Trivia

Despite being one of the stars, he had only 16 lines in Los siete magníficos (1960).

Recommended his college friend, James Coburn, for his breakthrough role in Los siete magníficos (1960). Desperate to cast the movie before an impending actors' strike, director John Sturges was open to Vaughn's suggesting the relatively unknown actor.

With the death of Charles Bronson on 8/30/2003, he became the last surviving actor to have played one of the title characters in Los siete magníficos (1960). With the death of Eli Wallach on 6/24/2014, he became the last surviving star of the film. Vaughn died on 11/11/2016 at age 83.

Out of the many films he made, there were two he was convinced would be unwatchable box-office poison whilst making them: Los siete magníficos (1960) and Bullitt (1968).

On 6/27/98 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6633 Hollywood Blvd. For sentimental reasons, he requested his star to be located near the corner of Hollywood and Cherokee, close to where he and his mother first lived when he moved to Hollywood.

Even though he was previously nominated for an Oscar, he was left out of the "In Memoriam" segment at the 89th Academy Awards. The omission shocked and angered many viewers.

Education: North High, Minneapolis, MN; . University of Minnesota (Journalism major), quit after a year. Moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in Los Angeles City College majoring in drama, then transferred to California State University-Los Angeles and completed his Master's degree. After that, and while he was acting throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, he attended the University of Southern California and completed his PhD in Communications. His thesis on the blacklisting of Hollywood entertainers during the McCarthy anti-communist era was published in 1972 as "Only Victims".

Was one of the first actors to play the same character (Napoleon Solo) on three different series: El agente secreto de C.I.P.O.L. (1964), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1965) and La chica de C.I.P.O.L. (1966).

Credited much of the success of Los siete magníficos (1960) to Elmer Bernstein's score--which he used as his ringtone.

Appeared in three different films with Steve McQueen: Los siete magníficos (1960), Bullitt (1968) and Infierno en la torre (1974).

Appeared in episodes of three different series with David McCallum: El agente secreto de C.I.P.O.L. (1964), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1965) and El equipo A (1983).

Had played Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt (twice), Woodrow Wilson and Harry S. Truman.

Was the only actor to appear in both Los siete magníficos (1960) and The Magnificent Seven (1998).

Landed the central role of Steve Dallas in La mentira maldita (1957) but was drafted into the US Army before he could film any footage.

Along with Eddie Velez ("Dishpan Frankie" Santana), has been called partially responsible for the premature cancellation of El equipo A (1983) and the series finale on 12/30/86, just 12 episodes into the series' fifth season, because most viewers could not accept the Team working for Gen. Hunt Stockwell of the US military (Vaughn), which they had been evading since 1972, instead of the Team remaining an independent entity tackling cases on a $10,000-per-job basis as they had in Seasons 1-4.

Was considered for the role of Thomas Hagen in El padrino (1972) before Robert Duvall was cast.

Both he and his El agente secreto de C.I.P.O.L. (1964) co-star David McCallum appeared in what are now considered classic films directed by John Sturges that also starred Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and James Coburn: Vaughn appeared in Los siete magníficos (1960), McCallum in El gran escape (1963).

Was the first US Academy Award nominee to have acted in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street (1960).

Despite the vastly different settings, he played essentially the same character in both Los siete magníficos (1960) and Batalla más allá de las galaxias (1980). Both films were unofficial remakes of Los siete samuráis (1954).

Made guest appearances on the longest-running prime-time dramas in US television history: La ley del revólver (1955) and La ley y el orden (1990).

Was offered the role of EK Hornbeck in Heredarás el viento (1960), but turned it down in order to go to Mexico to film Los siete magníficos (1960). The role went to Gene Kelly.

Received the script for El expreso de Chicago (1976) in the mail, and loved it. He wanted to play Roger Devereau but was dismayed to discover that Patrick McGoohan had already accepted the part. He contacted Arthur Hiller and discovered that it was sent by mistake. He was invited to watch the production and became friends with Gene Wilder.

The California Democratic Party originally wanted him to challenge Ronald Reagan for Governor. Even though Vaughn was a liberal Democrat, and disliked Reagan, he refused and instead stood behind Gov. Brown, who lost the election to Reagan. Another possible candidate considered was Gregory Peck.

Was cremated and his ashes were buried by his family behind their home after a funeral mass at St. Mary's Church in Ridgefield.

Appeared in two films nominated for Best Picture Academy Award: Los diez mandamientos (1956) and Infierno en la torre (1974).

He and wife Linda Staab had two adopted children: Cassidy Vaughn (b. 1976) and Caitlin Vaughn (b. 1981).

Is said to have met his future wife Linda Staab on the set of It Could Be Practically Anywhere on the Island (1973).

For many years it was believed he was the biological father of English film director/ producer Matthew Vaughn, born when the actor was in a relationship with early 1970s socialite Kathy Ceaton. However, a paternity investigation identified the father as George de Vere Drummond, an English aristocrat and godson of King George VI. Early in Matthew's life Vaughn had asked for the child's surname to be Vaughn, which Matthew continues to use professionally.

Upon finishing production on Los protectores (1972) in England, he admitted to hating the show, particularly the scripts. However, his feelings mellowed over time and he eventually begrudged the show some respect.

Was the first popular American actor to take a public stand against the Vietnam War and was active in the Vietnam-War-era peace group, Another Mother for Peace. With Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner, he was a founder of Dissenting Democrats. Early in the 1968 presidential election, they supported the candidacy of Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy, who was running for president as an alternative to Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, who supported President Lyndon Johnson's escalation of the war in Vietnam.

Awarded a BA and MA in Theatre Arts.

He served in the army,.

Married 31-year-old Linda Staab at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA, on 6/29/74 at age 42.

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Los diez mandamientos (1956), Los siete magníficos (1960) and Bullitt (1968).

Played the villain in Superman III (1983). He would later be succeeded in his most famous role of "Napoleon Solo" by Henry Cavill, who is most famous for playing "Superman".

He and wife Linda Staab no longer attend award ceremonies. They prefer to watch them on television.

Appeared in several episodes of Murder She Wrote, Columbo, and Hunter. Also with credibility.

Son of radio actor Walter Vaughn and stage actress Marcella Frances (née Gaudel).

Died about two weeks before Fritz Weaver, who played El agente secreto de C.I.P.O.L. (1964)'s first THRUSH villain.

Grew disillusioned with working and living in America during the late 1960s during the Vietnam conflict.

Guest-starred on the scripted podcast Western "Powder Burns" (Apple Podcasts) in the fourth episode, which aired on 8/19/2015--the same weekend El agente de C.I.P.O.L. (2015) premiered.

Had French, German, Irish and Welsh ancestry.

Was due to play George Hamilton's role in Amantes impetuosos (1960), but had to drop out in order to appear in Spark of Revenge (1959).

Died 11 days before his 84th birthday.

Had been involved in American politics since the '60s when he was one of the first to come out openly against the Vietnam War.

In later years he appeared in syndicated advertisements marketed by Commercial Pro, Inc. for various personal injury and workers compensation law firms, using the catchphrase, "Tell them you mean business".

Had two grandchildren.

He'd originally intended to be a journalist but was taken with acting while at Minnesota University and moved to a drama course .

Had played Richard Dean Anderson's father in Emerald Point N.A.S. (1983) even though he was only 17 years older than him.

Distant cousin of Sydney Sweeney and Trent Sweeney.