Anecdotes

Was a strong proponent of the "Method" school of acting and a founding member of The Actors Studio, which was initially formed and taught by Elia Kazan. The first class, run by Robert Lewis, consisted of Kevin, Maureen Stapleton, Montgomery Clift, Tom Ewell, John Forsythe, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Patricia Neal, Karl Malden, David Wayne, E.G. Marshall and Jerome Robbins.

His famous sister was author Mary McCarthy who wrote the best-seller "The Group". Many of her works were influenced by the trauma of her and her siblings' tragic, difficult and often abusive childhood.

Cousin of former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy.

The movie version of La mort d'un commis voyageur (1951) was not a box office success but earned several Academy Award nominations, including ones for support actor Kevin and lead actor Fredric March.

He performed his one-man show "Give Em Hell, Harry" (as Harry S. Truman), for over 20 years and played the role in every state but Alaska and South Dakota. In addition, he won an Obie award for playing President Truman in another play, "Harry Outside" (1975).

First wife Augusta Dabney was an actress; second wife Kate Crane was a lawyer.

Father, with Augusta Dabney, of Lillah McCarthy, Flip McCarthy and Mary Dabney McCarthy. Father, with Kate Crane, of Tess McCarthy (born 1980) and Patrick McCarthy (born 1982).

Attended Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933 Presidential Inauguration.

Between 1974 and 1980, he appeared in 25 episodes of the "CBS Radio Mystery Theater".

His portrayal of President Harry Truman in a touring production of the play "Give 'em Hell, Harry" was the grand opening production of the Hippodrome Theater in Waco, Texas, in 1986.

Graduated from Campion, a Jesuit prep school in Wisconsin. Subsequently attended Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, in the hopes of initially being a diplomat, but left after only four semesters due to lack of money. Once he decided to try acting, he went back to college.He then studied at the University of Minnesota and majored in drama. His first play there was "Henry IV, Part II".

Was Artist-in-Residence at Kent State University in Kent, OH, during the fall and winter quarter 1979. Taught Theatre and performed his one-man show "Give Em Hell, Harry".

Served with the US Army Air Forces in 1942 during World War II. He was cast in the stage show "Winged Victory", which opened on November 20, 1943, and went on the play a small role in the movie version, La victoire des ailes (1944).

Theater producer and Actor's Studio founder Cheryl Crawford helped get Kevin cast as Biff in the London stage version of "Death of a Salesman" (1949) starring Paul Muni, which opened five months after the Broadway production. He later got the movie role.

Of Irish descent on his father's side, he was the third of four children (the others were Mary, Preston and Sheridan). His parents, Roy Winfield and Therese (Preston) McCarthy, both died of influenza during the deadly 1918 pandemic. All four children lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota with an overly strict great-aunt and her husband.

Made his Broadway debut in 1938 with "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" starring Raymond Massey.

Had appeared in seven theatrical and television films directed by Joe Dante: Piranha (1978), Hurlements (1981), La Quatrième Dimension (1983), L'Aventure intérieure (1987), Panic sur Florida Beach (1993), La Seconde Guerre de sécession (1997) and Les Looney Tunes passent à l'action (2003).

Had appeared with Dick Miller in eight films: Piranha (1978), Hurlements (1981), La Quatrième Dimension (1983), L'Aventure intérieure (1987), Panic sur Florida Beach (1993), La Seconde Guerre de sécession (1997), Les Looney Tunes passent à l'action (2003) and L'invasion des fronts hurlants (2007).

He and Arthur Kennedy were born two days apart on opposite coasts and they even bear a slight resemblance to one another.