Kerwin Mathews
Biography
Kerwin Mathews was an American actor who came to films after regional theater and work at the Pasadena Playhouse, then signed a Columbia Pictures contract. He was born in Seattle and grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin. His first sizable role was playing the son of Lee J. Cobb in The Garment Jungle (1957), and after Tarawa Beachhead he took the title role in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), the Ray Harryhausen fantasy that remains his best-known film. He followed it with The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) and Jack the Giant Killer (1962), and appeared in The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961) and The Pirates of Blood River (1962). Later films included Barquero (1970), Octaman (1971), and The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973), his last lead. He died in 2007.
81years old at death
- Born Seattle
- Died San Francisco
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Also credited as Kerwin Matthews
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 18 years1955 to 1973
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
Big break
Mathews was cast as Sinbad in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad after producer Charles Schneer, who had made Tarawa Beachhead with him, liked his work in that war film.
A role that slipped away
Mathews co-starred with Ernest Borgnine in the 1960 film Man on a String, taking over the role from Cliff Robertson. He also appeared with Van Johnson in The Last Blitzkrieg, a 1959 war film.
A role that slipped away
Mathews was set to play the title role in a film treatment of Joseph and His Brothers with Rita Hayworth, but the production was canceled shortly before filming began.
A role that slipped away
Mathews was on standby to take over from Dirk Bogarde on Song Without End (1960) while Bogarde was clashing with the director.
Early training
Mathews studied at Beloit College on drama and music scholarships, then stayed three years after graduating to teach speech and dramatic arts.
Kerwin Mathews movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Nathan Juran directed three of these films. Six actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Torin Thatcher's page
Grégoire Aslan's page
Martin Benson's page
Peter Arne's page
Kathryn Grant's page
Alec Mango's page
Nathan JuranDirector, 3 films, 1958 to 1973
All films by Nathan Juran
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.