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Guy Williams (born Armand Joseph Catalano) (January 14, 1924 - April 30, 1989) was an American actor and former fashion model, who played swashbuckling action heroes in the 1950s and 1960s, but never quite achieved movie-star status despite his appearance (including hazel eyes, 6`3" height, and 190 lb. weight) and charisma, which helped launch his early successful photographic modeling career. Among his most prominent achievements were two memorable TV series: Zorro (in black and white -- colorized years later by the Disney enterprise) and Lost in Space, as the father of the Robinson family. The sci-fi TV program was highly popular, noted for the design of the sleek silver spacesuits, which Guy Williams wore in many publicity photos (see image at right). His hobbies included: astronomy, chess, music (mostly classical), fencing, tropical fish, and sailing: he owned a 40-foot (12-m) ketch called The Oceana. In the 1970s, Guy Williams retired near Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he died of a brain aneurysm.

Guy Williams was born on January 14, 1924, as Armand Joseph Catalano (nicknamed "Armando" by his family) of Italian parentage, at the Fort George area in New York City. He was the son of Attilio (son of a wealthy timber grower in Messina who purchased land in New Jersey), who was working as insurance broker, and Clare Catalano. His parents, who arrived from Sicily (Italy), were by then living in poverty. He grew up in the Little Italy, Brooklyn neighborhood.

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