Lee Kinsolving

Born: 1938-08-30

Gifted, poetic actor who never fulfilled his potential. The son of an Episcopal minister and the eldest of four, Kinsolving began acting after his first year of college. A Method actor, Kinsolving studied under Mary Welch of the famed Actors Studio in New York. After a short turn on Broadway, he was signed by agent Richard Clayton, who had brought both James Dean and Tab Hunter to stardom. Soon, Kinsolving was appearing in various East Coast television shows, including the live presentation of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" with Helen Hayes. In 1959, Kinsolving headed for Hollywood, rooming with actor James Franciscus. After several more TV appearances in such shows as Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Kinsolving landed his first movie role, with Alan Ladd, in 1960's All the Young Men (1960). That same year, he gave a moving performance as "Sammy Golden" in the film adaptation of William Inge's The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960). Kinsolving won raves and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Regrettably, Kinsolving made only one more film, The Explosive Generation (1961), before completing his brief career in TV guest roles. Nonetheless, Kinsolving brought a striking combination of sexuality, pathos and vulnerability to his work (including an outstanding performance in Route 66 (1960)). Kinsolving retired from acting in 1966, due to his personal frustrations with the business. For two years, he owned a hip restaurant-bar, "Toad Hall", in Manhattan. After brief romances with Tuesday Weld and Candice Bergen, Kinsolving sold his bar and married in late 1969. Moving to Florida, he managed two art galleries. After divorcing his wife in 1972, Kinsolving, an avid seaman, spent the remainder of his life sailing exotic locales in his private schooner. Sadly, Kinsolving developed a strange respiratory illness which, without warning, rendered him unconscious. On the afternoon of December 4, 1974, Kinsolving collapsed and died in his Palm Beach apartment. He was 36.


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The Dark at the Top of the Stairs

as Sammy Golden
Released: 1960-09-28

In Oklahoma in the 1920s, Rubin Flood loses his job as a traveling salesman when the company...

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The Explosive Generation

as Dan Carlyle
Released: 1961-10-19

Peter Gifford is a likable, dedicated schoolteacher that teaches a senior life skills class....

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All the Young Men

as Pvt. Dean
Released: 1960-08-26

During the Korean War, the lieutenant in charge of a Marine rifle platoon is killed in battle....

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The Rifleman

as Tim Elder
First aired: 1958-09-30

The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas...

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The Twilight Zone

as Scott
First aired: 1959-10-02

A series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science...

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Route 66

as uncredited
First aired: 1960-10-07

Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America in a Chevrolet...

TV Show page

The Outer Limits

as Ethan Wechsler
First aired: 1963-09-16

The Outer Limits is an anthology tv series of self-contained sci-fi-horror stories, sometimes...

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Have Gun, Will Travel

as uncredited
First aired: 1957-09-14

Have Gun – Will Travel is an American Western television series that aired on CBS from 1957...

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Ben Casey

as uncredited
First aired: 1961-10-02

Ben Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was...

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Gunsmoke

as Jess Bartell / Jay Bartell
First aired: 1955-09-10

Gunsmoke is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman...

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Hawaiian Eye

as uncredited
First aired: 1959-10-07

Private Eyes Tom Lopaka and Tracy Steele are based out of Hawaiian Village Resort where they...

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The Millionaire

as Jerry Scott
First aired: 1955-01-19

An anthology series that explored the ways sudden and unexpected wealth changed life for better...

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The Detectives

as uncredited
First aired: 1959-10-16

The Detectives is an American crime drama series which ran on ABC during its first two seasons,...

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Mr. Novak

as Paul Christopher
First aired: 1963-09-24

Mr. Novak is an American dramatic series starring James Franciscus in the title role, which...

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Black Saddle

as Dick Banks
First aired: 1959-01-10

Black Saddle is an American Western television series starring Peter Breck that aired 44...

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Target: The Corruptors!

as uncredited
First aired: 1961-09-29

Target: The Corruptors! is an American crime drama series starring Stephen McNally which aired...

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Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Richard Miller
First aired: 1951-12-24

Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark...

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