Lou Antonio

Louis Antonio (born January 23, 1934) is an American actor and TV director best known for performing in the films Cool Hand Luke and America America. He also starred in two short-lived TV series, Dog and Cat, and Makin' It.

Lou Antonio
Antonio in 1973.
Born
Louis Demetrios Antoniou

(1934-01-23) January 23, 1934
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • director
Years active1960–2007
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1965; div. 1980)​
Children2

Early years

Born in Oklahoma City of Greek descent (the family name was originally Antoniou), he made a name for himself as a sports reporter on the Daily Oklahoman.[1]

Career

In January 1962, Antonio was a guest artist at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack, NY, where he directed Enid Bagnold's The Chalk Garden. In the mid-60s, Antonio began his career as a television actor, sometimes starring in multiple episodes of the same series, as different characters. These series included The Rookies, The Naked City, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, Twelve O'Clock High, The Monkees, The F.B.I., The Defenders, The Mod Squad, Dan August, Cannon, Hawaii Five-O, Night Gallery, Bracken's World, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, and I Dream of Jeannie.[2] Antonio memorably guest-starred as the human version of a chimpanzee-turned-human on a popular fifth-season episode of Bewitched titled "Going Ape", which also guest-starred Danny Bonaduce. He also starred as Barney in The Snoop Sisters.[2]

On Star Trek, he co-starred with Frank Gorshin in “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” (1969),[2] which eventually became one of the most popular of the series. In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter rated “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” the 11th best television episode of all Star Trek franchise television shows prior to Star Trek: Discovery including live-action and animated series but not counting the movies.[3] Also in 2016, SyFy ranked guest stars Frank Gorshin and Lou Antonio (as Bele and Lokai, the black and white aliens), the 10th best guest stars on the original series.[4]

As a director, Antonio mostly worked in television, notably including: The Flying Nun, The Young Rebels, Banacek, The Partridge Family, The Rockford Files, Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law, Picket Fences, American Gothic, Party of Five, Dawson's Creek, Chicago Hope, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and The West Wing. His last work was on Boston Legal in 2007.[2][5]

Personal life

Antonio was married to fellow Actors Studio member, Lane Bradbury[6] and they had two daughters. The couple divorced in 1980.[6] Their daughter Elkin Antoniou is a writer, director[6] and award-winning documentarian.[7]

Antonio's elder brother, Jim Antonio, and sister-in-law, Hildy Brooks, are also actors.[8]

Filmography

As director

References
  1. "A Dog's Life for Lou", The Robesonian, May 1, 1977, p. 13.
    "He was born in Oklahoma City, where he made a name for himself as a sports reporter on the Daily Oklahoman while still in his teens".
  2. "Lou Antonio". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. ""Homefront" and "Paradise Lost" - 'Star Trek': 100 Greatest Episodes". HollywoodReporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-03-24.
  4. Kaye, Don (2016-09-16). "The 17 best Star Trek: The Original Series guest stars (hero or villain)". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  5. Lou Antonio at IMDb
  6. O'Dowd, John (2008). "Lane Bradbury, a Life of Meaning and Purpose". John-ODowd.com.
  7. "Elkin Antoniou : Best Documentary (Humanitarian)". thewifts.org. The Women's International Film & Television Showcase. 2013.
  8. "A Dog's Life for Lou", The Robesonian, May 1, 1977, pg. 13.
    "As a college student, Antonio attended a play in which his brother Jim appeared. He decided that he too should try acting, so he enrolled in two university drama courses and appeared in a number of plays."
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