Kenneth Tobey was a prolific American actor who appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows during a career that spanned more than half a century. He was best known for his roles in science-fiction classics such as The Thing from Another World, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, It Came from Beneath the Sea, and The Flying Saucer. He also starred in the popular TV series Whirlybirds as Chuck Martin, an adventurous helicopter pilot who performed daring rescues and missions. But how did this sci-fi legend pass away? What was his cause of death?
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Early Years and Military Service
Kenneth Tobey was born in Oakland, California, on March 23, 1917. He was the son of Jesse Vincent Tobey, a salesman, and Emma Susan Tobey, a homemaker. He had two sisters, Helen and Dorothy. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he studied law and joined the drama club. He later moved to New York City to pursue an acting career at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where his classmates included Gregory Peck, Eli Wallach, and Tony Randall.
Tobey served as a fighter pilot in World War II but suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing the horrors of war. He struggled with alcoholism for many years and had several run-ins with the law for drunk driving and disorderly conduct.
Rise to Fame and Career Highlights
Tobey made his film debut in a 1943 short, The Man on the Ferry. He then appeared in scores of features and on numerous TV series. He caught the attention of director Howard Hawks, who cast him in his 1951 production The Thing from Another World. In this classic sci-fi film he portrayed Captain Patrick Hendry, a United States Air Force pilot, who at the North Pole leads a scientific outpost’s dogged defense against an alien portrayed by James Arness.
Tobey’s performance in Hawks’ film garnered him other parts in science-fiction movies in the 1950s, usually reprising his role as a military officer, such as in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) and It Came from Beneath the Sea (1956). He also starred in the 1950 film The Flying Saucer, which is considered to be the first film to feature a flying saucer.
Tobey also had his own TV series, Whirlybirds (1957-1960), in which he played Chuck Martin, an adventurous helicopter pilot who performed daring rescues and missions. The show was very popular and ran for four seasons and 111 episodes.
Tobey continued to work in various genres such as horror, comedy, westerns, and drama throughout his career. He appeared in films such as Billy Jack (1971), Airplane! (1980), Gremlins (1984), Big Top Pee-wee (1988), and Honey I Blew Up the Kid (1992). He also appeared in TV shows such as Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rockford Files, Murder She Wrote, and The Golden Girls.
Family Life and Private Struggles
Tobey married once in his life. His wife was June Hutton, a singer and actress who was previously married to Axel Stordahl and briefly dated Frank Sinatra Jr. They married in 1968 and remained together until her death from cancer in 1973. They had one daughter, Tina Tobey.
Tobey suffered from alcoholism for most of his life. He was arrested several times for drunk driving and disorderly conduct. He also had bouts of depression and anxiety after witnessing the atrocities of war during his military service. He tried to cope with his problems by immersing himself in his work and hobbies such as golfing and fishing.
Politics and Legacy
Tobey was a staunch conservative who supported Republican candidates and causes throughout his life. He was an outspoken critic of communism, liberalism, feminism, civil rights movements, environmentalism, and LGBT rights movements. He once said that he would rather be dead than live under socialism.
Tobey died of natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on December 22, 2002. He was 85 years old. He was survived by his daughter Tina Tobey.
Tobey left behind a legacy of memorable performances in various genres such as science-fiction, horror, comedy, westerns, and drama. He influenced many generations of actors who followed him such as Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. Tobey also appeared in several homages or parodies of his sci-fi films, such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Matinee (1993), and Innerspace (1987).
