Vaughn acted in a number of TV anthology dramas, but made the switch to series with "The Lieutenant" (NBC, 1963-64), as the superior officer who criticizes star Gary Lockwood to push him to do his best. Vaughn hit the jackpot in popularity with his follow-up, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (NBC, 1964-68), a tongue-in-cheek spy show, which followed in the wake of the hit James Bond feature films. As the smooth and dashingly urbane Napoleon Solo, Vaughn and co-star David McCallum were all the rage as they wore their slickly tailored 60s suits through various adventures. Eight feature films were eventually culled from the series. He also acted in films including BULLITT (1968), and the unjustly overlooked THE MIND OF MR. SOAMES (1970), as a compassionate scientist who revives a 30 year-old man in a coma since birth.
A serious and politically active actor, Vaughn wrote Only Victims (1972), a study of the Hollywood blacklist resulting from the injustices of the House Un-American Activities Committee after WW II, as his doctoral thesis at L.A. City College, and has long been active in promoting liberal causes.
Vaughn's feature work during the 70s and beyond gradually fell into several categories: routine Hollywood genre fare (THE TOWERING INFERNO, 1974, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, 1980), offbeat but little-seen foreign films (BABYSITTER, 1975, THE LAST BASTION, 1984), and unabashed schlock (C.H.U.D. II -- BUD THE CHUD, 1989), sometimes redeemed by Vaughn's willingness to camp it up. (His Lord Byron Orlock in TRANSYLVANIA TWIST, 1989, for instance, invoked Boris Karloff's famous role in TARGETS, 1968). TV work was frequent for the actor, though he never had another hit series. "The Protectors" (syndicated, 1972) rehashed "U.N.C.L.E.," but at least Vaughn had fun on one season of "The A-Team" (NBC, 1986-87) as a general who clearly suggested a retired Napoleon Solo, and was properly nasty as a scheming businessman on "Emerald Point N.A.S." (1983-84). He has acted in many miniseries and TV movies, often as clever villains or firm establishment types. Vaughn won an Emmy for his supporting turn in 'Washington: Behind Closed Doors' (1977), played Woodrow Wilson in 'Backstairs at the White House' (1979) and kidded himself amiably on 'Danger Theater' (1993).
Later feature work includes such gems as JOE'S APARTMENT (1996), McKINSEY'S ISLAND (1998), MOTEL BLUE (1999), POOTIE TANG (2001), COTTONMOUTH (2002), HAPPY HOUR and HOODLUM & SON (both 2003), THE WARRIOR CLASS, SCENE STEALERS, 2BPERFECTLYHONEST and GANG WARZ (all 2004); and, for televsion "The Magnificent Seven" (1998-2000), "Law & Order: SVU" (2006), "Family of the Year" (2007), and a recurring role on "Hustle" (also 2007).
Nominated for Supporting Actor 1959: THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS
1 nomination