LOS ANGELES -- Edward Mulhare, 74, the tall, lanky, sandy-haired Irish stage and film actor who gained fame for his roles on the television series "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" and "Knight Rider," died of lung cancer May 24 at his home in California's San Fernando Valley.
In addition to television, Mr. Mulhare appeared on stage and screen. His film credits included "Von Ryan's Express," "Eye of the Devil," "Caprice" and "Our Man Flint." His most recent movie, "Out to Sea," is a Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau film scheduled to be released in July.
He replaced Rex Harrison as the pompous and pedantic professor Henry Higgins in the immensely popular Broadway musical "My Fair Lady." When Harrison bowed out after a one-year Broadway run, Mr. Mulhare took over the role, starring from 1957 to 1960.
He also starred on Broadway in "Devil's Advocate" and "Mary, Mary" and had toured nationally with such shows as "Camelot" and "My Fair Lady" and with "Deathtrap," with a lifelong friend, Anne Rogers.
He began his acting career in Ireland at 19 and eventually moved to London, where he appeared in the 1951 production of "Othello" at the St. James Theater directed by Laurence Olivier and starring Orson Welles in the title role.
He appeared in a variety of parts on such early television classic drama series as "Studio One" and "Kraft Theater." Later television credits included appearances on "Murder, She Wrote," "MacGyver," "Outer Limits" and "The Ed Sullivan Show."
Survivors include two brothers, Thomas and John, both of County Cork, Ireland. RAVI GULHATI World Bank Economist
Ravi Gulhati, 63, a retired World Bank developmental economist who had lived in the Washington area since the 1950s, died of cancer May 24 at the Washington Hospice. He lived in the District.
Mr. Gulhati worked for the World Bank from 1956 until retiring in 1989. Over the years, his posts included those of chief economist of the eastern African region, development economics department director and chief economist with the development finance companies department.
During sabbatical leaves from the World Bank, he served as an economic division director for the government of India and senior economist with the Pearson Commission on International Development, both in the 1960s. He also was a visiting fellow at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi.
Mr. Gulhati graduated from college in his native India and received a master's degree in economics from Delhi University. He received master's and doctoral degrees in economic policy, international law and political economy from Harvard University. He also studied at Oxford University's Nuffield College.
Since retiring from the World Bank, Mr. Gulhati had been a consultant to the Global Coalition for Africa, several foundations and United Nations agencies. He and his wife started the Unniti Foundation to provide economic assistance to girls and women of South Asia.
Survivors include his wife, Kaval, of Washington; a brother; and a sister. THELMA A. THOMAS Nurse
Thelma Alberta Thomas, 81, a licensed practical nurse who worked at St. Elizabeths Hospital for 34 years before retiring in 1981, died of cancer May 20 at Washington Hospital Center. She lived in Washington.
Mrs. Thomas, a Washington native, was a graduate of Cardozo High School. She graduated from the University of the District of Columbia in the 1980s.
She was a member of Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in Washington, the Block Club 23 and the International Senior Citizens Association.
Her husband, Cleon, died in 1995.
Survivors include a son, Charles, of Washington; a daughter, Barbara Ross of Capitol Heights; a half sister, Georgiana Hill of Washington; two half brothers, Rufus Childs of Capitol Heights and Bernard Sands of Washington; and five grandchildren. EMANUEL J. FONTANA Lithographer
Emanuel J. Fontana, 80, a lithographer and former government consultant who also had owned and operated two Washington printing companies, died May 23 at Southern Maryland Hospital. He had a heart ailment.
From the mid-1940s to the early 1970s, he owned and operated and then sold both Fontana Litho and Double Dot Press. He then was a printing consultant to the Government Printing Office until retiring in 1982.
Mr. Fontana, who was born in Washington, lived in Upper Marlboro for the last 30 years. Before that, he lived in District Heights for 30 years. He was a graduate of Gonzaga College High School and served with the Navy in the Pacific during World War II.
Area graphic arts groups where he lectured on lithographic techniques included the Washington Litho Club, of which he was a member. He held patents dealing with television screens for color sets.
His hobbies included golf and flying. He held a private pilot's license.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Charlotte Fontana of Upper Marlboro; three daughters, Joyce Ann Avery of Chesapeake Beach, Md., Charlotte Gayle Adkins of West River, Md., and Vera Lee Fontana of Upper Marlboro; and a granddaughter. FREDERICK C. WHETZEL Printer and Salesman
Frederick C. Whetzel, 78, a former printer and retired salesman and business owner, died May 23 at a nursing home in Melbourne, Fla. He had progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological disorder.
Mr. Whetzel, who lived in Melbourne, was a Washington native and lived in this area until moving to Florida about eight years ago.
He was a graduate of Eastern High School and attended Southeastern University.
He served on active Navy duty with the Office of Strategic Services in Europe during World War II. An OSS combat photographer, he covered the liberation of Paris and several concentration camps and the Nuremburg war crimes trials.
He was recalled to active duty in the Korean War.
Mr. Whetzel had made his early career in printing and design, working for organizations such as Progressive Color in Arlington and for himself.
He also operated his own computer software sales company in Arlington before retiring in 1981.
He was a founder and past board chairman of the Greater Rosslyn Business and Professional Association and a former retail committee vice chairman of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
His marriage to Audrey Whetzel ended in divorce.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Viola Whetzel, who is staying with relatives in Satellite Beach, Fla.; a son from his first marriage, Frederick Whetzel Jr. of Chantilly; three stepchildren, Joseph Williams of College Park, Dorothy Bays of Satellite Beach and Mildred Mills of Laurel; a brother, Ernest, of Melbourne; two sisters, Dorothy Weisinger of Mena, Ark., and Helen Shepard of Boynton Beach, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. CAPTION: EDWARD MULHARE
