Kaz Garas Explained
Kaz Garas |
Birth Name: | Kazimieras Gaižutis |
Birth Date: | 4 March 1940 |
Birth Place: | Kaunas, Lithuania |
Years Active: | 1966-2004 |
Occupation: | Actor |
Kaz Garas (born 4 March 1940[1]) is a Lithuanian-American retired actor, best known for his starring role in the TV-series Strange Report, and for his numerous portrayals of sheriffs in low-budget thrillers.
Early life
Garas was born in Kaunas, Lithuania, but immigrated to the United States as a child in July 1949. He became a professional actor in the 1960s.
Career
Kaz Garas began his career with a few minor parts in TV series, but finally took off after co-starring as Hamlyn Gynt in the crime/mystery-series Strange Report, acting alongside Anthony Quayle and Anneke Wills.
After the series was cancelled in 1970, Garas played bit parts on other TV series and films such as Ben, Fast Gun, Hart to Hart, Wonder Woman, and Naked Vengeance. He played a sheriff at least seven times, in films such as Dazzle, Piranha, Humanoids From the Deep, and Final Mission. He retired in 2004, and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Partial filmography
- The Last Safari (1967) - Casey[2]
- Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) - Johnny Fargo (1968), Craig Howard (1969), and Mark (1979)
- Love Is a Funny Thing (1969) - Paul
- Strange Report (1969-1970, TV Series) - Hamlyn Gynt[3] [4]
- The Sheriff (1971, TV Movie) - Harve Gregory[5]
- The City (1971, TV Movie) - Unknown man
- Ben (1972) - Joe Greer
- Wonder Woman (1974, TV Movie) - Steve Trevor
- Last Hours Before Morning (1975, TV Movie) - Ty Randolph
- Half a House (1975) - Artie
- Murder in Peyton Place (1977, TV Movie) - Springer
- Wonder Woman (1979, TV Series) - Lucas
- Starsky & Hutch (1979, TV Series) - Carlyle
- Massarati and the Brain (1982, TV Movie) - Nick Henry
- Final Mission (1984) - Pinesville County Sheriff
- Naked Vengeance (1985) - Fletch
- The Devastator (1986) - Sheriff
- Cameo by Night (1987, TV Movie) - Red
- Fast Gun (1988) - Harper
- Death Falls (1991) - Sheriff Perrin
- The November Men (1993) - Sergeant Major
- (1994) - Man #2
- Piranha (1995, TV Movie) - Sheriff Carl
- Dazzle (1995, TV Movie) - Sheriff
- Humanoids From the Deep (1996, TV Movie) - Sheriff Barnes
- Switched at Birth (1999, TV Movie) - Courthouse Reporter
- The Skin Horse (2003) - Lt. Harrison
- Mean Creek (2004) - Detective Wright (final film role)
Notes and References
- Book: Ward, Jack . Television Guest Stars: An Illustrated Career Chronicle for 678 Performers of the Sixties and Seventies . . 1993 . 9780899508078 . 196 .
- News: Huggins . Judy . Drive-Ins Join in Bringing First Run Movie Features . The Orlando Sentinel . December 10, 1967 . Orlando, FL . 32 . June 23, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Newton . Dwight . Tonight's TV Best Bets . The San Francisco Examiner . January 8, 1971 . San Francisco, CA . 17 . June 24, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
- News: Deeb . Gary . The Strange Report: Its Brief Life Should Be Lively . The Buffalo News . January 11, 1971 . Buffalo, NY . 13 . June 24, 2023 . Newspapers.com.
- News: The Sheriff . The Odessa American . March 28, 1971 . Odessa, TX . 70 . June 22, 2023 . Newspapers.com.