A former U.S. Marine in World War II and the Korean War, Phil has spent a large portion of his professional career starring in motion pictures. His first feature film, Operation Pacific, starred John Wayne and led to a long-term contract with Warner Brothers. During his time at Warner's and later at Columbia Pictures, Phil starred with some of Hollywood's legendary actors, including Gary Cooper in Springfield Rifle; Henry Fonda in Mister Roberts; Peter Fonda in Fighting Mad; and Tyrone Power in The Long Gray Line. In addition, Phil starred with Fred MacMurray and Kim Novak in Pushover, the first film in which Miss Novak appeared as the leading lady.
Carey also starred in a number of primetime television series, such as Philip Marlowe, Bengal Lancers, Laredo and The Untamed World; and guest-starred on All in the Family, Little House on the Prairie, Police Woman, The Bionic Woman and Gunsmoke. Additionally, he has toured in such stage plays as Arthur Miller's All My Sons, and Cyrano de Bergerac.
Raised in the suburban Long Island towns of Rosedale and Malverne, Carey harbored dreams of being an actor all his life. He studied drama at the University of Miami but it was back on Long Island where he got his break. During a summer stock production of Over 21, a representative of Warner Brothers spotted him and asked Phil to take the screen test that launched his film career.
Father of three children, Carey loved to play golf to relax. He was also an accomplished horseman, as his many western films attest, but he always maintained, "I'm an actor who rides, not a rider who acts."
Phil Carey passed away on February 6, due to complications from lung cancer. He was 83.
January 1980 to March 9, 2007; November 9, 2007 to November 13, 2007; July 16, 2008 to July 21, 2008; August 19, 2008; December 29, 2008
Laredo
Capt. Edward Parmalee
1965 to 1967
Phillip Marlowe
Phillip Marlowe
1959 to 1960
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
Lieutenant Michael Rhodes
1956
The Ford Television Theatre
various roles
1953 to 1957
For a complete listing of Mr. Carey's numerous television appearances and film roles, click here.
Soap Opera Digest Awards: Nominated, Outstanding Male Scene Stealer (1999)
Soap Opera Digest Awards: Nominee, Outstanding Male Showstopper (1997)
Soap Opera Digest Awards: Nominee, Outstanding Scene Stealer (1994)
Soap Opera Digest Awards: Nominee, Outstanding Villain/Villainess (1993)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Hackensack, New Jersey
DATE OF BIRTH: July 15, 1925
HEIGHT: 6'4"
HAIR: Brown
EYES: Blue