Guy Williams has the unique distinction of having first star-casting in two of the most successful, most loved and most repeated television series of all time - for this he has few equals in Hollywood. Once you make a huge impact on television, there is a price you pay the price of not working after.

This phenomena has many examples; Adam West, Alan Young, George Reeves, David Cassidy, Fred MacMurray, Barbara Eden, Elizabeth Montgomery, and many more these are great stars who could not achieve the same success after first name starring in a huge TV series.

From Zorro to Lost In Space, Guy Williams brought to millions of people the world over exhilarating and joyous entertainment, and lifted their imagination and spirits out of the doldrums and tensions of day-to-day living with a glorious vision of adventure, chivalry and romance.

Zorro, as most would know is the black costumed avenger of injustice and the most romantic figure in Old Spanish California (in 1800s) whose mark is a jagged 'Z' Although he is a fictional character who never really lived, he is known world-wide and his legend is larger than life.

Zorro ("Fox" in Spanish) first appeared in pulp magazine form on August 19, 1919 by author Johnston McCulley (36) a former police reporter. The first Zorro movie starred Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and premiered in 1920. Three movies followed. In 1937, Republic Pictures started filming five Zorro serials consisting of twelve action packed episodes. They were Zorro Rides Again (37), Zorro's Fighting Legion (39), Zorro's Black Whip (44), Son of Zorro (47) and Ghost of Zorro (1949).

In 1940, Twentieth Century Fox released The Mark of Zorro starring Tyrone Power, which can perhaps be regarded as the single most highly regarded masterpiece of the Zorro legend. ...However, that was before Guy Williams entered the foray.

Guy Williams' version of Zorro for 78 television episodes between 1957 and 1959 and four made for television movies 1960-61, would be the phenomenon which indelibly ingrained the image of Zorro into the public consciousness of the world.

After the last Republic Zorro serial in 1949 Johnston McCulley (who created the Zorro character), sold all of his Zorro property rights to Mitchell Gertz, a prominent Hollywood theatrical agent in 1950. Mitchell then wasted no time in convincing Walt Disney that Zorro would be perfect for the new exploding medium of television, thus assigning all his Zorro rights to the Disney Company in 1952.

It would take five more years for the show to become reality. Strangely, Walt Disney, after Davy Crockett, chose to film the Zorro series in black and white. Nevertheless, they hired Hollywood veteran director Norman Foster, who had been active in the film industry since directing Gentlemen of the Press in 1929, and who had directed Fess Parker in two of Disney's blockbuster Davy Crockett films. Casting the lead character presented a key challenge for Walt Disney.

The studio had decided to forego a 'name' star and hire a relative unknown. The casting call went out and over a hundred would-be stars lined up for the screening process. Finally, the decision was made. Zorro would be a 33-year-old actor named Guy Williams.

Walt Disney himself made the choice over one hundred and thirty actors, saying, ''There is a very special quality about Guy's persona his smile and charm is magnificent ... and he can really handle a sword".

The future Zorro had little choice but to learn swordsmanship. His father; Attilio, (an insurance broker) was a very skilled fencer back in his native Italy. While other fathers were teaching their sons how to pitch, field and hit, he was teaching his son how to parry, thrust and lunge.

Guy says: 'My father started teaching me how to fence when I was seven. It's in the Catalano blood."

Where Guy would had ended up if he hadn't absorbed the ancient art is anybody's guess. He had embarked on an acting career when he was in his late teens, studying drama in New York USA.

"I used to play anonymous men leaning in doorways with cigarettes dangling from their lips" says Guy of his early movie days. "There were times when I seriously doubted if I were cut out for this business"

Born Armando Catalano on January 14, 1924 in New York City USA. to Italian parents, (Attilio and Claire Catalano; who immigrated to America several years earlier) the young Armando attended the Peekskill Military Academy, New York before going to Hollywood in 1952 as 'Guy Williams'.

Guy was signed to a one-year contract with Universal-International where he landed good part-roles in movies such as The Mississippi Gambler (with Tyrone Power), Bedtime for Bonzo and I Was a Teenage Werewolf , starring Michael Landon.

After shooting was completed on I was a Teenage Werewolf Guy returned to work on the New York stage, supplementing his income by doing commercials. He had only just set foot back in Hollywood in 1956/7 when he was offered an audition for Zorro. 

His quality of a swashbuckler, together with his talent as a comedian, made the 63 " Guy Williams"  an ideal Zorro. Contrary to most cinematic duels that are done with blunted foils, the sensational confrontations in this series would be staged with real swords whose points were not protected. 

Under these conditions, the hiring criteria for the role required an actor with faultless ability in the subtle art of swordsmanship. 

Zorro, was constructed so each of the 78 episodes could stand alone (that is, every episode was satisfying within itself), most belonged to a four, five or even 13-episode sequence of continuing plot lines. 

After previous Zorro films were set in such diverse venues as Mexico, Spain and even New York, it was a relief to have Zorro back in Southern California. As the saga opened, young Don Diego, at the request of his father, returned from Spain to his native California, where noble dons and peasants were being oppressed by the evil Capitan Monastario - Commandante of the Los Angeles quartel. 

Passing himself off in public as lazy and ineffective, Don Diego; helped by his mute valet Bemardo - disguised himself as Zorro to oppose the cruel Captain and his fat incompetent Sergeant Garcia, (played beautifully by Henry Calvin) providing wonderful comic relief. 

With characteristic thoroughness, the same ideal that would compel Walt Disney to use real swords in fight sequences, led the studio to assemble the most creative and professional production team which also included the most experienced Zorro hands in Hollywood. 

Fred Cavens, the fencing master who had previously coached Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, was brought in to stage the most exciting moments in fencing confrontations.

William Lava, one of the composers for the score of Zorro's Fighting Legions, wrote the brilliant background music. This score involved the use of each character having their own instrumental theme that was played as the character came into a scene. 

The memorable vocal theme song was composed by George Bruns, with words by Norman Foster; was initially recorded with Mitch Miller and the Sandpipers. It also was featured on 'Top 40' in 1958, thanks to a version sung by the Chordettes. 

George J. Lewis, previously seen in Zorro's Black Whip and Ghost of Zorro, played Zorro's father, Don Alejandro. Finally, Johnston McCulley (the man who created Zorro) himself was brought in to supervise the writing of these elaborate episodes. 

The show was an immediate smash hit gaining one of the biggest audience share ratings that has ever been scored. The ever-thankful star Guy Williams had left doubt behind. He knows that fate has played him a kind trick and is out to make the most of it while it lasts. 

"Success is nebulous, " he says. "I've been really too busy to think much about it. Of course, some things have changed. When I go to my gas station, five guys jump to take care of the car Before Zorro, I had to honk my horn to get any attention ". 

Guy confesses, however, to being non-plussed by large groups of children. On a recent visit to the home of long-time friend Dennis Weaver (Chester in Gunsmoke) he was swarmed by neighbourhood children who demanded his autograph and bits of his clothing as souvenirs. "I didn't know what to say or do They had me coming and going!" 

On the elaborate outdoor Zorro set at the Disney studios, Guy is a different man. He works hard on his lines, practices riding and fencing. Fred Cavens, the Hollywood fencing master (he choreographed the original Zorro films in the 1920's), nods his head with respect for Guy's ability. 'We knows how to take care of himself, all right. He even keeps me on my toes". 

Another man whom Guy keeps on his toes is Gene Sheldon, the actor who portrays Zorro's deaf-mute aide; Bernardo. "We argue all the time, " says Gene. Usually about how we should play a scene together, but it always comes out alright". 

One reason for Zorro's top position in the rating list is Guy Williams' undeniable wavy haired, flashing-smiled charm. Suzanne Lloyd, a guest female lead in five episodes, readily admits that she fell victim to it. "I've never had so much help from an actor. He's co-operative, gracious and unselfish. He's also a big tease! He kept telling me how great he was; but I couldn't decide whether or not he was serious". 

Guy's personal life is less hectic than his professional one. He is married to ex-Powers model Janice Cooper and is the father of a six-year-old son, Steve. (Janice was then currently pregnant with their daughter Toni; born 1958 -Ed) They reside above the Sunset Strip; which connects Hollywood and Beverly Hills in an old Spanish-type apartment house built by silent-movie star Norma Talmadge. 

"It's quiet up there,"  says Guy.  "After a day's work I hardly have enough strength to budge." Tired or not, however, Guy manages to carry on the Catalano tradition. Almost every morning he spends some time fencing with his young son. "I just want to teach him what my father taught me. It probably won't be of much use, though." 

The TV series was conceived in terms of 39 episode seasons and ran for two seasons for a total of 78 shows. The first 39 were filmed for $3.2 million and the second for a lesser $2.7 million, because the sets already existed. Disney had built the half million dollar 'Zorro City' on its studio back lot, (which existed until 1985). 

Zorro had its American debut October 10th 1957 with the episode entitled; Presenting Senior Zorro, and concluded its first season on July 3rd 1958 with Day of Decision. Reprised for 13 weeks of reruns before the second season began on October 9th 1958 with Welcome to Monterey and ended on July 2nd 1959 with Finders Keepers. The series attained one of the highest audience ratings of its era. 

The only reason it was cancelled was that Walt Disney wanted to move Zorro from ABC to NBC but found it impossible. Disney chose to cancel Zorro rather than let it stay on ABC. So the series ended in 1959, however Guy and much of the production staff stayed on the payroll from 1959-61 for four hour-long Zorro movie specials to be screened on the Disneyland series. (And for Guy's public appearances). 

These movies were El Bandito (guest starring Gilbert Rowland; airing October 30, 1960), Adios El Cuchillo (airing Nov 6, 1960), The Postponed Wedding (guest starring Annette Funicello airing January 1, 1961) and Auld Acquaintance, (guest starring Ricardo Montalban airing April 2, 1961). 

Two other films, Zorro the Avenger and The Sign of Zorro were also released. Prepared originally for release in Japan in 1958 and 1959, these 'films' were compilations of episodes from the television series. The Sign of Zorro was taken from the first half dozen episodes, while Zorro, the Avenger was mostly episode 27 which then went on to episodes 35 through 39. 

Zorro creator & writer Johnston McCulley died on November 23, 1958 at the age of 79, amidst the height of Zorro popularity, that he could not have imagined four decades earlier when he was inspired to create the caballero from Los Angeles. 

Mitchell Gertz died in 1961 and in 1967 Walt Disney reassigned its Zorro rights to the Gertz estate. Thus to this day, all rights in the property of Zorro are controlled by the Gertz family through Zorro Productions Inc. of Berkeley, California, whose president is Mitchell's son, John Gertz. 

Meanwhile, the Disney television show had quickly spawned a Zorro craze among the youth of the world. During the 1957-1961 school years, children began writing Z's on anything from school blackboards to public walls. It was one of the earliest forms of television graffiti. (Many parents of the era complained bitterly to the Walt Disney Studios) This 'Z' writing was everywhere; even in Australia - testimony to how popular Zorro really was. 

Merchandise tie-ins such as Zorro capes ' hats, masks and swords sold briskly at toy stores. Among the most memorable toy products licensed by Disney in 1957 were the hat/cape/mask set produced by Ben Cooper Inc. of Brooklyn, and the official Zorro play set manufactured by Louis Marx and Company of New York. The latter included a assortment of  'action figures.' 

Enormously successful jigsaw puzzles and numerous publications also appeared in 1958-61. Western Publishing Co. issued Little Golden Books titled Walt Disney's Zorro, while e Dell - the leading comic book publisher the era, turned out a 15instalment series of stories which featured the illustrating talents of Alex Toth. 

Parenthetically, Dell had issued Zorro comics as early as 1949, but the television tie-in was a tremendous windfall, so Dell's Zorro suddenly took on the appearance of Guy Williams. Till 1968, Gold Key Comics kept printing the Zorro series. 

The TV series won acclaim world-wide in all of the countries in which it was aired. In South America; most notably in Argentina where Guy was viewed as a national hero. 

In France, the series inspired comic singer Henri Salvador to create one of his most popular songs. In Australia, the series was repeated continually from 1958 through until 1973. Most of that run was situated on Monday nights at 7pm, screening on the Nine network all over the country. 

In 1992, the series was that popular causing the decision to be made by the Walt Disney studios to colorize the series for cable TV. To say that the results are magnificent, is an understatement. 

The Zorro series remains the best example of colorization since the process began and most generations of viewers today do not realise that the series was originally filmed in black and white. 

Today, not a week goes by that a channel somewhere in the world does not air an episode of Guy Williams'  Zorro series.

Guy Williams Interview Part Two
where Guy talks about Lost in Space after just completing 
the series pilot - a candid interview from Christmas 1964!