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Richard Carlson

First appearing onscreen in the screwball comedy "The Young in Heart," actor Richard Carlson began his career with a promising start. Appearing alongside stars such as Lana Turner in the light comedies "These Glamour Girls" and "Dancing Co-Ed," and Bette Davis in the melodrama "The Little Foxes," Carlson made several films a year during the early 1940s. When World War II broke out, he was on the path to becoming a Hollywood leading man. After serving in the army, Carlson returned to acting but was unable to recapture his career's previous momentum. In the '50s, he made guest appearances on various television shows before finding his niche in horror and sci-fi. In 1953, he was cast as the lead, John Putnam, in the 3D classic "It Came from Outer Space," directed by Jack Arnold. The following year, he starred in Arnold's 3D sci-fi horror film "Creature from the Black Lagoon," an instant cult classic. During this time, Carlson also began a 100-plus episode run as the star of "I Led 3 Lives"; based on the true story of Herbert Philbrick, a young communist who spied both for the F.B.I. and the Communist Party, the series ran for three years and was nominated for two Emmys. Immediately following the end of the series, Carlson went on to star in "Mackenzie's Raiders," a western set on the Texan/Mexican border. This was his last major role, but Carlson continued to make guest appearances on TV and play small parts in films until 1975.