Harry Guardino, who co-starred with Cary Grant and Sophia Loren in "Houseboat" and also acted in "Dirty Harry," has died of lung cancer. He was 69.
Guardino was a tough-talking, tough-acting leading man and character actor whose career spanned films, stage and television.His movie credits included "Flesh and Fury" in 1952, "Houseboat" in 1958, "Pork Chop Hill" in 1959, "King of Kings" in 1961, "Hell Is for Heroes" in 1962, "Madigan" in 1968, "Lovers and Other Strangers" in 1970 and "Dirty Harry" and "Red Sky at Morning" in 1971.
There were also "Capone" in 1975, "The Enforcer" in 1976, "Rollercoaster" in 1977, "Goldengirl" in 1979 and "Any Which Way You Can" in 1980.
Guardino played Hamilton Burger in CBS-TV's "Perry Mason" in the 1973-74 season. He also portrayed the determined newsman Danny Taylor on CBS-TV's "The Reporter" in 1964.
In 1955 he was an understudy for Ben Gazzara in "Hatful of Rain," later taking over the role on the road. The result was a flood of movie offers.