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Anthony Eisley
1925-2003
Updated 1/29/2008 with more photos and more films available on DVD!
biography
Born Frederick Eisley in Philadelphia in January 1925, handsome actor Anthony Eisley was billed under his real name, Fred Eisley, for the first ten years or so of his acting career. After completing his studies at the University of Miami, Eisley did a lot of stage work, acting in off-Broadway plays. After doing a couple of small movie roles in the early 1950s, Eisley landed a spot on the cast of Ezio Pinza's live sit-com Bonino, but the show was quickly cancelled after its fall 1953 debut. Eisley returned to series television in early 1959 with the Jack Webb-produced Pete Kelly's Blues, but the series was cancelled in the summer of 1959. Eisley then signed with Warner Bros.
Late 1950s promotional photo of Anthony Eisley
He is most famous for his portrayal of Tracy Steele on the 1959-1963 ABC series Hawaiian Eye, produced by Warner Bros. A spin-off of the 1958-1964 series 77 Sunset Strip and actually filmed in Burbank, Hawaiian Eye proved to be a popular show, lasting four seasons on ABC. Eisley portrayed detective Tracy Steele who, along with Robert Conrad as his partner Tom Lopaka, had an agency at the Hawaiian Village Hotel. In late 1960, Grant Williams joined the series, and when Eisley left the series in 1962 he was replaced by Troy Donahue.
In cult film circles, Eisley is best known for making a slew of much-loved, low-budget horror flicks. Some of my favorites include The Wasp Woman (1960; with Susan Cabot), The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966; with Mamie Van Doren), The Mighty Gorga (1969; with Scott Brady), and Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971; with Lon Chaney Jr. and Regina Carrol).
the films of anthony eisley
Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963 ABC TV Series)
Photos from the classic ABC series Hawaiian Eye. LEFT and CENTER A: Rare color photos of Eisley as Tracy Steele. CENTER B: With Robert Conrad as Steele's partner, Tom Lopaka. RIGHT: A 1959 cast photo from the ABC series Hawaiian Eye. Pictured are Anthony Eisley, Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, and Poncie Ponce
The Wasp Woman (1960)
Anthony Eisley rescues Barboura Morris from Susan Cabot after she has transformed into The Wasp Woman
The Naked Kiss (1964)
From the then-shocking Allied Artists noir drama The Naked Kiss. LEFT: Eisley, as Captain Griff, has a liasion with former prostitute Kelly (Constance Towers). RIGHT: Griff arrests Kelly for the murder of her fiance
One Way Wahini (1965)
From the impossible-to-find independent feature One Way Wahini. Pictured are Anthony Eisley, Adele Claire, Edgar Bergen, David Whorf, and Joy Harmon
Frankie and Johnny (1966)
From the Elvis Presley comedy Frankie and Johnny. LEFT: As Clint Braden. RIGHT: With Robert Strauss and Nancy Kovack
Lightning Bolt (1966)
From the Italian-made spy film Lightning Bolt
The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966)
The low-budget science fiction flick The Navy vs. the Night Monsters sports an impressive cast. LEFT: With Walter Sande, Mamie Van Doren and Edward Faulkner. CENTER: With Phillip Terry, Mamie Van Doren, and Edward Faulkner. RIGHT: The night monsters make victims out of Bobby Van and Pamela Mason
Journey to the Center of Time (1967)
With Gigi Perreau in the low-budget science fiction film Journey to the Center of Time
Dragnet (1967-1970 NBC TV Series)
From a September 1968 episode of Dragnet titled Public Affairs---DR-07. Eisley made numerous appearances on this popular NBC series
The Doll Squad (1973)
From the campy Ted V. Mikels thriller The Doll Squad with Francine York and John Carter
later years
Anthony Eisley's film career slowed in the 1970s, yet he found plenty of work on television, both as a series cast member and as a guest star on popular TV programs such as Mary Tyler Moore, Ironside, Cannon, and The Dukes of Hazzard. He was reunited with his fellow Hawaiian Eye cast members, including Connie Stevens, Poncie Ponce, Troy Donahue, and Grant Williams, on a 1983 episode of Family Feud. His career in films and television continued through the early 1990s, when he retired from the screen. Sadly, Anthony Eisley passed away in January 2003 at the age of 78. He was survived by two sons and two daughters. Eisley's elder son, David Eisley, is a singer best known for lending his talents to several 1980s bands such as Giuffria. He is married to actress Olivia Hussey and released his first solo album in 2000.
Roger Corman's Creature Movies [DVD] DVD
Includes "Beast from the Haunted Cave," "The Creature from Haunted Sea" and "The Wasp Woman."
The Wasp Woman [VHS](1959) VHS
Cosmetics producer Susan Cabot thinks she's discovered a new age-retarding cream, but learns that the ``wasp enzymes'' in the formula turn her into an insect-headed monster at night! Horrific (dare we say it?) ``B''-movie from Roger Corman co-stars Michael Marks, Barboura Morris. 66 min.
The Naked Kiss (Widescreen Version)(1964) DVD
A taut melodrama on human depravity and redemption that has garnered a cult audience. Prostitute Constance Towers tries to leave the city streets behind her and start again in a quiet small town, but once there she uncovers a dark secret that threatens her new life. Writer/director Sam Fuller's lurid tale, with an unforgettable opening, also stars Michael Dante, Anthony Eisley. 90 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; theatrical trailer; scene access.
Lightning Bolt [DVD](1965) DVD
An inventive spy thriller about a beer tycoon who has plans to rule the world from his underwater city. Part of his plan involves exploding spacecraft with a destructive laser beam. Secret agents Anthony Eisley and Wandisa Leigh try to stop him. 94 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English mono; theatrical trailers.
Lightning Bolt [VHS](1965) VHS
An inventive spy thriller about a beer tycoon who has plans to rule the world from his underwater city. Part of his plan involves exploding spacecraft with a destructive laser beam. Secret agents Anthony Eisley and Wandisa Leigh try to stop him. 94 min.
Frankie And Johnny [DVD](1966) DVD
Elvis was her man, but he did her wrong, in this rollicking musical based on the timeless song and set on a 19th-century riverboat on the Mississippi. Donna Douglas co-stars as Presley's spurned lover, Frankie; with Harry Morgan, Nancy Kovack. Songs include "Everybody Come Aboard," "When the Saints Go Marching In" and the title tune. 87 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailer; scene access.
Navy vs. The Night Monsters [VHS](1966) VHS
Campy sci-fi classic stars Mamie Van Doren, Anthony Eisley, Billy Gray, Pamela Mason and Bobby Van as inhabitants of a South Pacific naval base under attack by mobile killer trees from the Ice Age. Cheesy plant creatures and the buxom Mamie make this a must-see. AKA: "Monsters of the Night," "The Night Crawlers." 87 min.
Journey To The Center Of Time [VHS](1967) VHS
Low-budget sci-fi gem whose ideas exceed its limitations, as a crew of time travellers undertake a voyage that stretches from the age of dinosaurs to a futuristic dictatorship. Scott Brady, Gigi Perreau star; look for Lyle Waggoner as an albino alien! AKA: "Time Warp." 83 min.
Star! [DVD](1968) DVD
Lavish musical biography of Gertrude Lawrence starring Julie Andrews as the legendary British stage performer whose life was devoted to entertaining people. Robert Wise's sumptuous production looks at Lawrence's early days, her friendship with Noel Coward and her romances. Songs include "Piccadilly" and "Someday I'll Find You." With Richard Crenna, Daniel Massey. AKA: "Those Were the Happy Times." Restored version; 173 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.0; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; theatrical trailers; TV spots; featurettes; screen tests.
The Witchmaker [DVD](1969) DVD
In a sleepy bayou town, young women begin getting slaughtered in a series of witchcraft-related killings. Determined to get some answers, a psychic researcher and his assistants begin an investigation into the supernatural happenings. Meanwhile, a descendent of a witch becomes the target of a group of evildoers seeking to involve her in their satanic activities. Anthony Eisley, Thordis Brandt, Alvy Moore star. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English. Two-disc set.
The Mummy And The Curse Of The Jackals [DVD](1969) DVD
A Las Vegas-based archeologist (Anthony Eisley) hunkers down with a pair of mummies, only to find himself transformed overnight into a ravenous were-jackal. To make matters worse, one of the Egyptian cadavers (the one with the golf ball eye) becomes mobile, setting the stage for some monster-sized mayhem. Gleefully odd thriller co-stars Robert Alan Browne, Marliza Pons, and in his umpteenth (or is that gazillionth?) chiller cameo, John Carradine. 86 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
Beauties & Beasts: Box Set [DVD] DVD
Includes the double features "Night of the Bloody Apes/Feast of Flesh," "The Beast That Killed Women/The Monster of Camp Sunshine" and "The Mighty Gorga/One Million AC/DC," plus the "Extra Weird Sampler" disc, featuring over 100 fright-filled trailers.
The Mighty Gorga (1970)/One Million AC/DC (1968) [DVD] DVD
A double feature of prehistoric hi-jinks opens with desperate circus owner Anthony Eisley and great white huntress Megan Timothy heading to the Congo in search of "a rare species of giant ape." Once there, they must contend with lost white tribe dressed in Indian costumes (!) who worship the gargantuan Gorga. With Scott Brady, Kent Taylor. Next, using the name "Akdov Telmig" (read it backwards), Ed Wood penned a nutty antediluvian sex farce that offers a smorgasbord of softcore fun, chintzy effects, sex with a gorilla, stock footage, cavemen and lines like "I'm off to see the lizard"! With Gary Kent. 148 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; bonus shorts; art gallery; theatrical trailers; radio spots.
Dracula vs. Frankenstein [DVD](1971) DVD
A schlock classic from Al Adamson, highlighted by the battle between a curly-haired, goateed Dracula and a waxy-looking Frankenstein Monster. Horror, suspense, Lon Chaney, Jr., Angelo Rossitto, J. Carrol Naish, Regina Carrol, Russ Tamblyn, Forry Ackerman...what more could bad film fans ask for? Standard; Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; featurette; alternate ending; theatrical trailers; TV spots; photo gallery; more.
The Tormentors [DVD](1971) DVD
A vicious street gang rules the city, robbing and killing at will, but their latest killing sends the victim's boyfriend on a one-man vengeance crusade, infiltrating the gang to strike from inside. Anthony Eisley, Chris Noel, James Craig, William Dooley star. 78 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English, French; biographies; theatrical trailer.
The Doll Squad [DVD](1973) DVD
They're beautiful...they're deadly...they're the Doll Squad, and they're America's last chance against a would-be dictator's plans to unleash plague-infested rats on the world's leaders. "Charlie's Angels" meets James Bond in exciting, sexy action. Michael Ansara, Francine York and the legendary Tura Santana star. AKA: "Hustler Squad." 101 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; theatrical trailer; audio commentary.
The Doll Squad [VHS](1973) VHS
They're beautiful...they're deadly...they're the Doll Squad, and they're America's last chance against a would-be dictator's plans to unleash plague-infested rats on the world's leaders. "Charlie's Angels" meets James Bond in exciting, sexy action. Michael Ansara, Francine York and the legendary Tura Santana star. AKA: "Hustler Squad." 101 min.
Monster [DVD](1979) DVD
A hideous creature from the jungles of South America stalks innocent people. Well, what else is there for a hideous creature to do? It's the government's fault, after all, with the pollution made by an American cement company responsible for the creation of the (strangely rubbery-looking) beastie. This diabolical shocker stars Jim Mitchum, Anthony Eisley, Cesar Romero, and John Carradine. AKA: "Monstroid," "The Toxic Horror." 81 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English.
filmography
Deadly Deception (1991) with Lloyd Bochner
Evil Spirits (1990) with Martine Beswick, Michael Berryman, Karen Black, Arte Johnson, Virginia Mayo, and Yvette Vickers
Deep Space (1987) with Charles Napier, Ann Turkel, Bo Svenson, Julie Newmar, Peter Palmer, and Michael Forest
Monster (1979) with James Mitchum, John Carradine, Philip Carey, and Diane McBain
Half a House (1979) with Pat Delaney, Francine York, and Mary Grace Canfield
Nowhere to Run (1978) with David Janssen, Stefanie Powers, Linda Evans, James Keach, and Charles Siebert
Secrets (1977) with Susan Blakely, Roy Thinnes, John Randolph, Andrew Stevens, and Peter Tomarken
The Runaways (1974) with Belinda Balaski, Patricia Blair, William Bryant, and Moosie Drier
The Doll Squad (1973) with Michael Ansara, Francine York, Rafael Campos, and William Bagdad; directed by Ted V. Mikels
Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971) with J. Carrol Naish, Lon Chaney Jr., Regina Carrol, Greydon Clark, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Davis, and Forrest J Ackerman; directed by Al Adamson
The Tormentors (1971) with James Craig and Chris Noel
The Mighty Gorga (1969) with Scott Brady, Kent Taylor, Gary Kent, and Greydon Clark; directed by David L. Hewitt
The Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals (1969) with John Carradine
The Witchmaker (1969) with Alvy Moore and Burt Mustin
They Ran for Their Lives (1968) with John Payne, Luana Patten, John Carradine, Scott Brady, and Jim Davis
Star! (1968) with Julie Andrews, Richard Crenna, Robert Reed, and Beryl Reid
Journey to the Center of Time (1967) with Scott Brady, Gigi Perreau, and Lyle Waggoner
Cosa Nostra, Arch Enemy of the FBI (1967) with Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Lewis Erskine, Philip Abbott, Robert Duvall, Celeste Holm, Walter Pidgeon, Telly Savalas, and Susan Strasberg
Lightning Bolt (1967)
The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966) with Mamie Van Doren, Bobby van, Billy Gray, Pamela Mason, Walter Sande, and Phillip Terry
Frankie and Johnny (1966) with Elvis Presley, Donna Douglas, Harry Morgan, Sue Ane Langdon, Nancy Kovack, and Joyce Jameson
One Way Wahini (1965) with Joy Harmon, Edgar Bergen, and Alvy Moore
The Naked Kiss (1964) with Constance Towers, Michael Dante, Virginia Grey, Patsy Kelly, and Betty Bronson
Portrait of a Mobster (1961) with Vic Morrow, Leslie Parrish, Peter Breck, and Ray Danton
The Wasp Woman (1960) with Susan Cabot, Barboura Morris, Bruno VeSota, and Aron Kincaid; directed by Roger Corman
The Young Philadelphians (1959) with Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Alexis Smith, Brian Keith, Billie Burke, Robert Vaughn, and Adam West
Fearless Fagan (1952) with Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn, Richard Anderson, Ellen Corby, Parley Baer, and Beverly Garland
TELEVISION SERIES
Capitol, 1982-1987 CBS daytime TV series. Eisley portrayed Phillip Dade during the 1983 season. Also in the cast were Julie Adams, Rory Calhoun, Richard Egan, Carolyn Jones, Julie Parrish, Constance Towers, and Lana Wood
Bright Promise, 1969-1972 NBC daytime TV series. Eisley portrayed Charles Diedrich during the 1971 season. Also in the cast were Dana Andrews and Coleen Gray
Hawaiian Eye, 1959-1963 ABC TV series. Eisley portrayed Tracy Steele from 1959-1962. Also in the cast were Robert Conrad, Grant Williams, Troy Donahue, and Connie Stevens
Pete Kelly's Blues, 1959 NBC TV series. Eisley portrayed Johnny Cassiano. Also in the cast were Connie Boswell and William Reynolds
Bonino, 1953 NBC TV series. Eisley portrayed John Clinton. This series was broadcast live and, unfortunately, no kinescopes exist
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This page premiered August 5, 2004.
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