Career Highlights: Hill 24 Doesn't Answer, Von Ryan's Express, Our Man Flint
First Major Screen Credit: Hill 24 Doesn't Answer (1955)
Biography
Born in Ireland, actor Edward Mulhare built up his stage and film reputation in all corners of the world. Mulhare happened to be in Israel when he made his first film in 1955. His subsequent screen roles ranged from the benign priest in Von Ryan's Express (1965) to the megalomaniac villain in Our Man Flint (1966). In 1957, Mulhare made his Broadway debut, replacing Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in the long-running musical My Fair Lady; before long the actor was globetrotting again, touring with the My Fair Lady company in the Soviet Union. In 1968, Mulhare again replaced Harrison after a fashion, starring in the American TV sitcom The Ghost and Mrs. Muir as the ghostly Captain Gregg--a role originated by "sexy Rexy" in the 1947 film version of the same property. TV action aficionados are most familiar with Edward Mulhare for his work as the erudite, impeccably dressed Devon Miles in the 1982-86 weekly series Knight Rider, a role he recreated in a 1991 "reunion" TV-movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Edward Mulhare (8 April 1923 - 24 May 1997) was an Irish popular television leading man from 1956 to 1995.
Born at 22 Quaker Road, Cork City, County Cork, Ireland, and educated by the Irish Christian Brothers, Mulhare intended to study medicine, but was sidetracked by a growing interest in acting. After acting in various Irish venues including The Gate Theatre in Dublin, he moved to London where he worked with Orson Welles and John Gielgud. His best-known stage role was as Professor Higgins in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady, taking over from Rex Harrison in 1957.
His first television appearance was in 1956 in a production of The Adventures of Robin Hood, but he is more well known for his starring roles in two television series, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (again following Rex Harrison, who had played The Ghost in the film on which the series was based) and as Devon Miles in Knight Rider, as well as many guest starring performances on other programmes. He also guest-starred in one episode of the original Battlestar Galactica. He was a guest panelist on the TV panel show "What's My Line?" in 1958.
In the mid 1980s, Mulhare hosted a television series, Secrets of the Unknown. The show dealt with the supernatural aspects of historical events,took place inside of a fictional, isolated castle. The main set room, which contained various displays and faux computer consols, helped to illustrate details of the subjects that were covered. These included the ocean linerTitanic, Amelia Earhart, the rigid airshipHindenburg, dreams and nightmares, Stonehenge, the pyramids, ghosts, volcanoes,life after death,UFOs, and others. In addition to pre-recorded interviews with guests, actors in period attire were used to portray people within the subject material. The series is still a cult favorite among sci-fi fans and history buffs.
Edward Mulhare died in Los Angeles of lung cancer in 1997. He never married. The Team Knight Rider episode K.R.O., broadcast 27 October 1997, is dedicated to Edward Mulhare's memory.