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Kerwin Mathews
(January 8, 1926 - July 5, 2007) U.S.A.

Kerwin Mathews

Actor

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Kerwin was born an only child in Seattle, Washington, USA and was 2 years old when moved with his divorced mother to Janesville, Wisconsin. He attended Janesville High School, graduating in 1943. Kerwin said that "a kind high school teacher put me in a play, and that changed my life." According to a classmate, he was a "handsome rascal".

After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he attended and performed at nearby Milton College for two years before transferring to Beloit College on drama and music scholarships. He remained at Beloit three years after graduation teaching speech and dramatic arts and appeared in regional theater. He also taught high school English in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1954, Kerwin acted at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he met the head of casting for Columbia Pictures, leading to a seven-year studio contract. He appeared in several action/adventure and fantasy films of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Although he felt typecast, he "looked fondly" on his Hollywood career, with his favorite role being Johan Strauss, Jr. in the Disney two-part telefilm The Waltz King (1963). Kerwin played Jean Bruce's OSS 117 in a series of French films and played The Viscount based on another hero written by Bruce.

He retired from acting in 1978 and moved to San Francisco, where he ran a clothing and antiques shop. He was also a stalwart patron of the arts and supporter of the city's various opera and ballet companies.

Kerwin died in his sleep in San Francisco at the age of 81. He leaves behind his partner of 46 years, Tom Nicoll (from 1961 to Kerwin's death). The City of Janesville subsequently renamed a one-block street adjacent to the former Janesville High School "Kerwin Mathews Court". The renovated building now houses the Janesville Performing Arts Center.

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Sources: IMDb.com and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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