Stuart Margolin

Stuart Margolin Headshot

Actor • Director

Birth Date: January 31, 1940

Death Date: December 12, 2022

Birth Place: Davenport, Iowa

Actor, TV director, and songwriter - all of these words describe the wide-ranging actor Stuart Margolin, who in a career spanning over half a century, appeared in over 100 movies and TV shows. A character actor in the truest sense of the word, Margolin's career in television began in the early 1960s, with numerous guest parts on several hit shows of the era, including "The Fugitive" (ABC 1963-67), "Ironside" (NBC 1967-1975), and "Bewitched" (ABC 1964-1972). After over a decade of relative obscurity as a nameless working actor, however, Margolin's life would change forever when he was cast alongside James Garner on "The Rockford Files" (NBC 1974-1980). Margolin played a weasley ex-con named Evelyn "Angel" Martin for all six seasons of the show, and eventually went on to earn two Primetime Emmys for his work. Although Margolin continued to act regularly throughout the ensuing decades, while also picking up a few awards for his work behind the camera as a TV director, his work on "The Rockford Files" remained his most lasting - the highlight of a long and multi-faceted career in show business. Born in Iowa and raised in Texas, Margolin grew up wanting to become a professional dancer. His idols were Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire - the two icons of modern dance - but Margolin quickly realized that there was far more to dancing than just showing off. With that in mind, he promptly dashed any hopes of making a career out of it. He then turned his attention to acting, and by the age of eight had landed the role of Puck in a local production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Margolin remained a creature of the theater throughout most of his youth, appearing in as many plays as he could, while simultaneously honing his craft. By the early '60s, however, Hollywood came calling and Margolin soon began landing small parts on television shows. He landed his first recurring role in 1962 as Lieutenant Miller on the short-lived military comedy, "Ensign O'Toole" (NBC 1962-1963), and continued to be cast as sheriffs, lieutenants and other uniformed figures of authority throughout the 1960s. Then in 1971 Margolin landed the role of Deputy Sheriff Mitch on the TV western "Nichols" (NBC 1971-72). The show starred James Garner as the sherriff of a small town in Arizona, with Margolin playing the role of his sidekick. Despite being cancelled after one season, Garner was impressed by Margolin's performance and suggested him for a similar role in a new crime series he was starring in. As Evelyn "Angel" Martin, a lovable but shady ex-con, Margolin won two Primetime Emmys, as well as nearly universal praise from fans and critics alike. The show aired for six seasons on NBC, with Margolin reprising his role as Martin in several made-for-TV movies in the mid-'90s. Although Margolin continued to work steadily throughout the '80s and '90s, he started turning much of his attention to directing, having helmed episodes of hour-long dramas like "Magnum P.I." (CBS 1980-88), "Promised Land" (CBS 1996-99), and "Touched by an Angel" (CBS 1994-2003), among dozens of others. In addition to his work on television, Margolin also appeared in several high-profile films, including Terrence Malick's pensive drama "Days of Heaven" (1978), "The Hoax" (2006), and 2011's legal thriller "Arbitrage," starring Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere. Despite turning 70, Margolin remained active into the 2010s, appearing in an episode of the Canadian series "Republic of Doyle" (CBC 2010- ) in 2013. Stuart Margolin died on December 12, 2022 at the age of 82.

Credits

Sgt. Will GardnerStream

Actor
Mr. Glenn
Movie
2019
22%

What the Night Can Do

Actor
Hugh Dryer
Movie
2017

What the Night Can Do

Original Music
Movie
2017

What the Night Can Do

Producer
Movie
2017

What the Night Can Do

Screenwriter
Movie
2017

The Second Time Around

Actor
Isaac
Movie
2016

The Discoverers

Actor
Stanley Birch
Movie
2012

The Bridge

Director
Show
2010

The Bridge

Guest Star
Vic Leo
Show
2010

Republic of DoyleStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

30 RockStream

Guest Star
Fred
Series
2006
78%

The Hoax

Actor
Marty Ackerman
Movie
2006

The Handler

Director
Show
2003

NCISStream

Guest Star
Felix Betts
Series
2003

Tom Stone

Actor
Series
2002

Tom Stone

Director
Series
2002

I Was a Teenage Faust

Actor
Mephisto
Movie
2002

Strange Frequency

Actor
Show
2001

Grizzly Falls

Writer (Story)
Movie
2000

The Hi-Line

Actor
Clyde Johnson
Movie
1999

The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads

Actor
Angel Martin
Movie
1999

The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads

Director
Movie
1999

The Sweetest Gift

Director
Movie
1998

Stranger in Town

Director
Movie
1998

The Rockford Files: Asesinatos y Fechorías

Actor
Evelyn 'Angel' Martin
Movie
1997

La Geometría del Amor

Actor
Carmine Ficcone
Movie
1997

The Lay of the Land

Actor
Carmine Ficcone
Movie
1997

The Rockford Files: Murder and Misdemeanors

Actor
Angel
Movie
1997

Promised Land

Director
Series
1996

Promised Land

Guest Star
Series
1996

Diana Kilmury Story

Actor
John
Movie
1996

The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits

Actor
Evelyn 'Angel' Martin
Movie
1996

The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best

Actor
Evelyn 'Angel' Martin
Movie
1996

Diana Kilmury: Teamster

Actor
John
Movie
1996

The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play

Actor
Angel Martin
Movie
1996

The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play

Director
Movie
1996

The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime

Actor
Angel Martin
Movie
1996

El Pequeño Alce y la Isla de la Aventura

Director
Movie
1995

The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise

Actor
Evelyn 'Angel' Martin
Movie
1995

Salt Water Moose

Director
Movie
1995

Touched by an AngelStream

Director
Series
1994

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

How the West Was Fun

Director
Movie
1994

The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A.

Actor
Evelyn "Angel" Martin
Movie
1994

The X-FilesStream

Guest Star
Dr. They
Series
1993
74%

Medicine River

Director
Movie
1993

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble

Director
Movie
1993

Doble Doble Hechizo

Director
Movie
1993

Le Malappris

Actor
Movie
1992

To Grandmother's House We Go

Actor
Det. Gremp
Movie
1992

Impolite

Actor
I.M. Penner
Movie
1992

Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride

Actor
Chinnici
Show
1991

Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride

Director
Show
1991

Guilty by Suspicion

Actor
Abe Barron
Movie
1991

Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride

Actor
Chinnici
Movie
1991

Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride

Director
Movie
1991

Mom P.I.Stream

Actor
Bernie Fox
Series
1990

Northern ExposureStream

Director
Series
1990

Deep Sleep

Actor
Bob
Movie
1990

B.L. Stryker: Plates

Director
Movie
1990

Three of a Kind

Actor
Billy Joe
Show
1989

Quantum LeapStream

Director
Series
1989

Bye Bye Blues

Actor
Slim Godfrey
Movie
1989

Paramedics

Director
Movie
1988

Iron Eagle II

Actor
Gen. Stillmore
Movie
1988

The Tracey Ullman Show

Director
Series
1987

The Room Upstairs

Director
Movie
1987

The Facts of Life Down Under

Director
Movie
1987

MatlockStream

Guest Star
Series
1986

A Fine Mess

Actor
Maurice "Binky" Drundza
Movie
1986

Danger Bay

Director
Show
1985

Danger Bay

Guest Star
Show
1985

The Ray Bradbury TheaterStream

Actor
Vincent
Series
1985

The Ray Bradbury TheaterStream

Director
Series
1985

The Glitter Dome

Actor
Herman Sinclair
Movie
1984

The Glitter Dome

Director
Movie
1984

Lucky 13

Actor
Officer Trent
Movie
1984

ClassStream

Actor
Balaban
Movie
1983
29%

A Killer in the Family

Actor
Randy Greenawalt
Movie
1983

Bret MaverickStream

Actor
Series
1981

The Fall GuyStream

Guest Star
Series
1981

Hill Street BluesStream

Guest Star
Andy Sedita
Series
1981
97%

The Long Summer of George Adams

Director
Movie
1981

Bret Maverick: The Lazy Ace

Actor
Philo Sandeen
Movie
1981

Bret Maverick: The Lazy Ace

Director
Movie
1981

Magnum, P.I.Stream

Director
Series
1980

Magnum, P.I.Stream

Guest Star
Rod Crysler
Series
1980

The Associates

Guest Star
Series
1979

Hart to HartStream

Director
Series
1979

A Shining Season

Director
Movie
1979

Suddenly, Love

Director
Movie
1978

Days of HeavenStream

Actor
Mill Foreman
Movie
1978
93%

The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew MysteriesStream

Director
Series
1977

Wonder WomanStream

Director
Series
1976

Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

Actor
Movie
1976

The Big Bus

Actor
Alex
Movie
1976

Perilous Voyage

Actor
Rico
Movie
1976

FutureworldStream

Actor
Harry
Movie
1976
36%

Saturday Night LiveStream

Guest Star
Series
1975

The Rockford FilesStream

Actor
Evelyn "Angel" Martin
Series
1974

The Rockford FilesStream

Director
Series
1974

Rhoda

Guest Star
Series
1974

The GamblerStream

Actor
Cowboy
Movie
1974
82%

This Is the West That Was

Actor
Blind Pete
Movie
1974

The California Kid

Actor
Deputy
Movie
1974

Death WishStream

Actor
Aimes Jainchill
Movie
1974
66%

The West Was Never Like This

Actor
Blind Pete
Movie
1974

The Stone KillerStream

Actor
Lawrence
Movie
1973

A Summer Without Boys

Actor
Voice of Dan Hailey
Movie
1973

M*A*S*HStream

Guest Star
Major Stanley 'Stosh' Robbins
Series
1972

Women in Limbo

Actor
Phil Garrett
Movie
1972

Evil Roy Slade

Original Music
Movie
1972

Getting Together

Guest Star
Show
1971

Nichols

Actor
Mitch
Show
1971

Cannon

Guest Star
Roger Henry
Series
1971

The Partridge FamilyStream

Guest Star
Hank
Series
1970

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStream

Director
Series
1970

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStream

Guest Star
Warren Sturges
Series
1970

The Intruders

Actor
Jesse James
Movie
1970

Kelly's HeroesStream

Actor
Pvt. Little Joe
Movie
1970
78%

Love, American Style

Actor
Series
1969

Love, American Style

Director
Series
1969

The Second Hundred Years

Guest Star
Adonia
Show
1967

Occasional Wife

Actor
Bernie
Series
1966

That GirlStream

Guest Star
Series
1966

Branded-1965

Guest Star
Series
1965

BewitchedStream

Guest Star
Ralph
Series
1964

The FugitiveStream

Guest Star
Jimmy
Series
1963

The Lieutenant

Guest Star
Series
1963

Ben Casey

Guest Star
Irv
Series
1961

GunsmokeStream

Guest Star
Brownie
Series
1955

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