Edward Mulhare, a suave Irish-born actor with a resonant voice and commanding presence, made his theatrical debut at the tender age of 19 in "The First of Mrs. Fraser" at the Cork Opera House in 1942. Nine years later, he appeared in a Laurence Olivier-directed London production of "Othello" alongside Orson Welles, where he was spotted by Alan Jay Lerner and signed as an understudy to Rex Harrison for the role of Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady".
Mulhare's breakthrough came when he replaced Harrison in the role of Henry Higgins in 1957, sparking a controversy with Actor's Equity over the hiring of foreign actors, which was eventually resolved through labor negotiations. He went on to play the role over 1,000 times between 1957 and 1960, earning critical acclaim and audience approval.
In addition to his success on Broadway, Mulhare also had a notable career on television, playing the role of Captain Daniel Gregg in the popular NBC series "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir" from 1968 to 1972. He starred alongside Hope Lange and was Emmy-nominated for his portrayal of the cantankerous but charming captain.
Mulhare's other notable television roles include Devon Miles, the articulate boss of David Hasselhoff's character in the fantasy series "Knight Rider" from 1982 to 1986. He also made frequent guest appearances on television shows such as "The Streets of San Francisco", "Battlestar Galactica", and "Secrets and Mysteries", which he hosted in 1988.
Despite his success on television, Mulhare never achieved star status on the big screen, with his most notable film roles being the dastardly villains in "Our Man Flint" and "Caprice". He remained a bachelor until his death in 1997 at the age of 74, during filming of the comedy "Out to Sea" alongside Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
