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Actor

1926-10-25 · New Haven, Connecticut, USA · Male

17 series in the catalog

William Joseph McGuire Jr.; (October 25, 1926 – March 9, 2021), known as Biff McGuire, was an American actor, best known as Inspector Kramer in Nero Wolfe (1979).

Early years

McGuire attended Hamden High School and the University of Massachusetts, where he studied agricultural engineering.

He acquired his nickname from playing football.

McGuire left the university to join the U.S. Army. While stationed in England, he studied at Shrivenham University; while there he painted sets for and acted in a local theater's production. That experience led to a role in a play in London.

Career

In a career that spanned 50 years, McGuire collected a number of theatrical credits. He debuted on Broadway in Bright Boy (1944).

On October 9, 1955, McGuire starred in the episode "Number Seven, Hangman's Row" of the CBS anthology series, Appointment with Adventure. He also starred in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes "The Gentleman From America" (1956), "The Hidden Thing" (1956), "Crackpot" (1957), and "Don't Interrupt" (1958, as Larry Templeton). He appeared in such television series as The Secret Storm and All My Children. He was a regular on Herb Shriner Time (1951–1952) on ABC and portrayed Dr. Michael Malloy in the NBC drama Gibbsville (1976).

Personal life and death

McGuire married English actress and singer Jeannie Carson in 1960. She starred in the CBS situation comedy Hey, Jeannie! (1956–1957). Carson co-starred with McGuire in Finian's Rainbow.

Biff McGuire died on March 9, 2021, at the age of 94.

Recognition

McGuire was nominated for two Tony Awards:

1997 Actor (Featured Role—Play) for The Young Man From Atlanta

2002 Actor (Featured Role—Play) for Morning's at Seven

Filmography

You're in the Navy Now (1951) as Sailor Messenger (uncredited)

The Phenix City Story (1955) as Fred Gage

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 31: "Gentleman from America") as Howard Latimer

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 34: "The Hidden Thing") as Dana Edwards

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 15: "Crackpot") as Ray Loomis

Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Don't Interrupt") as Larry Templeton

Station Six-Sahara (1963) as Jimmy

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) as Sandy

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968) as Mr. Kelly

Paradise Lost (1971) as Phil Foley

The Werewolf of Washington (1973) as President

Serpico (1973) as Captain McClain

Gunsmoke (1974) as Potter season 20 episode 8 (the fourth victim)

John O'Hara's Gibbsville (a.k.a. The Turning Point of Jim Malloy) (TV movie, 1975) as Dr. Michael Malloy

Hawaii Five-O (1975 episode: "See How She Runs") as Babe Mandell

Midway (1976) as Captain Miles Browning

Gibbsville (TV series, 6 episodes, 1976) as Dr. Michael Malloy

In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (1977) as Father Tom

Child of Glass (1978) as Joe Armsworth

The Paper Chase (1979) as Smathers

The Last Word (1979) as Governor Davis

Nero Wolfe (1979) as Inspector Cramer

JAG (2000) as Admiral Caleb Stanton

Frasier (2001) as Mr. Smolenski

Hollywood Seagull (2013) as Bruce Sorensen

Theatre

Finian's Rainbow (1960 revival) – Broadway (Woody)

Camelot (1963) – national tour (King Arthur)

The Day Emily Married (2005) – Off-Broadway

Young Man From Atlanta (1997) – Broadway

Morning's at Seven (2002) – Broadway

Biff McGuire at the Internet Broadway Database

William Biff McGuire at the Internet Broadway Database

Biff McGuire at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)

William Biff McGuire at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)