Harry Guardino

Guardino was born on December 23, 1925^[1] on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, New York.^[2] He joined a Police Athletic League dramatic group while attending high school.^[3] After graduation, Guardino joined the Navy, serving in World War II. After the war, he became a merchant seaman.^[3] Guardino appeared on stage, in films, and on television. His Broadway theatre credits included A Hatful of Rain, One More River (earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance), Anyone Can Whistle, The Rose Tattoo, The Seven Descents of Myrtle, and Woman of the Year.

Guardino's other film credits include Houseboat, Pork Chop Hill (about the Korean War), The Five Pennies, King of Kings, Madigan, Lovers and Other Strangers, Dirty Harry and The Enforcer. He was nominated twice for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, for Houseboat and The Pigeon That Took Rome.^[4]

In 1971, Guardino starred in the short-lived series Monty Nash. Guardino had a continuing role as Perry Mason's nemesis Hamilton Burger in the 1973 television series The New Perry Mason and a recurring role on Murder, She Wrote. He made guest appearances in dozens of television series, including Studio One, Target: The Corruptors!, The Eleventh Hour, Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kraft Television Theatre, Playhouse 90, Dr. Kildare, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Route 66, Ben Casey, Hawaii Five-O, Night Gallery, Twelve O'Clock High, Love, American Style, The Greatest Show on Earth, Kojak, Wonder Woman, Hunter, The F.B.I., The Streets of San Francisco, Jake and the Fatman, Fantasy Island and Cheers. He had the lead role of Det. Lee Gordon in the 1969 TV movie The Lonely Profession.

In 1993, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.^[5]

Guardino died of lung cancer in Desert Hospital in Palm Springs, California on July 17, 1995.^[6]

Guardino was married three times and had a son and daughter. Guardino married Ann Norwood in 1958 and divorced in 1969. He then married Jennifer Revson in 1973, and they divorced in 1974. Guardino married Elyssa Paternoster in 1985 and they remained together until his death in 1995.