Stuart Margolin | |
|---|---|
 Margolin onThe Rockford Files | |
| Born | (1940-01-31)January 31, 1940 Davenport, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 2022(2022-12-12) (aged 82) Staunton, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1961–2022 |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Dunne Martini (m. 1982) |
| Children | 3 (stepchildren); includingMax Martini |
Stuart Margolin (January 31, 1940 – December 12, 2022)[1] was an American actor, director, and screenwriter. He was known for playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin on the 1970s television seriesThe Rockford Files, winning twoEmmy Awards forOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[2] He received an additional two Emmy nominations for his directing work, and was also aDirectors Guild of America Award winner.
Margolin was born January 31, 1940, inDavenport, Iowa, to Morris and Gertrude Kalina Margolin but spent much of his childhood inDallas, Texas. His family was of Russian Jewish descent.[3][4] Margolin stated that he led a "hoodlum" childhood, was kicked out ofTexas public schools, and was sent by his parents to a boarding school inTennessee. During that time, his family moved toArizona, to which he moved after his release from reform school. Soon after, Margolin relocated to Dallas. His parents arranged for him to attend private school there.[5]
Margolin played the recurring character Evelyn "Angel" Martin, the shifty friend and former jailmate of Jim Rockford (James Garner) onThe Rockford Files, whose various cons and schemes usually got Rockford in hot water.[6] Margolin was earlier paired with Garner in theWestern seriesNichols (1971–72), in which he played a character somewhat similar to Angel. Margolin won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1979 and 1980,[1] making him one of five actors to win this award twice for the same role.[7]
In 1969, Margolin wrote and co-producedThe Ballad of Andy Crocker, anABCtelevision movie that was one of the first films to deal with the subject matter of Vietnam veterans coming home.[8] He also co-wrote the title song and had an uncredited cameo in the film. Margolin also took an uncredited role as the Station Wagon Driver inHeroes,[citation needed] another story about Vietnam veterans dealing with what is now termedPTSD.
Margolin played Rabbi David Small in the 1976 TV movie,Lanigan's Rabbi, based on the series of mystery novels written byHarry Kemelman. Scheduling conflicts prevented him continuing in the role inthe short-lived TV series of the same name that aired in 1977 as part ofThe NBC Sunday Mystery Movie, in which the character was played byBruce Solomon.[9]
In 1990–92, Margolin starred in the 26-episode Canadian comedy-drama television seriesMom P.I. as Bernie, a street-smart private investigator who begrudgingly helps single mom and waitress Sally Sullivan (Rosemary Dunsmore) solve crimes.[10]
Margolin also appeared in the 2009CTV/CBSpolice drama seriesThe Bridge[11][12] and as bail jumper Stanley Wescott in the episode "The Overpass" (Season 5 Episode 2; 2013) of theCBC Television seriesRepublic of Doyle, which was itself inspired byThe Rockford Files.[13] While not a wholesale recreation of the Angel Martin character, his role sported many similar attributes.[14] The episode also featured Margolin's stepson,Max Martini[citation needed]
Margolin also appeared in feature films, includingKelly's Heroes,Death Wish,Futureworld,The Big Bus, andS.O.B.[citation needed]
Margolin directed episodes ofThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,Sara,The Love Boat,Magnum, P.I.,Bret Maverick,Quantum Leap,Wonder Woman. andNorthern Exposure[citation needed], and in addition to acting inThe Rockford Files, also directed some episodes: "Dirty Money, Black Light" (1977), "Caledonia – It's Worth a Fortune!" (1974), "The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play" (1996), "The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads" (1998).[citation needed]
He won the 1996DGA Award for children's programming for directingSalt Water Moose,[citation needed] and was nominated for the same award forThe Sweetest Gift.[citation needed] He was also nominated for a DGA Award fordrama series direction for a 1991 episode ofNorthern Exposure entitled "Goodbye to All That".[15] He directed, co-starred in, and scoredThe Glitter Dome (1984) forHBO Pictures.[citation needed]
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Margolin wrote several songs with and for his longtime friend, singer-songwriterJerry Riopelle, that appeared on Riopelle's albums. Margolin was associated with Riopelle's late 1960s bandthe Parade, co-writing songs and playing percussion on various tracks. He and Riopelle (along with Shango member Tommy Reynolds) co-wroteShango's 1969 Caribbean-flavored novelty record "Day After Day (It's Slippin' Away)",[16] which hit No. 39 in Canada and also made the Top 100 in the US.
Margolin's songs were covered byR. B. Greaves andGary Lewis and the Playboys. Riopelle released eight solo albums between 1971 and 1982, all of which contained at least one song written or co-written by Margolin. In turn, Margolin released a solo album in 1980,And the Angel Sings, featuring his interpretations of Margolin and/or Riopelle compositions first recorded by Riopelle.
Starting in 2004, Margolin was a regular participant in the theater program at theChautauqua Institution.[17]
He married Patricia Dunne Martini in 1982. He had three stepchildren: actorMax Martini, costume designerMichelle Martini, and editor/producer/director Christopher Martini.[4]
He was the younger brother of Emmy-winning director/producer/writerArnold Margolin, both of them lived inLewisburg, West Virginia,[5] and acted together there in a professional community theater production ofLaughter on the 23rd Floor.[18]
Margolin was frequently misidentified as the brother of actressJanet Margolin (1943–1993);[19][20] the two were not related, although they appeared together as husband and wife in the pilot for the 1977 TV seriesLanigan's Rabbi.[citation needed]
For 22 years, Margolin, his wife and stepchildren lived onSalt Spring Island inBritish Columbia.[21]
According to stepdaughter Michelle Martini, Margolin was diagnosed withpancreatic cancer in 2012. He died inStaunton, Virginia, on December 12, 2022.[4]
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Films
| Television (acting)
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