Person Biography:
Born Alexander Viespi, Jr. in Floral Park, New York in 1933, Alex Cord was a handsome and often mustachioed individual who overcame a life-threatening illness at the age of 12. After being confined to a hospital and iron lung for a long time, he was sent to a Wyoming ranch for therapy and eventually regained his dream of becoming a jockey or professional horseman.
Despite being a high school dropout at the age of 16, Alex grew up to be too tall to be a jockey and instead joined the rodeo circuit, earning a living riding bulls and bareback horses. After suffering major injuries in a rodeo accident, he reevaluated his life's direction and decided to finish his high school education through night school.
During his long convalescence, Alex developed a passion for reading and later studied literature at New York University. He also received dramatic training at the Actors Studio and began his professional career in summer stock and at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut.
Alex's interest in acting led him to London, where he co-starred in four plays and was nominated for the "Best Actor Award" by the London Critics' Circle. He eventually found his way to Hollywood, where he gained a foothold in feature films and television, starring or co-starring in over 30 films and appearing in numerous TV series.
In the late 1970s, Alex's film career declined, but he continued to work in television and action-adventure films overseas. He also turned to writing, publishing several novels and selling three screenplays.
