Paul Richards was an American actor who appeared in films and television shows in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. He was best known for his roles in The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, and Breaking Point. However, his life and career were cut short by a deadly disease that he kept hidden from the public. This is the tragic story of Paul Richards’ cause of death.
Early Life and Career
Paul Richards was born as Paul Richard Levitt on November 23, 1924, in Hollywood, California. He was interested in acting from an early age and earned a psychology degree and a master’s degree in drama from UCLA. He also studied at the Theatre Wing in New York and gained experience on stage and radio.
He made his film debut in 1951 in The Mob and went on to appear in movies such as The Wild One, The Last Angry Man, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and The Mask of Sheba. He also guest-starred in many television shows, especially westerns, such as The Rifleman, Have Gun–Will Travel, Zorro, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, and The Loner.
He was known for his versatility and ability to play different types of characters, from villains to heroes, from cowboys to doctors. He had a distinctive voice and a handsome appearance that made him stand out on screen.
The Twilight Zone Episode
One of his most memorable roles was in The Twilight Zone episode “The Mighty Casey”, which aired on June 17, 1960. He played Casey, a robot pitcher who could throw unhittable fastballs for a struggling baseball team. However, when the league found out that he was not human, he was banned from playing. His creator then gave him an artificial heart to make him technically human, but this also gave him emotions and conscience. Casey decided to quit baseball because he felt it was unfair to compete against humans.
The episode was supposed to be a lighthearted comedy with a twist ending, but it turned out to be a dark irony for Richards. He was actually dying from cancer while filming the episode and did not tell anyone about his condition. His performance was so weak and pale that the producers decided to reshoot the episode with another actor, Jack Warden. However, Rod Serling, the creator and narrator of The Twilight Zone, felt sorry for Richards and paid for the reshooting himself. He also kept Richards’ original footage and used it for the final version of the episode.
Final Years and Death
Richards continued to work despite his illness and appeared in several more television shows until 1974. He also married twice: first to Paula Morgan in 1948 and then to Monica Keating in 1950. He had no children.
On December 10, 1974, Richards died from cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 50. He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery. He left behind his wife, his mother Edith Grossman, and his sister Mrs. Howard Gluck.
Paul Richards was a talented actor who had a promising career but was taken away too soon by a cruel disease. His cause of death was not widely known until years later when his Twilight Zone episode became a legend among fans. His story is a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of living every moment to the fullest.
