biography

Anthony Eisley Born Frederick Eisley in Philadelphia on January 19, 1925, handsome actor Anthony Eisley was billed under his real name, Fred Eisley, for the first ten years or so of his acting career. After completing his studies at the University of Miami, Eisley did a lot of stage work, acting in off-Broadway plays. After doing a couple of small movie roles in the early 1950s, Eisley landed a spot on the cast of Ezio Pinza's live sit-com Bonino, but the show was quickly canceled after its fall 1953 debut. Eisley returned to series television in early 1959 with the Jack Webb-produced Pete Kelly's Blues, but the series was canceled in the summer of 1959. Eisley then signed with Warner Bros.

Anthony Eisley Eisley is best known for his portrayal of Tracy Steele on the 1959-1963 ABC series Hawaiian Eye, produced by Warner Bros. A spin-off of the 1958-1964 series 77 Sunset Strip and actually filmed in Burbank, Hawaiian Eye proved to be a popular show, lasting four seasons on ABC. Eisley portrayed detective Tracy Steele who, along with Robert Conrad as his partner Tom Lopaka, had an agency at the Hawaiian Village Hotel. In late 1960, Grant Williams joined the series, and when Eisley left the series in 1962 he was replaced by Troy Donahue.

In cult film circles, Eisley is best known for making a slew of much-loved, low-budget cult horror flicks. Some of my favorites include The Wasp Woman (1960; with Susan Cabot), The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966; with Mamie Van Doren), The Mighty Gorga (1969; with Scott Brady), and Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971; with Lon Chaney Jr. and Regina Carrol).

the films of anthony eisley

The Young Philadelphians (1959)

Robert Vaughn, Anthony Eisley, Barbara Rush, and Paul Newman

From the Warner Bros. drama The Young Philadelphians with Robert Vaughn, Barbara Rush, and Paul Newman

Hawaiian Eye (1959-1963 ABC TV Series)

Anthony EisleyAnthony EisleyRobert Conrad and Anthony EisleyAnthony Eisley, Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, and Poncie Ponce

Photos from the classic ABC series Hawaiian Eye. LEFT and CENTER A: Rare color photos of Eisley as Tracy Steele. CENTER B: With Robert Conrad as Steele's partner, Tom Lopaka. RIGHT: A 1959 cast photo from the ABC series Hawaiian Eye. Pictured are Anthony Eisley, Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad, and Poncie Ponce

The Wasp Woman (1960)

Anthony Eisley and Susan Cabot

Anthony Eisley rescues Barboura Morris from Susan Cabot after she has transformed into The Wasp Woman

The Naked Kiss (1964)

Anthony Eisley and Constance TowersAnthony Eisley and Constance Towers

From the then-shocking Allied Artists noir drama The Naked Kiss. LEFT: Eisley, as Captain Griff, has a liasion with former prostitute Kelly (Constance Towers). RIGHT: Griff arrests Kelly for the murder of her fiance

One Way Wahini (1965)

Anthony Eisley, Adele Claire, Edgar Bergen, David Whorf, and Joy Harmon

From the impossible-to-find independent feature One Way Wahini. Pictured are Anthony Eisley, Adele Claire, Edgar Bergen, David Whorf, and Joy Harmon

Frankie and Johnny (1966)

Anthony EisleyRobert Strauss, Anthony Eisley, and Nancy Kovack

From the Elvis Presley comedy Frankie and Johnny. LEFT: As Clint Braden. RIGHT: With Robert Strauss and Nancy Kovack

Lightning Bolt (1966)

Anthony Eisley

From the Italian-made spy film Lightning Bolt

The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966)

Anthony Eisley, Walter Sande, Mamie Van Doren, and Edward FaulknerAnthony Eisley, Phillip Terry, Mamie Van Doren, and Edward FaulknerBobby Van, Pamela Mason, and Anthony Eisley

The low-budget science fiction flick The Navy vs. the Night Monsters sports an impressive cast. LEFT: With Walter Sande, Mamie Van Doren and Edward Faulkner. CENTER: With Phillip Terry, Mamie Van Doren, and Edward Faulkner. RIGHT: The night monsters make victims out of Bobby Van and Pamela Mason

Journey to the Center of Time (1967)

Gigi Perreau and Anthony Eisley

With Gigi Perreau in the low-budget science fiction film Journey to the Center of Time

Dragnet (1967-1970 NBC TV Series)

Anthony Eisley

From a September 1968 episode of Dragnet titled Public Affairs---DR-07. Eisley made numerous appearances on this popular NBC series

The Doll Squad (1973)

Francine York, John Carter, and Anthony Eisley

From the campy Ted V. Mikels thriller The Doll Squad with Francine York and John Carter

Monstroid (1979)

Anthony Eisley

Eisley stars as Pete in the horror film Monstroid

later years

Anthony Eisley's film career slowed in the 1970s, yet he found plenty of work on television, both as a series cast member and as a guest star on popular TV programs such as Mary Tyler Moore, Ironside, Cannon, and The Dukes of Hazzard. He was reunited with his fellow Hawaiian Eye cast members, including Connie Stevens, Poncie Ponce, Troy Donahue, and Grant Williams, on a 1983 episode of Family Feud. His career in films and television continued through the early 1990s, when he retired from the screen. Sadly, Anthony Eisley passed away on January 20, 2003, at the age of 78. He was survived by two sons and two daughters.

Eisley's elder son, David Eisley, is a singer best known for lending his talents to several 1980s bands such as Giuffria. He is married to actress Olivia Hussey and is the father of actress India Eisley, best known for her role on the TV series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

filmography

FILM
Deadly Deception (1991) with Lloyd Bochner and Andrew Stevens
Evil Spirits (1990) with Martine Beswick, Michael Berryman, Karen Black, Arte Johnson, Virginia Mayo, and Yvette Vickers
Deep Space (1987) with Charles Napier, Ann Turkel, Bo Svenson, Julie Newmar, Peter Palmer, and Michael Forest
Monstriod (1979) with James Mitchum, John Carradine, and Philip Carey
Half a House (1979) with Pat Delaney, Francine York, and Mary Grace Canfield
Nowhere to Run (1978) with David Janssen, Stefanie Powers, Linda Evans, James Keach, and Charles Siebert
Secrets (1977) with Susan Blakely, Roy Thinnes, John Randolph, Andrew Stevens, and Peter Tomarken
The Runaways (1974) with Belinda Balaski, Patricia Blair, William Bryant, and Moosie Drier
The Doll Squad (1973) with Michael Ansara, Francine York, Rafael Campos, and William Bagdad; directed by Ted V. Mikels
Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971) with J. Carrol Naish, Lon Chaney Jr., Regina Carrol, Greydon Clark, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Davis, and Forrest J Ackerman; directed by Al Adamson
The Tormentors (1971) with James Craig and Chris Noel
The Mighty Gorga (1969) with Scott Brady, Kent Taylor, Gary Kent, and Greydon Clark
The Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals (1969) with John Carradine
The Witchmaker (1969) with Alvy Moore and Burt Mustin
They Ran for Their Lives (1968) with John Payne, Luana Patten, John Carradine, Scott Brady, and Jim Davis
Star! (1968) with Julie Andrews, Richard Crenna, Robert Reed, and Beryl Reid
Journey to the Center of Time (1967) with Scott Brady, Gigi Perreau, and Lyle Waggoner
Cosa Nostra, Arch Enemy of the FBI (1967) with Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Lewis Erskine, Philip Abbott, Robert Duvall, Celeste Holm, Walter Pidgeon, Telly Savalas, and Susan Strasberg
Lightning Bolt (1967)
The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966) with Mamie Van Doren, Bobby Van, Billy Gray, Pamela Mason, Walter Sande, and Phillip Terry
Frankie and Johnny (1966) with Elvis Presley, Donna Douglas, Harry Morgan, Sue Ane Langdon, Nancy Kovack, and Joyce Jameson
One Way Wahini (1965) with Joy Harmon, Edgar Bergen, and Alvy Moore
The Naked Kiss (1964) with Constance Towers, Michael Dante, Virginia Grey, Patsy Kelly, and Betty Bronson
Portrait of a Mobster (1961) with Vic Morrow, Leslie Parrish, Peter Breck, and Ray Danton
The Wasp Woman (1960) with Susan Cabot, Barboura Morris, Bruno VeSota, and Aron Kincaid; directed by Roger Corman
The Young Philadelphians (1959) with Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Alexis Smith, Brian Keith, Billie Burke, Robert Vaughn, and Adam West
Fearless Fagan (1952) with Janet Leigh, Keenan Wynn, Richard Anderson, Ellen Corby, Parley Baer, and Beverly Garland

TELEVISION SERIES
Capitol, 1982-1987 CBS daytime TV series. Eisley portrayed Phillip Dade during the 1983 season. Also in the cast were Julie Adams, Rory Calhoun, Richard Egan, Carolyn Jones, Julie Parrish, Constance Towers, and Lana Wood
Bright Promise, 1969-1972 NBC daytime TV series. Eisley portrayed Charles Diedrich during the 1971 season. Also in the cast were Dana Andrews and Coleen Gray
The F.B.I., 1965-1974 ABC TV series. Eisley portrayed Chet Randolph sporadically from 1966-1971
Hawaiian Eye, 1959-1963 ABC TV series. Eisley portrayed Tracy Steele from 1959-1962. Also in the cast were Robert Conrad, Grant Williams, Troy Donahue, and Connie Stevens
Pete Kelly's Blues, 1959 NBC TV series. Eisley portrayed Johnny Cassiano. Also in the cast were Connie Boswell and William Reynolds
Bonino, 1953 NBC TV series. Eisley portrayed John Clinton. This series was broadcast live and, unfortunately, no kinescopes exist

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Outlaws, episode Jackpot, originally aired April 4, 1987
Knots Landing, episode Lead Me to the Altar, originally aired January 31, 1985
Knots Landing, episode Inside Information, originally aired January 17, 1985
Knots Landing, episode Uncharted Territory, originally aired December 27, 1984
The Dukes of Hazzard, episode Enos in Trouble, originally aired November 19, 1982
Quincy M.E., episode To Clear the Air, originally aired February 17. 1982
Bret Maverick, episode The Yellow Rose, originally aired December 22, 1981
Barnaby Jones, episode False Witness, originally aired November 29, 1979
A Man Called Sloane, episode The Seduction Squad, originally aired September 29, 1979
The Runaways, episode Lies We Live With, originally aired May 11, 1978
The Ted Knight Show, episode The Wedding, originally aired April 29, 1978
Project U.F.O., episode Sighting 4005: The Medicine Bow Incident, originally aired March 26, 1978
This Is the Life, episode Man in the Middle, originally aired May 25, 1977
Quincy M.E., episode Valleyview, originally aired May 13, 1977
The Blue Knight, episode Everybody Needs a Little Attention, originally aired March 31, 1976
The Rookies, episode The Code Five Affair, originally aired December 16, 1975
S.W.A.T., episode Death Score, originally aired April 7, 1975
The Rookies, episode A Deadly Image, originally aired February 24, 1975
Get Christie Love!, episode My Son, the Murderer, originally aired February 12, 1975
Ironside, episode Act of Vengeance, originally aired November 14, 1974
The Streets of San Francisco, episode I Ain't Marchin' Anymore, originally aired October 10, 1974
ABC Afterschool Specials, episode Runaways, originally aired March 27, 1974
Ironside, episode Close to the Heart, originally aired February 28, 1974
Mary Tyler Moore, episode WJM Tries Harder, originally aired January 5, 1974
Cannon, episode Photo Finish, originally aired January 2, 1974
The Magician, episode Lady in a Trap, originally aired November 27, 1973
Emergency!, episode Zero, originally aired November 24, 1973
The Rookies, episode Cry Wolf, originally aired October 15, 1973
Marcus Welby, M.D., episode Dinner of Herbs, originally aired December 19, 1972
My Three Sons, episode Three for School, originally aired January 20, 1972
Ironside, episode The Riddle in Room Six, originally aired February 25, 1971
The Silent Force, episode Horse in a White Collar, originally aired November 9, 1970
Dragnet 1967, episode Missing Persons: The Body, originally aired March 5, 1970
Lancer, episode The Lorelei, originally aired January 27, 1970
The Virginian, episode You Can Lead a Horse to Water, originally aired January 7, 1970
Mannix, episode Who Killed Me?, originally aired December 13, 1969
The Doris Day Show, episode The Woman Hater, originally aired October 13, 1969
Dragnet 1967, episode S.I.U.: The Ring, originally aired October 2, 1969
Dragnet 1967, episode Frauds: DR-36, originally aired April 10, 1969
The Wild Wild West, episode The Night of the Janus, originally aired February 15, 1969
Dragnet 1967, episode Administrative Vice: DR-29, originally aired February 6, 1969
The Flying Nun, episode A Star Is Reborn, originally aired January 23, 1969
The Name of the Game, episode Fear of High Places, originally aired September 20, 1968
Dragnet 1967, episode Public Affairs: DR-07, originally aired September 19, 1968
The Invaders, episode The Ransom, originally aired December 12, 1967
The Invaders, episode The Believers, originally aired December 5, 1967
Dragnet 1967, episode The Big Ad, originally aired November 9, 1967
The Invaders, episode Moonshot, originally aired April 18, 1967>
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., episode Marry Me, Marry Me, originally aired November 16, 1966
Run for Your Life, episode I Am the Late Diana Hays, originally aired September 19, 1966
The Wild Wild West, episode The Night of the Eccentrics, originally aired September 16, 1966
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Misguided Model, originally aired April 24, 1966
Honey West, episode A Nice Little Till to Tap, originally aired December 31, 1965
The Outer Limits, episode The Brain of Colonel Barham , originally aired January 2, 1965
Combat!, episode A Gift of Hope, originally aired December 1, 1964
The Farmer's Daughter, episode Katy's 76th Birthday, originally aired November 20, 1964
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Missing Button, originally aired September 24, 1964
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Garrulous Go-Between, originally aired March 12, 1964
The Dick Van Dyke Show, episode The Lady and the Tiger and the Lawyer, originally aired January 15, 1964
Going My Way, episode Custody of the Child, originally aired April 3, 1963
G.E. True, episode Pattern for Espionage, originally aired March 24, 1963
The Real McCoys, episode Aunt Win Steps In, originally aired March 10, 1963
77 Sunset Strip, episode Perfect Setup, originally aired May 20, 1960
Pete Kelly's Blues, episode The Tex Biglowe Story, originally aired May 10, 1959
Tales of the Texas Rangers, episode Kickback, originally aired December 12, 1958
Steve Canyon, episode Operation Survival, originally aired October 25, 1958
Zane Grey Theater, episode The Homecoming, originally aired October 23, 1958
The Loretta Young Show, episode Second Rate Citizen, originally aired April 27, 1958
Playhouse 90, episode Before I Die, originally aired January 23, 1958
The Walter Winchell File, episode Flight to Freedom: File #36, originally aired January 1, 1958
How to Marry a Millionaire, episode Loco Goes to Night School, originally aired January 1, 1958
Navy Log, episode Joe Foss, Devilbird, originally aired December 12, 1957
The Walter Winchell File, episode The Cupcake, originally aired December 4, 1957
The Gray Ghost, episode The Trial, originally aired January 1, 1957
The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, episode Incident in July, originally aired July 10, 1955
Racket Squad, episode C.O.D. Honeymoon, originally aired March 6, 1952

anthony eisley trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Anthony Eisley's 1971 horror film Dracula vs. Frankenstein and 1973 action film The Doll Squad

anthony eisley film now showing

Watch Anthony Eisley's 1964 drama The Naked Kiss

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This page premiered August 5, 2004.
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