Updated: July 30, 2024

Guy Williams ( January 14, 1924 – between April 30 and May 6, 1989 ) was an Italian-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 Disney ) 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

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 in 1989.