Guy Williams

Biography: His parents arrived in the USA from Sicily shortly before Armand Catalno was born. He attended public school where he excelled in mathematics. He also attended Peekskill Military Academy. Having no interest in college, Armand's good looks soon landed him a job as a print model, which he said later paid well and allowed him the time to enjoy the money.

In 1946, Armand, now called 'Guy', was signed to a 1-year contract with Universal Studios and moved to California. Despite the promise of a movie career, Guy appeared in only one movie, The Beginning or The End, a war movie. Guy's contract was not optioned and he returned to New York, where he studied acting and resumed his modeling career.

It was during a photo shoot in 1948 that Guy met Janice Cooper, a beautiful young Powers model. It was love at first sight and, after a whirlwind courtship, the two were married in December of that year. By this time, Guy had already had a short-lived movie career, making one film in 1946 about the bombing of Hiroshima. A small role, it led him nowhere and he returned to New York, where he and Janice met.

In 1952, Guy and Janice moved to California and Guy began his movie work. But, it was in 1957, that he would earn the role that would change his life. Guy went on a casting call at the Disney studios, which was developing a new series based upon the Spanish legend, El Zorro (The Fox). Guy was destined to play the role, if he could just convince Disney of that. It didn't take a lot of convincing, once Disney saw Guy wield the sabre. How could they be so lucky as to find a great looking, experienced actor who could fence? Disney knew what to do and signed Guy to an exclusive contract.

Zorro debuted on ABC, and the series was an immediate hit. Disney, in the midst of a struggle with ABC over ownership of the series, pulled the plug in May, 1959. The show was dead as a weekly series. Four 1-hour specials were aired as part of the Disney weekly show. While Disney continued the legal battle with ABC and to be sure Guy was unavailable to continue his duel role of Don Diego/El Zorro should ABC prevail, Disney kept Guy under an exclusive contract but offered him no work. Guy's last project for Disney Studios was the award winning The Prince & The Pauper.

Having completed his contract with Disney, Guy did some writing. He then moved to the role of Will Cartwright on Bonanza. After completing his contractual obligation, Guy decided to leave the series without further appearances.

Guy did several movies in Europe (where he was wildly popular) over the next few years, including Sindbad (in Germany) and Damon & Pythias (in Italy).

In 1964 Guy was lured back to weekly television in the sci-fi classic series Lost in Space, portraying Professor John Robinson.

In the mid-1980's Guy was maintaining residents in both Argentina and the United State. Sadly, Guy passed away in his Buenos Aires apartment in May, 1989. Guy and Janice had two children, Guy Steven and Antoinette (Toni).

In 2000, Guy's hometown honored him with a street sign on the Bronx Walk of Fame. Also in 2000, thousands of Guy's fans banned together to petition the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to honor Guy with a long-overdue Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That star was dedicated on August 2, 2001, amid one of the largest fan turnouts for such an event in the history of the famous walk.

Guy's fans are now trying to repeat this feat by petitioning the United States Postal Service requesting a commemorative stamp be issued in his honor. Guy Williams has been gone for 17 years, but both Zorro and Lost in Space are still seen throughout the world and have been shown continuously since their initial debuts.… Expand