONE movie and the Weird Al Yankovich film UHF that first introduced me to McCarthy. My impression of the man as a kid was the kinda scary mean bad guy with a crooked smile.
As I grew older I found the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the great 1978 remake which he also featured in, The Howling, Piranha (which I'll always remember for his crazed pronunciation of "Pir-an-yah!") and his Oscar-nominated turn in 1952’s Death of a Salesman.
The man was a powerhouse on Broadway (known for his one-man show Give ‘em Hell, Harry), TV (having appeared in everything from The Twilight Zone to Mission: Impossible and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) and movies. In fact, he was a founding member of The Actor’s Studio.
McCarthy was a tough guy. He was orphaned at the age of four when his parents were killed by the flu epidemic of 1918, but persevered and made a name for himself.
With over 200 roles on the big and small screen, McCarthy lived life to its fullest and we’re all the better for it. His contribution to the art of cinema will not be forgotten.
I’ll conclude with a few odds and ends, including some home video footage of young Marlon Brando and Karl Malden playing around with Kevin McCarthy’s kid and some photos from the making of Invasion of the Body Snatchers from the same fella, by the name of Scott, who sent the original shot used in the BtSPotD.
My thoughts are with Mr. McCarthy’s friends, family and fans. You will be missed, sir.
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Readers Talkback
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I just know it
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loved him as the baddie in Innerspace.I have only seen the 70s remake of Body Snatchers but i am going to watch the original asap. <p>and yes its a bit eerie that he died after Quint posted his BTS pic.the mysterious ways of the universe.
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After seeing the pic I did a wiki search and found to my relief that he was still alive...and that was just this morning. RIP Mr. McCarthy, always enjoyed seeing your familiar face in whatever project you showed up in.
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Press the green button, you fool!
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Could you show a behind-the-scenes photo from "I know who killed me" tomorrow? Outside of that, rest in peace Mr.McCarthy. Condolences to the family.
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It always pissed me off that he went through all that in the original just to come to an ignominious ending in the sequel/remake.
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I see he was still acting this year. Not a bad legacy at all.
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Had a bit part in LOONEY TOONS: BACK IN ACTION riffing on his INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS role - one of the few highlights of that LT:BIA. Sorry to hear of his death.
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thats the only sure thing in this world.
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A bad day for the movies.
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Is it me, or has this site been hard to get into today.
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YOU'RE NEXT!!!!!
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Howsabout throwing up a pic of Bret Ratner or those two guys doing those parody movies?
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same problem here
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Then maybe Michael Bay, Megan Fox, AND Shia will all kick the bucket tomorrow.
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Will be missed
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He's got a new show coming out.
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What ever happened to it?
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I had the great fortune of spending a large part of a weekend here in Chicago at what I believe was the first Flashback Weekend convention. He signed a UHF poster for me, and I even got to drive him around from event to event a couple times during the course of the event. He was the sweetest, funniest man who was gracious to each and every fan who came up to say hi. It was a true honor to spend that time with such a legend and a truly nice man. Miss him already.
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There was a time when that was up there with more Star Wars movies on my want-list of movie sequels. Ah th 90s, when so much seemed so close...
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yet i only knew of him for the most part as the character actor of 'crabby old man' until recently when i got off my ass and started watching classic TV and movies. RIP
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I piss my self laughing everytime the Asain guys jump out of the closet and yells supplies.Oh yea, sorry the really really old guy that no one has givin a thought to in 20yrs kicked the bucket.
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Good to see you living up to the middle part of your name.
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RIP Mr. McCarthy. Always loved it when he would show up in something, and yeah now I need to finally see the original Body Snatchers to complete the set.
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I meet him at a horror / sci-fi Convention years ago... sad just sad ..a truly great man.
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Michael Bay!! Maybe he'll keel off and we can get something productive out of it. <p> Condolences to Mr. McCarthy's family.
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so hilarious in UHF. I'm gonna have to watch that again.<p>oh, and the day Quint posted the BTS Princess Bride pic, there was an announcement made that Cary Elwes acting career, (which had long been lingering on life support) had officially died. <p>Quint, can you post an M Night Shyamalan pic ASAP? Not with any other actors in it, just him sitting in a chair or something...or possibly with Mel Gibson.
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Why haven't we solved this problem yet? R.I.P. Mr. McCarthy, you helped foster my own sense of increasing paranoia.
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Sept. 12, 2010, 7:33 p.m. CST
enjoyed him as a bad guy in movies
by BEYONDTHUNDERDOME2GIRLS1CUPBILLCOSBY
UHF in particular he was amazing in, and, of course, the A-team episode. He worked with Robert Rodriguez in Roadracers.
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Or Harry will be in the next behind-the-scenes pic
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I watched that movie so much as a kid, he was a great actor, rip
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He was immortal or something and one of his old wifes shots him for lying to her, the episode had a great reveal where mccarthy suddenly grows old. I was an adult be fore i realised how they achieved that effect, and it ws as simple as age lines painted in red and a light being shone on them at the right moment..ahhh black and white film
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Great actor.
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Sept. 12, 2010, 7:50 p.m. CST
great movie, great role, great actor
by Hey_Kobe_Tell_Me_How_My_Ass_Tastes
all came together - RIP Mr McCarthy
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What a gigantic loss. So missed the academy award for zone. His Uncle Walt(Disney ref?)One of the greatest performances and truely the heart of that sequence. Should have hosted next men in black like graves
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of business because of too many moron republican senators banning stem-cells
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So the next pic will be of Rocky Dennis with a ham sandwich?
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And GB3 will die with him.
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...can't believe it hadn't been said. Rest easy Mr McCarthy.
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He was funny as hell. He did a MST3K style live commentary on one of his own movies. He loved poking fun at himself. Ah Wonderfest, thank God for Wonderfest. RIP, sir.
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Like 5 hours ago I posted that it was cool he was still alive. Damn. R.I.P.
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Always liked his on screen presence. RIP!
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body snatchers was one....because of mr mccarthy's riveting performance<p>we have lost a giant today
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Weird that I knew who he was but never knew his name until now. Rest in peace.
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"Putter, don't be a putz, get in here...!"
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Go back to falling asleep while watching INCEPTION
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Just pulled out Piranha for the first time in forever before seeing the remake. I think the most current thing I remember seeing him in was Deadwood?
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Spot on.
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was in one of the Pink Panther movies, with Dyan Cannon too, I think. I just thought, wow, that is one handsome dude. The problem with casting him in those roles was that he looked like the leading man.
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I met him back around 2000 and asked him to sign a #2 pencil, since his UHF character was so fond of them. He politely declined, saying he'd have to cramp his hand too much for something that small, but was game for signing a regular photo. He'll be sorely missed!
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...please don't let merrick do any more. they always sound so insensitive.
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Sept. 13, 2010, 1:28 a.m. CST
Peace to him and condolences to his friends and family.
by Dennis_Moore
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during the 2011 Oscar remembrance thing—guaranteed
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Man, it seems like he's been around forever, and would go on forever. Yet here comes that tall dark stranger (to quote Woody Allen) and takes him away to the great beyond. Damn!!
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The tv show and the film. RIP.
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There is a great nostalgic feeling in them, for a time long gone, when films were well written, well made and took TIME to unfold on the big screen. Today, almost a whole film is supposed to happen furing the first 5 minutes, and in 9 cases out of 10, that sucks. Bring back Hitchcock, Ford, Lang and those guys. Resurrect their asses and make them start making films again, as they once did. We need them.
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RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-RIP-
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You never been to a funeral, MisterManReturns? Seen a tombstone?<p>Have some respect for the recently departed. God, knows we never got the chance to properly say goodbye to Ed McMahaon...
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A true talent, & by all acounts, a decent man too. Condolences to his family & friends. And for those of you who still haven't seen the original INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS...see it! Kevin McCarthy's performance coupled w/the direction of the equally talented Don Siegel make this one of the most finely crafted sci-fi/horror films ever made! And w/Halloween upon us, it's the perfect time of year to watch it. You'll thank me later.
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Please.
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Today i´m talking to Joe Dante on a chat. Is going to be a sad moment.
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Always loved his cameo in the remake of Body snatchers. God speed, Sir - rest in peace.
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Always fun to see him in the movies! He was quietly one of my favorite actors! He'll be missed!
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Propane...?
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Sept. 13, 2010, 8:32 a.m. CST
'You Idiot! Does this LOOK like a No. 2 Pencil??!' 'But Dad!'
by George Newman
"SHUT UP!!" <p>McCarthy is an incredible actor with fantastic facial expressions, which are utilized to the max in UHF. You don't have to look any farther than my SN here to see that I'm a fan. Rest in Peace
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His sister was the author Mary McCarthy, and the people who adopted them were incredibly cruel. Somehow they survived and became great at what they did. Outside of Body Snatchers, my favorite memories of him are Innerspace and Matinee. Rest well, sir - you've earned it.
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At an autograph show about 12 years ago in Chicago,Mr. McCarthy was there along with Robert Vaughn and a few others. He seemed like a jovial man always smiling. He was a damn good actor,too.
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My favourite Kevin McCarthy line ever! From 'UHF' of all movies! R.I.P. Kevin. Now the invasion of the pod people can finally conclude!
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Sept. 13, 2010, 10:27 a.m. CST
Damn... I loved him in Mannequin. He died so young..
by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYanks
(sob) <p> sorry folks... poor form. <p> But I loved this man, I figured he more than anyone would see the humour. He was one funny guy.
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Sept. 13, 2010, 10:28 a.m. CST
Vidiot from UHF (Aussie title) is dear to my heart.
by NomoredirtyjokespleaseweareYanks
McCarthy is a biiig reason. Him and Stanley Spadowsksi(sic)...
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when Quint posted that Invasion BTS photo. I saw the original (YOU'RE NEXT!!) many, many years ago on TV, and I've enjoyed his work, esp with Joe Dante, ever since. And looking at IMDB, he was still knockin' them out.
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Sept. 13, 2010, 10:59 a.m. CST
UHF... why hasn't Weird Al been allowed to make more
by BetterCallSaul
movies. RIP Kevin McCarthy.
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It wasn't until adulthood that I was able to watch the whole thing uninterupted. It's classic, and I don't see how another actor could have done it. RIP.
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watching Bodysnatchers and many other roles, Mr. McCarthy.
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sorry to hear the bad news that another legend and staple of my formative movie watching years has passed away. He graciously signed a still from the closing of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers which is framed and mounted on my study wall. Time to watch the movie again, in tribute.
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I'm surprised he was still alive. But this guy was a workhorse. I'll raise a glass tonight!
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When he talked about why miniaturization was the preferred technology over nuclear weapons ("Everybody's got 'em, nobody's got the balls to use 'em") and space weapons ("An endless junkyard of orbiting debris"). He delivered the dialogue so brilliantly. A great actor in everything I saw him in. RIP.
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I must have been aroung the age 12 when first saw it, late at night after everyone else had fallen asleep. Been one of my favorites ever since. Even enjoyed the remake with Donald Sutherland. RIP Mr. McCarthy.
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I met Kevin several times over the years, always a great guy (and like right out of INVASION/BS). When he appeared at Rocket Video in 04 I was his driver, had to go get him and all. He griped all through the drive through the canyon (even yelling at some guy in a convertible stopped at a light when dude's hip-hop got Kevin all fuzzed-up). The turnout was too light for Kevin, so he was a little pissed - but was gracious enough to phone my wife (who couldn't make the event) at home and throw his "You're Next" routine at her. That was the last memory I have of him - he will be missed. RIP K McC!
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we got bogged down in traffic next to a bunch of crazy kids in a jeep in West HW...While they're all busting on me for cruising with my "grandfather," who was that class act in the back (whose smell I still can't get outta the fucking car six years later), having to assert himself/be more than up to the challenge to pick the fight? Ex-GLOW fleabag D "Dogshit" D. Doug, if you're out there, I hope you got a new suit (with a different color pen like smashed up into the asscrack; blue didn't go with "off"-white). Ok, so that's a slightly later LAST MEMORY of Kevin McC, and I'm glad he wasn't armed.
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Innerspace and UHF! And he left a lasting impact, I still use "festering ball of dog snot" all the time in his style. Sad to see him go, but at least he worked up until his death.
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Jebus, he hung in there, huh? Well, RIP and all that jazz...
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...several times. What a honey Dana Wynter was. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
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96, damn, good innings. I remember being shocked to hear him on the Innerspace commentary a few years ago. He must have been at least in his late 80s then and he still sounded sprightly.
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watch Anthony Hopkins's BIZARRE film for a fitting send-off to Kevin McCarthy
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Him and that woman got tiny and they're in the car trying to stop Martin Short lol! Great movie! I remember his face best with the Twilight Zone movie though. Great character actor! RIP
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Sept. 14, 2010, 8:16 a.m. CST
Shoulda included the 'Invasion of the Bodysnatchers' trailer...
by Cervantes
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