Acting
William Sylvester
William Sylvester (January 31, 1922 – January 25, 1995) was an American TV and film actor. His most famous film credit was Dr. Heywood Floyd in Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968). Born in Oakland, California and married at one time to the British actress Veronica Hurst, he moved to England after the Second World War and became a staple of British B films at a time when American and Canadian actors were much in demand in order to give indigenous films some appeal in the US. As a result, he gained top billing in one of his very first films, House of Blackmail (1953), directed by the veteran filmmaker Maurice Elvey, for whom he also made What Every Woman Wants the following year. He also starred in such minor films as The Stranger Came Home (1954, for Hammer), Dublin Nightmare (1958), Offbeat (1960), Information Received (1961), Incident at Midnight, Ring of Spies and Blind Corner (all 1963). There were also lead roles in four British horror films: Gorgo (1960), Devil Doll (1963), Devils of Darkness (1964) and The Hand of Night (1966). Among his many TV credits were a 1959 BBC version of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (playing Mark Antony), The Saint, The Baron, The High Chaparral, Harry O and The Six Million Dollar Man. His later films included You Only Live Twice (1967) and, back in the USA after his prominent role for Kubrick, Busting (1973), The Hindenburg (1975) and Heaven Can Wait (1978). He died in Sacramento, California in 1995, aged 72.
Filmography
The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'
Film · 2013
2001: The Making of a Myth
Film · 2001
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Film · 1995
First Family
Film · 1980
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Series · 1979
Big Shamus, Little Shamus
Series · 1979
Big Shamus, Little Shamus
Series · 1979
Heaven Can Wait
Film · 1978
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
Series · 1977
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
Series · 1977
Riding with Death
Film · 1976
Quincy, M.E.
Series · 1976
Gemini Man
Series · 1976
The Hindenburg
Film · 1975
Switch
Series · 1975
Busting
Film · 1974
Harry O
Series · 1974
The Six Million Dollar Man
Series · 1974
The Six Million Dollar Man
Series · 1974
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Film · 1973
The Magician
Series · 1973
Banacek
Series · 1972
Cannon
Series · 1971
The Challengers
Film · 1970
The Lawyer
Film · 1970
McCloud
Series · 1970
San Francisco International Airport
Series · 1970
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Series · 1969
2001: A Space Odyssey
Film · 1968
The Hand of Night
Film · 1968
The Syndicate
Film · 1968
Red and Blue
Film · 1968
You Only Live Twice
Film · 1967
The High Chaparral
Series · 1967
The High Chaparral
Series · 1967
Devils of Darkness
Film · 1965
Green Acres
Series · 1965
The F.B.I.
Series · 1965
The Troubleshooters
Series · 1965
Devil Doll
Film · 1964
Blind Corner
Film · 1964
Ring of Spies
Film · 1964
Incident at Midnight
Film · 1963
The Saint
Series · 1962
The Saint
Series · 1962
Gorgo
Film · 1961
Offbeat
Film · 1961
Information Received
Film · 1961
Drama 61-67
Series · 1961
Danger Man
Series · 1960
Whirlpool
Film · 1959
Dublin Nightmare
Film · 1958
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Film · 1958
High Tide at Noon
Film · 1957
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Portrait of Alison
Film · 1955
The Unholy Four
Film · 1954
What Every Woman Wants
Film · 1954
House of Blackmail
Film · 1953
The Yellow Balloon
Film · 1953
Appointment in London
Film · 1953
Albert R.N.
Film · 1953
They Were Not Divided
Film · 1950
Give Us This Day
Film · 1949