Harry Guardino was a talented actor, born Harold Vincent Guardino on December 23, 1925, in Manhattan, but raised in Brooklyn. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later joined the Merchant Marine.
Guardino began his acting career in the late 1940s, training in dramatic workshops and appearing in small, obscure film roles. He made his Broadway debut in 1953 in the play "End as a Man" and later became the understudy to Ben Gazzara in the acclaimed drama "A Hatful of Rain".
He received his first big break in the family comedy "Houseboat" (1958),earning a Golden Globe nomination for his hilarious supporting turn as a truck driver/handyman. Guardino went on to appear in numerous films, including "Pork Chop Hill" (1959),"5 Branded Women" (1960),"Hell Is for Heroes" (1962),"Madigan" (1968),"Dirty Harry" (1971),and "The Enforcer" (1976).
In addition to his film work, Guardino had a successful career in television, appearing in numerous TV programs, including "I Led Three Lives", "The Millionaire", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Suspect", and "The Outer Limits". He also starred in three short-run TV series: "The Reporter" (1964),"Monty Nash" (1971),and "The New Perry Mason" (1973).
Guardino continued to work in television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in shows such as "McCloud", "The Name of the Game", "Get Christie Love!", "Kojak", "Police Story", "Fantasy Island", and "Murder, She Wrote". He also enjoyed a successful career in musical theatre, co-starring in the Broadway production of "Woman of the Year" (1981) and the stock production of "Chicago".
Guardino died of lung cancer on March 29, 1995, at the age of 69, leaving behind his third wife and four children from various marriages.
