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Guy Williams- A Fan Tribute
By Ray Dutczak
I started watching Lost in Space in 1974 on Channel 5, here in New York. I
remembering rushing home after school, to turn on the television set to see
what would happen to Dr. Smith, Major West, The Robot, and the Robinson
Family.
Out of the entire cast, one member always stuck out for me, "Professor John
Robinson" - Guy Williams. I remember seeing Guy, always taking control in all
the bad circumstances placed before him. Whether it is saving Will and Dr.
Smith from an alien monster, or saving Maureen, Penny, or Judy from a lava pit,
you could always count on Guy to come through.
Out of the 3 years that LIS ran, there were 2 stellar episodes that
featured Guy. The first was the "Anti-Matter Man" from the third season, and
the second was "Follow the Leader" from the first season.
In the "Anti-Matter Man", Guy is taken into another dimension by an opposite
and evil John Robinson. The climatic ending has Guy saving the day by
throwing the Anti-Matter John Robinson off the intergalactic walkway into
oblivion.
In "Follow the Leader", Guy becomes possessed by an evil alien spirit named
Canto. The ending is equally climatic, in that Guy overcomes evil by means of
his son's love.
I've heard that Guy did not like story lines of Lost in Space, but he smiled
and continued to be the professional actor that he was. He gave the best
performance that he possibly could. Sometimes Guy couldn't contain his
smiling, causing him and June Lockhart to be written out of 2 episodes
of the third season of LIS.
During the filming of the "The Great Vegetable Rebellion," considered by many as the worst LIS episode, Guy and June laughed throughout,
which Irwin Allen did not take too kindly to. He decided to write them out
of the next 2 episodes, at full salary.
I consider the third season of LIS to be the very best season. It was in
this season that Guy went to Irwin and suggested that he should concentrate
on the family as a whole, and feature them in more story lines. Some of
the best episodes were featured in this season. This includes "A Visit To A
Hostile Planet", "Ant-Matter Man", "Space Destructors", and "Deadliest of the
Species."
In the third season of LIS, Irwin did get back to basics by concentrating on
the Robinson Family again. The story lines included more travel between
planets, and each story line concentrated on different members of the cast.
In the third season, we had the introduction of the space pod, a new
opening theme, and cast members were giving some pretty cool costumes. All in
all, LIS received a new face-lift. I believe that this was all due to the
persistence of Guy Williams.
On May 6, 1989 we lost our favorite space dad, due to a brain aneurysm. He
had been found in his apartment in Argentina a week later. My wife told me
this news over dinner. I was pretty stunned, and I did not know what to
say.
In recent years, I've had the great pleasure of meeting Guys son, Guy
Williams Jr. He and I have become friends, and I really enjoy all of the
great stories he has told me about his dad. Guy's memories continue to live
on through his son.
Guy was taken too soon from us. Although he is not with us today, I feel that
he is smiling down on all of us, happy for keeping his memory alive. I don't
think he knew how much all his fans cared about him.
Next year, Guy Williams will be receiving his Walk Of Fame Star in Hollywood.
Everyone here at LIS Memories would like to congratulate the Catalano Family on this long overdue honor.
Cast Comments:
Jonathan Harris: "Hi Guy", Bring joy where you are".
Bill Mumy: "Guy was great". "I loved all the LIS episodes that I had the
chance to be in with him."
June Lockhart: "Guy was a real joy in my life". "A magnificent friend, and a
dear colleague."
Mark Goddard: " There was only one Zorro, and only one Guido."
Marta Kristen: "Guy was a dear man, and a true gentleman."
Angela Cartwright": "Guy was true hero to us all."
Bob May: "Guy was the class act of our show, and I am proud to say that he
was a friend."
LIS Memories is owned by Ray Dutczak. The content of this site, save for cast
photos and other material attributed to additional authors and/or photographers, is © Ray Dutczak.
This is not an official site for the LIS TV series or film.
All Rights Reserved.
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