Robert Francis Vaughn was born on November 22, 1932, at Charity Hospital in New York City, to show business parents Marcella Frances (Gaudel) and Gerald Walter Vaughn. His father was a radio actor, and his mother starred on stage.
Robert gained public attention for his Oscar-nominated role in The Young Philadelphians (1959) and later appeared in the western classic The Magnificent Seven (1960). Despite his success in films, he predominantly worked on television, making over 200 guest appearances between the late 1950s and early 1960s.
In 1963, Robert received his first major role in The Lieutenant, which led to his being offered the role of Napoleon Solo in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). The series became one of the most popular television shows of the 1960s, making Robert an international television star.
After the series ended in 1968, Robert transitioned to film, co-starring in Bullitt (1968) with Steve McQueen. He continued to work in film, starring in The Bridge at Remagen (1969) and The Mind of Mr. Soames (1970),before returning to television in England.
In the 1970s, Robert starred in the series The Protectors (1972) and later returned to the United States, taking on successful television miniseries roles that earned him an Emmy Award in 1978 for Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977) and a nomination the following year for Backstairs at the White House (1979).
In 1974, Robert married actress Linda Staab, and he completed his thesis on Hollywood blacklisting during the McCarthy "Red Scare" era, published in 1972 as "Only Victims: A Study of Show Business Blacklisting".
The 1980s saw Robert mix television with film, appearing in films such as S.O.B. (1981),Superman III (1983),The Delta Force (1986),and Black Moon Rising (1986),as well as television series like The A-Team (1983) and Emerald Point N.A.S. (1983).
Throughout his career, Robert continued to appear in a diverse range of projects, including stage productions, made-for-TV movies, and series such as As the World Turns (1956),The Nanny (1993),and Law & Order (1990).
In the 1990s, Robert continued to work in television and film, appearing in series such as The Magnificent Seven (1998) and films like Joe's Apartment (1996) and BASEketball (1998).
Robert Francis Vaughn passed away on November 11, 2016, at the age of 83, due to acute leukemia. His last acting credit, Gold Star (2017),was released the year of his death.
