Edward Mulhare

Edward Mulhare (8 April 1923 – 24 May 1997) was an Irish actor whose career spanned five decades. He is best known for his starring roles in two television series, sitcom The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968-70) and action drama Knight Rider (1982-86).

Early life and career

Mulhare, one of three brothers, was born at 22 Quaker Road, Cork City, County Cork, Ireland, to John and Catherine (née Keane) Mulhare. As a child, he received his education at St. Nessan's Christian Brothers School, and later North Monastery. Mulhare, as a young adult, began schooling at the National University of Ireland in medicine, but eventually decided upon a career in theatre. After acting in various Irish venues including the Gate Theatre in Dublin, he moved to London, where he worked with Orson Welles and John Gielgud. He co-starred with Orson Welles in a 1951 production of Othello directed by Welles and produced by Laurence Olivier, and played in Pygmalion before going to America.

In 1955 Mulhare starred as James Finnegan in the first feature film produced in Israel, Hill 24 Doesn't Answer.

His best-known stage role was as Professor Higgins in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady, having taken over the role from Rex Harrison in 1957. Mulhare was understudy to Harrison until that time, going on to play the part for three years in New York for 1,000 performances, then continuing the role on an international tour, which included an extensive tour of Russia.[citation needed] He continued to perform the role in summer theatres and for touring companies into the 1970s. A notable East Lansing, Michigan university campus performance of My Fair Lady was originally cancelled due to a blizzard, but played to a packed house of 4,000 when word was sent out that any student could get into the performance free, if they could get there. Many showed up on skis, as told by Mulhare and Anne Rogers on The Irv Kupcinet Show in a 1978 interview. Mulhare and Rogers continued their acting partnership, playing King Arthur and Guenevere in Camelot.

Television

His first television appearance was in 1956 in a production of The Adventures of Robin Hood (Episode "The Imposters"). He was a guest panelist in 1958, and again in 1963, on the CBS television game show What's My Line?

By 1965, he was back in Hollywood appearing in films and television shows for 20th Century Fox. He earned roles in the films Von Ryan's Express in 1965, Our Man Flint in 1966, and Caprice in 1967. He guest-starred in television programmes, including Daniel Boone and the Twelve O'Clock High episode "Siren Voices" as Luftwaffe Colonel Kurt Halland. In The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, a supernatural sitcom that ran from 1968 to 1970, he starred as Captain Daniel Gregg, and again was something of a successor to Rex Harrison, who had originated the role of Captain Gregg in the original 1947 film.

In 1969 Mulhare starred in Gidget Grows Up, an American made-for-television comedy film with Karen Valentine in the title role. He played Alex MacLaughlin, a love interest for Gidget. Harlan Carraher, who played Jonathan Muir in The Ghost and Mrs Muir with Mulhare, had a small part as well.

He also guest-starred in "Experiment In Terra", an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica.

Mulhare co-starred as Devon Miles, director of the Foundation for Law and Government, on Knight Rider (1982–1986) alongside David Hasselhoff's Michael Knight.

In the mid-1980s, Mulhare hosted the television series Secrets & Mysteries, also called Secrets of the Unknown, a magazine show that examined historical mysteries and the paranormal.

Later years

He starred in a number of films in his career including Megaforce and Out to Sea. His final role was on Baywatch Nights alongside former Knight Rider co-star David Hasselhoff in December 1996.

Death

A heavy smoker, he died of lung cancer on 24 May 1997, aged 74, at his home in Van Nuys, California. He had been battling the cancer for five months prior to his death. Team Knight Rider dedicated an episode titled "K.R.O.", to Mulhare's memory (broadcast 27 October 1997). According to the annual magazine Who's Who in TV, 1968-1969, Mulhare was "a real ladies' man"; however, he remained a lifelong bachelor. He is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Tory Top Road, Cork City, Ireland.

Filmography

Film

Television

External links

• at IMDb
• at the TCM Movie Database
• at the Internet Broadway Database
• at Find a Grave