Tall, slim and exceedingly good-looking American leading man Robert Culp, a former cartoonist in his teen years, appeared off-Broadway in the 1950s before settling into polished, clean-cut film leads and "other man" supports a decade later. Hitting the popular TV boards in the hip, racially ground-breaking espionage program _"I Spy" , was unreleased at the time of his death. On March 24, 2010, the 79-year-old Culp collapsed from an apparent heart attack while walking near the lower entrance to Runyon Canyon Park, a popular hiking area in the Hollywood Hills. Found by a hiker, Culp was transported to a nearby hospital where he died from the head injuries he sustained in the fall. Five grandchildren also survive.
Born at 11:16pm-PDT
Father of Joseph Culp , Joshua Culp , Jason Culp and Rachel Culp, from his marriage to Nancy Asch.
It was widely reported that Culp would have replaced Larry Hagman as J.R. in "Dallas" had Hagman decided not to return to the series because of contract negotiations. However, Culp has stated that he was never asked to play the part of J.R. and was not contacted by anyone from "Dallas" . At the time this took place, he was costarring as F.B.I. agent "Bill Maxwell" on ABCs "The Greatest American Hero" . He loved the show and his role and has said that he would not have left the show even if the part had been offered to him.
He was a poker playing buddy of Hugh Hefner ; as a result, he was a frequent guest at the Playboy Mansion.
Father of Samantha Culp , from his marriage to Candace Faulkner.
Wrote a pilot script in 1964 for an espionage series to star himself, but opted for "I Spy" instead. He went on to write several episodes for "I Spy" , including the first episode.
Wrote a pilot script in 1962-1963 for director Sam Peckinpah called "Summer Soldiers" that was never produced.
Ex-stepfather of Fleur Morell.
Both he and his "I Spy" co-star, Bill Cosby , were involved in civil rights causes and, when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, the pair traveled to Memphis, Tenn., to join the striking garbage workers King had been organizing.
He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
At 21, as a senior at the University of Washington, Seattle, he won the Philip Morris Playhouse on Broadway Intercollegiate Acting competition on February 24, 1952. He won $2,000 after being judged by Helen Hayes , Christian Westphalen and Clarence Derwent , ANTA and Equity officers.
Ties with Patrick McGoohan as a major guest star on the TV series "Columbo" , with four appearances.
He was a staunch liberal Democrat.
He made guest appearances on both of the longest running prime time dramas in US television history: "Gunsmoke" and "Law & Order" .
Grandfather to L.A.-based rapper Bones.
Unrelated to actor Steven Culp.
The character Bill Maxwell was not "CIA chief" as mentioned in this biography, but rather he was an FBI Special Agent.
Bill Maxwell was not there to "protect" Ralph (the Super Suit did that), but rather they were supposed to work together -- and part of the charm of the show was that they didnt always work that well together, but they did become -along with Pam- a close-knit team. And friends.
Along with Patrick McGoohan , Jack Cassidy , George Hamilton and William Shatner , he is one of only five actors to play two or more murderers in "Columbo" : Investigator Brimmer in "Columbo" {Death Lends a Hand } , Paul Hanlon in "Columbo" {The Most Crucial Game (#2.3)} and Dr. Bart Keppel in "Columbo" {Double Exposure } .
Was friends with Bill Cosby , and Katherine Helmond.
