There are few actors who have played in so many television series and feature films as the famous American actor Robert Culp. Over a career of 57 years, he delighted fans with his work in 135 projects in the cinema and on TV. Among them were roles that were remembered by viewers living far outside the United States. At the same time, many Russians who enjoyed watching the Colombo series with his participation, even the name Robert Culp is unfamiliar.
Robert Culp: biography in his youth
The future actor was born on August 16, 1930 in Auckland, in the USA. He was the only child in a fairly wealthy family of lawyer Crozier Cordell Culp and his wife Bethel Martin.
While studying at high school in Berkeley, the future actor was seriously involved in sports and was the winner of the state of California for pole vaulting. After receiving the certificate, Robert Culp entered the drama school of Washington University, and then continued his studies at Pacific Private College in Stockton.
Carier start
Culp Robert gained fame in the United States at a fairly young age, taking part in the filming of the popular television series "Trackdown". There he got the role of the charming and honest ranger Khobi Gilman, who becomes a sheriff and boldly fights against criminals.
Having the appearance of a “typical” white American of Anglo-Saxon descent, Robert was the best suited for creating images of “good guys” in Westerns. That is why, after a successful debut in the next decade, they began to invite him to the roles of heroes from the Wild West, with whom he coped simply brilliantly.
"I'm spying"
The most famous in the career of Robert Culp was a project in which the actor performed with a dark-skinned partner - the famous comedian Bill Cosby. The series was called "I am a spy" and went on television on the United States from 1965 to 1968. In it, Kulp got the role of secret agent Kelly Robinson, hiding under the guise of a professional tennis player. In addition, he proved himself in a new capacity, writing scripts of seven episodes, and also acted as the director of one of the series. For his acting work, Culp was nominated for an Emmy, but he was circumvented by project partner Bill Cosby.
Participation in the series "Colombo"
In the 90s, this series was very popular in our country. It was thanks to him that Culp became known to Russian viewers. He played in three episodes the role of the killer, who neutralizes the hero of Peter Falk, and in one - the father of two young brothers-criminals.
The role of Bill Maxwell
In 1981, Robert Culp, whose films were watched and watched with pleasure and sow for several generations of Americans, appeared before the audience as the fearless FBI agent in the science fiction television series The Greatest American Hero. His character - Bill Maxwell - won the hearts of not only the inhabitants of the United States, but also of France, Italy and several other countries. The show lasted 3 years, the picture was wildly successful. By the way, a few years later, Culp voiced his character in the comedy animated series Robotsyp.
Other jobs
The Russian audience remembered Kulp in the confusing detective, The Pelicans Case, where he starred with movie stars such as Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, playing the role of President of the United States.
Despite the fact that the actor was born long before the computer era, he was open to everything new and enjoyed voicing video games: Half-Life, Voyeur, and others. Culp also starred in Eminem's video clip Guilty Conscience.
In 1994, the actor appeared before the audience in the nostalgic film "I am a Spy: Return". In it, Culp and Cosby again starred their famous characters Robinson and Scott, for the first time since 1968. In addition, their duet took part in a television show where they played people who wanted to become spies.
The last pictures with the participation of the actor were the films "Love for Freedom", "Santa Killer", "Compromising" and "Hunger".
Personal life
Culp Robert Martin during his life married five women, became the father of 3 sons and 2 daughters. The eldest son of actor Joshua was born in 1958, and the youngest daughter of Samantha in 1982. In the years 1967-1970, his wife was the Franco-Vietnamese actress Frans Nuyen, with whom he starred in the movie "I am a Spy."
Death
In the last years of his life, Culp Robert loved to walk in the park, which is located in the Hollywood hills of Los Angeles, next to the actor’s house. On the morning of March 24, 2010, he left his apartment to walk along his alleys. After some time, a casual passerby found Kalpa lying unconscious on one of the paths of the park with a wound in his head. He called the police and the ambulance. The actor was taken to the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, but all the efforts of resuscitators to save his life did not produce any result. At 11:00 in the morning, doctors noted death from a heart attack. Robert Culp was 79 years old at that time.
April 10, 2010 in the building of the Egyptian Theater of Los Angeles, a memorial service was held for the actor, to which, in addition to relatives and friends, his many fans came. Robert Culp was buried at Sunset View Cemetery in El Cerrito, California.
Incomplete projects
Despite his considerable age, until the last days of his life, Robert Culp was in demand in his profession. Shortly before his death, he completed work on a supporting role in the movie Appointment. In addition, the actor was in the process of writing several screenplays. One of them is a film adaptation of the story "Terry and the Pirates." Culp loved this work since childhood, and his film adaptation was his old dream. Unfortunately, he did not have time to implement it, although there was already an agreement with one of the Hong Kong television studios, and the veteran actor was to participate in the project not only as a screenwriter, but also as a director.
