(RoyalPatriot.com )- Emmy-winning character actor Stuart Margolin died last Monday in Staunton, Virginia at the age of 82 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
A well-known television actor from the 1960s and 1970s, Margolin was best known for his role as Evelyn “Angel” Martin in James Garner’s hit series “The Rockford Files,” for which Margolin won back-to-back Emmy Awards for best supporting actor in 1979 and 1980.
In addition to appearing on-screen, Margolin also wrote several TV movies and directed episodes of “The Rockford Files,” “The Love Boat,” and “Touched by an Angel,” to name a few. In 1987, Margolin, along with Ted Bessell, received an Emmy nomination for their direction of “The Tracey Ullman Show.”
Before working with Garner on “The Rockford Files” from 1974 to 1980, the actors appeared together in the short-lived western “Nichols” in 1971-72. The pair also worked together on “Bret Maverick,” the early 80s sequel to “Maverick,” the 1950s/1960s series that launched Garner to stardom.
In his 2011 memoir, “The Garner Files,” James Garner said Margolin had been “better to me than anyone else in my life except my father.” Garner passed away in 2014.
Margolin was born in Davenport, Iowa on January 31, 1940. He spent much of his childhood living in Dallas, Texas where he learned to play golf. He became such a good golfer that while attending boarding school in Tennessee, he received scholarship offers from several universities to play. But Stuart was more interested in becoming an actor.
After graduating from boarding school, Margolin traveled to California to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Before landing his first TV role in 1961, Margolin appeared in countless stage productions.
But Margolin’s TV fame took off in 1969 when he landed a regular role on the popular “Love, American Style.”
Margolin is survived by his third wife Pat, her daughter Michelle Martini, his brother Arnold, and his stepsons.
