William Joseph McGuire Jr.; (October 25, 1926 – March 9, 2021), known as Biff McGuire, was an American actor, best known as Inspector Kramer in Nero Wolfe (1979).
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Early years
McGuire attended Hamden High School and the University of Massachusetts, where he studied agricultural engineering.
He acquired his nickname from playing football.
McGuire left the university to join the U.S. Army. While stationed in England, he studied at Shrivenham University; while there he painted sets for and acted in a local theater's production. That experience led to a role in a play in London.
Career
In a career that spanned 50 years, McGuire collected a number of theatrical credits. He debuted on Broadway in Bright Boy (1944).
On October 9, 1955, McGuire starred in the episode "Number Seven, Hangman's Row" of the CBS anthology series, Appointment with Adventure. He also starred in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes "The Gentleman From America" (1956), "The Hidden Thing" (1956), "Crackpot" (1957), and "Don't Interrupt" (1958, as Larry Templeton). He appeared in such television series as The Secret Storm and All My Children. He was a regular on Herb Shriner Time (1951–1952) on ABC and portrayed Dr. Michael Malloy in the NBC drama Gibbsville (1976).
Personal life and death
McGuire married English actress and singer Jeannie Carson in 1960. She starred in the CBS situation comedy Hey, Jeannie! (1956–1957). Carson co-starred with McGuire in Finian's Rainbow.
Biff McGuire died on March 9, 2021, at the age of 94.
Recognition
McGuire was nominated for two Tony Awards:
1997 Actor (Featured Role—Play) for The Young Man From Atlanta
2002 Actor (Featured Role—Play) for Morning's at Seven
Filmography
You're in the Navy Now (1951) as Sailor Messenger (uncredited)
The Phenix City Story (1955) as Fred Gage
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 31: "Gentleman from America") as Howard Latimer
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 34: "The Hidden Thing") as Dana Edwards
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 15: "Crackpot") as Ray Loomis
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Don't Interrupt") as Larry Templeton
Station Six-Sahara (1963) as Jimmy
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) as Sandy
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968) as Mr. Kelly
Paradise Lost (1971) as Phil Foley
The Werewolf of Washington (1973) as President
Serpico (1973) as Captain McClain
Gunsmoke (1974) as Potter season 20 episode 8 (the fourth victim)
John O'Hara's Gibbsville (a.k.a. The Turning Point of Jim Malloy) (TV movie, 1975) as Dr. Michael Malloy
Hawaii Five-O (1975 episode: "See How She Runs") as Babe Mandell
Midway (1976) as Captain Miles Browning
Theatre
Finian's Rainbow (1960 revival) – Broadway (Woody)
Camelot (1963) – national tour (King Arthur)
The Day Emily Married (2005) – Off-Broadway
Young Man From Atlanta (1997) – Broadway
Morning's at Seven (2002) – Broadway