To fans of the classic ITV action series of the 1960s, The Baron, Texas-born actor Steve Forrest, who died on May 18th at the age of 87, will be forever remembered as the suave, sophisticated John Mannering, antiques dealer and private investigator working occasionally for the entirely-fictional British Diplomatic Intelligence department. But in truth Steve enjoyed a long, if not always distinguished career in film and TV following a stint in the US Army and an apprenticeship as a stagehand at a San Diego theatre. It was here that he was discovered by Gregory Peck and soon afterwards he was signed to MGM following a successful screen test.

Steve Forrest worked regularly in US movies and television in the late 1950s and early 1960s – films such as It Happened to Jane and The Longest Day (winning him a Golden Globe Award) and on TV in The Twilight Zone, The Virginian and Burke’s Law. Forrest moved to London to shoot the sole season of The Baron (based on a series of novels by John Creasey) and on returning to the USA he resumed working on shows such as Mission: Impossible, Night Gallery, The Six Million Dollar Man and won a regular role in the short-lived 1975 series S.W.A.T (enjoying a cameo role – his last screen appearance – in its 2005 feature film reboot). Other films credits included Mommie Dearest, Spies Like Us and Amazon Women On The Moon.

A keen golfer and trained vocalist, Steve Forrest married his wife Christine in December 1948 and later became father to three sons. Starburst sends its condolences to Steve’s family.

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