RIP Robert Culp
- Thread starter Dorian Thompson
- Start date
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
Robert Culp, aw hell! I was too young for "I Spy," but as a kid he was one of the first actors who wasn't a big star, but whose name you would recognize as a guest star and know he was going to be good. And he was always good. He could play a straight tough-guy leading man, but there was always a smart, slightly world-weary edge just below the surface. And that's why he was so good in "Greatest American Hero," he wasn't taking himself too seriously.
He was also in two of the most memorable episodes of The Outer Limits, hours of tv which have stuck with me after seeing them as a kid thirty years ago or more: "The Architects of Fear" and "Demon With A Glass Hand."
My deepest respects, Mr. Culp.
--Justin
Robert Culp, aw hell! I was too young for "I Spy," but as a kid he was one of the first actors who wasn't a big star, but whose name you would recognize as a guest star and know he was going to be good. And he was always good. He could play a straight tough-guy leading man, but there was always a smart, slightly world-weary edge just below the surface. And that's why he was so good in "Greatest American Hero," he wasn't taking himself too seriously.
He was also in two of the most memorable episodes of The Outer Limits, hours of tv which have stuck with me after seeing them as a kid thirty years ago or more: "The Architects of Fear" and "Demon With A Glass Hand."
My deepest respects, Mr. Culp.
--Justin
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
Besides his acting work, Culp was one hell of a writer too. He wrote some of I Spy's best episodes -- including the show's pilot episode (you don't see that much anymore -- imagine Kiefer Sutherland writing an episode of 24, or David Tennant writing a Doctor Who). His commentaries on the episodes he wrote for I Spy on the DVD releases are among the most literate and fascinating I've ever heard.
And then you add in things like Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Greatest American Hero, his work on the original The Outer Limits, and his great send-ups of Kelly Robinson on two occasions on Bill Cosby's sitcoms. A few years back during the NBC TV 50th Anniversary special, all Cosby and Culp had to do was walk on stage and don sunglasses and the crowd went wild.
One word - if not coined, certainly popularized by I Spy - sums up the man's career: wonderfulness.
Alex
Besides his acting work, Culp was one hell of a writer too. He wrote some of I Spy's best episodes -- including the show's pilot episode (you don't see that much anymore -- imagine Kiefer Sutherland writing an episode of 24, or David Tennant writing a Doctor Who). His commentaries on the episodes he wrote for I Spy on the DVD releases are among the most literate and fascinating I've ever heard.
And then you add in things like Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Greatest American Hero, his work on the original The Outer Limits, and his great send-ups of Kelly Robinson on two occasions on Bill Cosby's sitcoms. A few years back during the NBC TV 50th Anniversary special, all Cosby and Culp had to do was walk on stage and don sunglasses and the crowd went wild.
One word - if not coined, certainly popularized by I Spy - sums up the man's career: wonderfulness.
Alex
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
As a fan of The Greatest American Hero I am saddened by this news. RIP.
As a fan of The Greatest American Hero I am saddened by this news. RIP.
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
Well, this is quite a sad scenario. He was a big talent and he'll be missed.
Well, this is quite a sad scenario. He was a big talent and he'll be missed.
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
I absolutely loved Culp's performances in the Outer Limits - he played three different roles, and did them perfectly. I haven't seen anything else he's been in, but I would love to. RIP.
I absolutely loved Culp's performances in the Outer Limits - he played three different roles, and did them perfectly. I haven't seen anything else he's been in, but I would love to. RIP.
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
Well this just sucks. His writing and acting in I Spy was brilliant. RIP.
Well this just sucks. His writing and acting in I Spy was brilliant. RIP.
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
RIP, Robert Culp.
RIP, Robert Culp.
One of my favorite Robert Culp performances was from a Bonanza episode in which he guest starred, "Broken Ballad." Culp played a gunfighter trying to live down his reputation and who just wanted to live out his days in peace. He befriends Adam Cartwright (the late Pernell Roberts; another hero of mine). The two sing a song together and Culp just breaks your heart because he knows that he'll never live in peace because of his past.
Culp was also tremendous as a COLUMBO murderer, especially in season three's "Double Exposure", which has one of the great Columbo-cracking-the-case endings. And it's made all the better with Culp's reaction.
R.I.P.
Culp was also tremendous as a COLUMBO murderer, especially in season three's "Double Exposure", which has one of the great Columbo-cracking-the-case endings. And it's made all the better with Culp's reaction.
R.I.P.
R.I.P....one of those actors that if you saw he was in something you knew it was going to be good, great actor.
Re: RIP: Robert Culp
He was a villain on Columbo so many times that me and a buddy of mine used to call him Robert Culprit.
He was a villain on Columbo so many times that me and a buddy of mine used to call him Robert Culprit.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Totally agree...i have that episode of columbo and will watch it this weekend..thanks for the reminder!!!
Rob
Recommended: http://www.hulu.com/search?query=I+Spy&st=1
Sad news indeed.
Robert Culp passes away
Robert Culp, who starred in "I Spy," "Bob&Carol&Ted&Alice," "The Greatest American Hero" and other memorable roles passed away from a heart attack this afternoon. He was 79 years old. I saw Greatest American Hero for the first time in 30 years literally just yesterday. How sadly ironic.What a great, underrated gem that show was. Culp was the quintessential lovable curmudgeon as Agent Maxwell.
Hmm the other thread here in TV & Medis says he hit his head?
Anyhow I guess thats number 3
R.I.P. Mr. Culp.
