Robert Quarry
Encyclopedia
Robert Walter Quarry was an American
actor, known for several prominent horror film
roles.
Quarry was born in Santa Rosa, California
, the son of Mable and Paul Quarry, a doctor. His films include Count Yorga, Vampire (1970), its sequel The Return of Count Yorga
(1971), and Dr. Phibes Rises Again
(1972), in which he played alchemist Dr. Biederbeck pitted against Vincent Price
's Phibes in a race to find the mythical elixir of eternal life
. Although it is well-known that Price did not care for his co-star - once, when Quarry was singing in his dressing room during the making of Dr Phibes Rises Again, he said to Price, "You didn't know I could sing did you?" and Price replied: "Well I knew you couldn't act." - the two were later also paired in Madhouse
(1974). American International Pictures had plans for Quarry to succeed Price, but the decline in the company's fortunes, and old style horror films falling out of fashion, meant that it never happened. Quarry did make further horror film appearances, as the hippy guru vampire
Khorda in 1973's The Deathmaster and as a gangster in the 1974 zombie
movie Sugar Hill
. A third Count Yorga film was often rumored to be in the works, but never materialised.
Quarry's career was further set back by a road accident that resulted in serious facial injuries (in which he was hit by a drunk driver), but he made several memorable guest appearances on TV shows, notably The Rockford Files
episode, "Requiem For a Funny Box", as Lee Russo. He also played disfigured gunrunner Commander Corliss in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
episode "Return of the Fighting 69th". In the 1980s and 1990s, he returned to film, becoming a favorite of director Fred Olen Ray
.
Quarry died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 83.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, known for several prominent horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
roles.
Quarry was born in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, the son of Mable and Paul Quarry, a doctor. His films include Count Yorga, Vampire (1970), its sequel The Return of Count Yorga
The Return of Count Yorga
The Return of Count Yorga is a 1971 vampire/horror film starring Robert Quarry. It was the sequel to the 1970 film Count Yorga, Vampire.The film features Robert Quarry returning as the infamous vampire Count Yorga, along with his servant Brudah...
(1971), and Dr. Phibes Rises Again
Dr. Phibes Rises Again
Dr. Phibes Rises Again! is a sequel to The Abominable Dr. Phibes. It was directed by Robert Fuest, and stars Vincent Price as Dr. Anton Phibes.-Plot:...
(1972), in which he played alchemist Dr. Biederbeck pitted against Vincent Price
Vincent Price
Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an American actor, well known for his distinctive voice and serio-comic attitude in a series of horror films made in the latter part of his career.-Early life and career:Price was born in St...
's Phibes in a race to find the mythical elixir of eternal life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
. Although it is well-known that Price did not care for his co-star - once, when Quarry was singing in his dressing room during the making of Dr Phibes Rises Again, he said to Price, "You didn't know I could sing did you?" and Price replied: "Well I knew you couldn't act." - the two were later also paired in Madhouse
Madhouse (1974 film)
Madhouse is a 1973 British horror film directed by Jim Clark for Amicus Productions. It stars Vincent Price, Natasha Pyne, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, Adrienne Corri and Linda Hayden.-Plot:...
(1974). American International Pictures had plans for Quarry to succeed Price, but the decline in the company's fortunes, and old style horror films falling out of fashion, meant that it never happened. Quarry did make further horror film appearances, as the hippy guru vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
Khorda in 1973's The Deathmaster and as a gangster in the 1974 zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
movie Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill (1974 film)
Sugar Hill is a 1974 zombie film released by AIP, who had previously combined the horror and blaxploitation genres with Blacula and its sequel, Scream Blacula Scream.-Plot:...
. A third Count Yorga film was often rumored to be in the works, but never materialised.
Quarry's career was further set back by a road accident that resulted in serious facial injuries (in which he was hit by a drunk driver), but he made several memorable guest appearances on TV shows, notably The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
episode, "Requiem For a Funny Box", as Lee Russo. He also played disfigured gunrunner Commander Corliss in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
episode "Return of the Fighting 69th". In the 1980s and 1990s, he returned to film, becoming a favorite of director Fred Olen Ray
Fred Olen Ray
Fred Olen Ray is an American director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and cinematographer.-Biography:He is the producer, director, and screenwriter of low to medium-budget feature films in many genres, including horror, science fiction, action/adventure, softcore sex films and crime dramas...
.
Quarry died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
The Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital is a retirement community, with individual cottages, and a fully licensed, acute-care hospital, located at 23388 Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills, California...
in Woodland Hills, California at the age of 83.