Background
Law was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff John Law and actress Phyllis Sallee and the brother of actor Thomas Augustus Law (also known as Tom Law).
Law was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff John Law and actress Phyllis Sallee and the brother of actor Thomas Augustus Law (also known as Tom Law).
He studied drama at the University of Hawaii and appeared in several university stage productions. After graduation, Law moved to New York, where he studied with Elia Kazan's Lincoln Center Repertory Theatre and had a small role in Garson Kanin's comedy Come On Strong (1962).
He was best known for his roles as the blind angel Pygar in the science fiction cult classic Barbarella (1968) with Jane Fonda, and as news anchor Robin Stone in The Love Machine (1971). The latter reteamed him with Alexandra Hay, his co-star from the 1968 "acid comedy" Skidoo. He worked as a film extra as a child, and had a non-speaking role as a courtroom page in John Sturges's The Magnificent Yankee (1950).
Like many American actors he moved to Italy where he acted in several films. One of these was seen by the director Norman Jewison, who thought Law perfect for the role of a young Soviet sailor in The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966). He followed this with a co-star role in Otto Preminger's Hurry Sundown (1967).
Law returned to Europe where he played the lead in a spaghetti western, Rides a Horse (1967), then the title role of Danger: Diabolik (1968), and played an angel in Barbarella. He followed this with The Sergeant (1968) with Rod Steiger. Tall and handsome, with steel-blue eyes, Law became a sex symbol in the 1960s.
He was a VIP guest at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion and in Hollywood society. Law co-starred in Roger Corman's film Von Richthofen and Brown (1971), playing Manfred von Richthofen opposite Don Stroud's Roy Brown. Corman used Lynn Garrison's Irish aviation facility, complete with replica World War I aircraft.
Garrison taught Law the basics of flying so that he could take off and land, making some of the footage more realistic. Some other of Law's movies have also become cult classics, including The Love Machine (1971), The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, and Attack Force Z. Two of Law's films, Danger: Diabolik and Space Mutiny, were also featured in the movie-mocking TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000. In 2001 he appeared in Roman Coppola's directorial debut CQ, an homage to the Italian spy/sci-fi B-movies in which Law often starred during the 1960s.
Law's final credited film role was in 2008's Chinaman's Chance. On December 13, 2007, his doctors diagnosed him with pancreatic cancer. Law died five months later on May 13, 2008 at his home in Los Angeles.
His remains were cremated.
1973 ACS Award in pure chemistry
1976 Harrison Howe Award, and awards from American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, and Dean's Award for distinguished teaching
1978-1979 He was a Guggenheim fellow
1986 ACS Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award
1986 ACS James Flack Norris Award in Physical Organic Chemistry
1986 R.C. Fuson Award
1991 He became an honorary fellow of California Academy of Sciences
2001 Awarded the National Academy of Sciences Award in chemical sciences.
2002 Awarded the National Medal of Science and the Linus Pauling Award.
2003 Willard Gibbs Award.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science (chairman of the section 1996-1997, member-at-large section since 1997), California Academy Sciences (honorary). Member NAS, American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Chemical Society (award in pure chemistry 1973, Harrison Howe award, 1976, R.C. Fuson award, 1986, James Flack Norris award 1986, Arthur C. Cope scholar,1986, Executive Committee physical chemistry division, commission on science 1992-1997), British Chemical Society, Sigma Xi, Phi Lambda Upsilon.
Married Sharon Lea Kruse, August 22, 1964. 1 daughter, Kate Andrea.
