Stuart Margolin
Actor, TV director, and songwriter - all of these words describe the wide-ranging actor Stuart Margolin, who in a career spanning over half a century, appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows. A character actor in the truest sense of the word, Margolin's career in television began in the early 1960s, with numerous guest parts on several hit shows of the era, including "The Fugitive" (ABC 1963-67), "Ironside" (NBC 1967-1975), and "Bewitched" (ABC 1964-1972). After over a decade of relative obscurity as a nameless working actor, however, Margolin's life would change forever when he was cast alongside James Garner on "The Rockford Files" (NBC 1974-1980). Margolin played a weasley ex-con named Evelyn "Angel" Martin for all six seasons of the show, and eventually went on to earn two Primetime Emmys for his work. Although Margolin continued to act regularly throughout the ensuing decades, while also picking up a few awards for his work behind the camera as a TV director, his work on "The Rockford Files" remained his most lasting - the highlight of a long and multi-faceted career in show business. Born in Iowa and raised in Texas, Margolin grew up wanting to become a professional dancer. His idols were Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire - the two icons of modern dance - but Margolin quickly realized that there was far more to dancing than just showing off. With that in mind, he promptly dashed any hopes of making a career out of it. He then turned his attention to acting, and by the age of eight had landed the role of Puck in a local production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Margolin remained a creature of the theater throughout most of his youth, appearing in as many plays as he could, while simultaneously honing his craft. By the early '60s, however, Hollywood came calling and Margolin soon began landing small parts on television shows. He landed his first recurring role in 1962 as Lieutenant Miller on the short-lived military comedy, "Ensign O'Toole" (NBC 1962-1963), and continued to be cast as sheriffs, lieutenants and other uniformed figures of authority throughout the 1960s. Then in 1971 Margolin landed the role of Deputy Sheriff Mitch on the TV western "Nichols" (NBC 1971-72). The show starred James Garner as the sherriff of a small town in Arizona, with Margolin playing the role of his sidekick. Despite being cancelled after one season, Garner was impressed by Margolin's performance and suggested him for a similar role in a new crime series he was starring in. As Evelyn "Angel" Martin, a lovable but shady ex-con, Margolin won two Primetime Emmys, as well as nearly universal praise from fans and critics alike. The show aired for six seasons on NBC, with Margolin reprising his role as Martin in several made-for-TV movies in the mid-'90s. Although Margolin continued to work steadily throughout the '80s and '90s, he started turning much of his attention to directing, having helmed episodes of hour-long dramas like "Magnum P.I." (CBS 1980-88), "Promised Land" (CBS 1996-99), and "Touched by an Angel" (CBS 1994-2003), among dozens of others. In addition to his work on television, Margolin also appeared in several high-profile films, including Terrence Malick's pensive drama "Days of Heaven" (1978), "The Hoax" (2006), and 2011's legal thriller "Arbitrage," starring Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere. Despite turning 70, Margolin remained active into the 2010s, appearing in an episode of the Canadian series "Republic of Doyle" (CBC 2010- ) in 2013. Stuart Margolin died on December 12, 2022 at the age of 82.
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Stuart Margolin
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
22% |
|
Sgt. Will Gardner | Mr. Glenn (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What the Night Can Do |
Hugh Dryer (Character), Screenwriter, Producer, Original Music |
- | 2017 |
82% |
|
The Second Time Around | Isaac (Character) | - | 2016 |
85% |
|
The Discoverers | Stanley Birch (Character) | $36.0K | 2012 |
85% |
|
The Hoax | Marty Ackerman (Character) | $7.1M | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
I Was a Teenage Faust | Mephisto (Character) | - | 2002 |
50% |
|
Grizzly Falls | Writer | $163.3K | 2000 |
67% |
|
The Hi-Line | Clyde Johnson (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads |
Angel Martin (Character), Director |
- | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
Stranger in Town | Director | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Sweetest Gift | Director | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Lay of the Land | Carmine Ficcone (Character) | $4.1K | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: Murder and Misdemeanors | Angel (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best | Evelyn 'Angel' Martin (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime | Angel Martin (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits | Evelyn 'Angel' Martin (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play |
Angel Martin (Character), Director |
- | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Diana Kilmury Story | John (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Diana Kilmury: Teamster | John (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise | Evelyn 'Angel' Martin (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
Salt Water Moose | Director | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
How the West Was Fun | Director | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A. | Evelyn "Angel" Martin (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble | Director | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Medicine River | Director | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
To Grandmother's House We Go | Det. Gremp (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Impolite | I.M. Penner (Character) | - | 1992 |
68% |
|
Guilty by Suspicion | Abe Barron (Character) | $8.4M | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride |
Chinnici (Character), Director |
- | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: Plates | Director | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Deep Sleep | Bob (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bye Bye Blues | Slim Godfrey (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
Paramedics | Director | $149.6K | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
Iron Eagle II | Gen. Stillmore (Character) | $10.5M | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Room Upstairs | Director | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Facts of Life Down Under | Director | - | 1987 |
25% |
|
A Fine Mess | Maurice "Binky" Drundza (Character) | $5.0M | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Running Hot | Officer Trent (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Glitter Dome |
Herman Sinclair (Character), Director |
- | 1984 |
29% |
|
Class | Balaban (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Killer in the Family | Randy Greenawalt (Character) | - | 1983 |
81% |
|
S.O.B. | Gary Murdock (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bret Maverick: The Lazy Ace |
Philo Sandeen (Character), Director |
- | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Long Summer of George Adams | Director | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Shining Season | Director | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Man, a Woman and a Bank | Screenwriter | - | 1979 |
94% |
|
Days of Heaven | Mill Foreman (Character) | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Suddenly, Love | Director | - | 1978 |
36% |
|
Futureworld | Harry (Character) | - | 1976 |
64% |
|
The Big Bus | Alex (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Perilous Voyage | Rico (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Friday the Rabbi Slept Late | Unknown (Character) | - | 1976 |
82% |
|
The Gambler | Cowboy (Character) | - | 1974 |
66% |
|
Death Wish | Aimes Jainchill (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The West Was Never Like This | Blind Pete (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | This Is the West That Was | Blind Pete (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet |
|
The California Kid | Deputy (Character) | - | 1974 |
60% |
|
The Stone Killer | Lawrence (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Summer Without Boys | Voice of Dan Hailey (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet |
|
Evil Roy Slade | Original Music | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Women in Limbo | Phil Garrett (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Intruders | Jesse James (Character) | - | 1970 |
79% |
|
Kelly's Heroes | Pvt. Little Joe (Character) | - | 1970 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
74% | 86% | The X-Files | Dr. They (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 84% | NCIS | Felix Betts (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Republic of Doyle | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
78% | 92% | 30 Rock | Fred (Guest Star) | 2009 |
No Score Yet | 57% | Saturday Night Live | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2009 |
73% | No Score Yet | The Handler | Director | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Touched by an Angel |
Unknown (Guest Star), Director |
1997-2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Strange Frequency | Unknown (Character) | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Promised Land |
Unknown (Guest Star), Director |
1997-1999 |
No Score Yet | 90% | Quantum Leap | Director | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ray Bradbury Theater |
Vincent (Character), Director |
1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1992 |
No Score Yet | 91% | Northern Exposure | Director | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Tracey Ullman Show | Director | 1987-1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Danger Bay |
Unknown (Guest Star), Director |
1985 |
97% | 85% | Hill Street Blues | Andy Sedita (Guest Star) | 1985 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Magnum, P.I. |
Rod Crysler (Guest Star), Director |
1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fall Guy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hart to Hart | Director | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bret Maverick | Unknown (Character) | 1981-1982 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Associates | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files |
Evelyn "Angel" Martin (Character), Director |
1974-1980 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Director | 1977 |
100% | 82% | Wonder Woman | Director | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rhoda | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1975-1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Mary Tyler Moore Show |
Warren Sturges (Guest Star), Director |
1973 1976 |
No Score Yet | 87% | M*A*S*H | Captain Phillip G. Sherman (Guest Star) | 1972 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Gunsmoke | Brownie (Guest Star) | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cannon | Roger Henry (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Partridge Family | Hank (Guest Star) | 1970 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nichols | Mitch (Character) | 1971-1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Getting Together | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Love, American Style | Love American Style Player (Character) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | That Girl | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1968-1969 |
No Score Yet | 48% | Bewitched | Ralph (Guest Star) | 1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Second Hundred Years | Adonia (Guest Star) | 1967 |
33% | No Score Yet | Occasional Wife | Bernie (Character) | 1966-1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Branded | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ben Casey | Irv (Guest Star) | 1964 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fugitive | Jimmy (Guest Star) | 1964 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Lieutenant | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1963 |