Guy Williams: The Man Behind the Mask

Fans of Guy Williams will be thrilled by the prodigious research and this carefully crafted biography penned by author Antoinette Girgenti Lane. Lane conducted scores upon scores of personal interviews with the actor's wife, fellow actors, directors, producers, stuntmen, children, sibling, friends and virtually everyone who had significant contact with Williams. Lane's efforts in this regard are remarkable but this personal history is further augmented by the written record. Ms Lane quotes from a wealth of domestic and foreign newspaper articles and magazines. She has produced, in 500 well written pages, the essence of Guy Williams. This is an important work and a must have for any Guy Williams fan. Williams had an up and down acting career. He appeared in several movies and starred as the father on the TV series "Lost in Space" but he achieved world wide fame for his earlier roll in "Zorro". With his European origin, athletic skills and dashing good looks he was a natural to play the swashbuckling Fox, the champion of the downtrodden, El Zorro. The man had charm and joie de vie like many leading man of his day but we learn that Williams was not an empty suit. He preferred to read and had an undying love of knowledge for its own sake. He was a skilled sailor, a talented fencer, an amateur astronomer and lived with a quiet dignity. When his fortunes faded in Hollywood he complained to no one. When things were financially hard, he was still cheerful, generous and kind. In middle age his fame as Zorro soared anew as reruns of the series begain to air in South America and later in Japan. I admit, prior to reading this book, I had no real interest in Williams. I picked it up because it had an interesting cover but after reading the author's introduction, I was hooked. I brought the book home that day and as I read those pages I came to like the man. Did he have faults? Of course; no one is without some blame. But in all the interviews not a single associate, including his ex-wife, had a harsh word for Williams. I liked his grace, his charm and his wit and so, apparently, did they. No one spoke badly of Williams because he was a most considerate man and one of that all too rare breed, a complete gentleman. His attention to and kind treatment of a troubled young teenager gives the reader a glimpse at the nature of a man no one chooses to speak of badly. Guy Williams was Zorro and Lane lets us understand why.

How many icons of early television can claim to have not one, but two cult classics to call their own? As Disney's "Zorro", Guy Williams sold a lot of plastic, chaulk-tipped swords in his career. Guy was most proud of his role of Zorro, but not so much as the famous space patriarch he portrayed as Professor John Robinson in the '60s cult classic, and more popular, and more lasting "Lost in Space". We get a good idea of the character of the man in this well-researched, mainly well-written, and sizable book. The strength of this book is that it is written by someone who was a huge fan of Guy Williams. The main weakness of this book is that a very interesting story gets over-taken by an almost gushy, fawning eagerness to stick to the highs of this complicated character. The point being that the author often resorts to giving the lows in this very real life the same weight as the highs. Guy Williams was a complicated man, who was thoughtful enough to know it. He disliked the phoniness of Hollywood, but was rather inclined to be "over-whelmed" by "the business", even though he was smart enough to succeed - when he wanted to. The problem for Guy was that he couldn't get out of the way of idea of Guy Williams. This is plainly obvious in his distain for playing second fiddle to a robot and "Dr. Smith". Guy felt betrayed (and justifiably so), by what Irin Allen had promised would be a serious portrayal of the challenges a family faced in space, and a show that deteriorated to pure '60s camp. To his credit Guy compensated for these faults by making sure that his children got the best preparation for a life that Guy himself found difficult to handle. He was married to a beautiful woman who stood by Guy, even when Guy periodically retreated from his responsibilities as a married man, father and faithful husband to Argentina - a country that eagerly catered to Guy's belief that his finest role was that as "Zorro", a role that he only played for two seasons. Even as the effects of aging turned swash-buckeling into parody, Guy pressed on, giving one show after another, until even his greatest fans started to fall away. The author, Antoinette Girgenti Lane, explores all of this in a faithful, yet sometimes pollyannish way, while giving welcome details such as the floor plan of Guy's appartment in Argentina. Surprisingly, hardly anyone knows that for a man so beloved, Guy died alone in his Buenos Aires apartment, his body not discovered until days later.

I was five years old in 1957 when Zorro first rode into my life; I recently rediscovered Zorro on COZI TV and was delighted to find a wonderful show that has stood the test of time due in large part to the talents and charm of Guy Williams. I read some articles about him that whetted my appetite to know more; then I found The Man Behind the Mask – a feast of facts and photos presented with great feeling by Antoinette Lane – a satisfying read! In her introduction. Lane explains why she began her quest to learn more about Armando Catalano/Guy Williams. She describes her pre- and post-Internet efforts to write the book, and gratefully acknowledges the friendships she developed with Guy's family and friends while devoting many years to research. The only thing an actor owes the public is the best performance he can give – and Guy Williams has left a wonderful legacy – the best Zorro ever. Some fans want actors to be the characters they portray; other fans are disappointed when the performer falls short of their expectations – they only want an image. Lane’s biography introduces us to a real human being with strengths and weaknesses – someone who can be truly loved. It is a tribute to his family’s love that they were willing to share the real man they knew with Lane and those of us who want to know him – and to know Guy Williams is to better understand his actions, to empathize with his disappointments, and to respect his character and qualities. Despite setbacks, he and his wife Jan remained loyal to their friends in good times and bad. This is a moving story. The most heartfelt sections of the book are those that chronicle Guy’s love for his wife Jan and his children Steve and Toni – and their love for him. I have admiration and respect for the steadfast love Jan gave her husband, and I am grateful for her generosity in sharing her memories with Antoinette Lane. In the Zorro episode “The Capitan Regrets,” Don Diego says that somewhere there must be a man who is a friend to Zorro. A reader with an open mind and heart will at the end of this book be a friend to Zorro – and to Guy Williams. I hope that wherever Armando Catalano is now he can see how loved and cherished he is by Jan and his family; how appreciated he is by his friends around the world; and how respectfully and affectionately he is regarded by his fans who truly accept The Man Behind the Mask.

A 1988 rerun of an episode of Disney's Zorro sparked Ms. Lane's search for "What happened to Guy Williams?" No biography had been written about him. Then, on May 7, 1989, she learned Guy Williams had died in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On the slimmest of reasons, because Guy Williams was an Italian-American and so was Ms. Lane, she decided to write Mr. Williams' biography. Starting in 1999, Ms. Lane's project turned into a nine-year odyssey. She got lucky, really lucky, in finding sources for Guy Williams information. At a Gene Autry fan convention, she met a Guy Williams fan, Kathy G., who shared her treasure trove of memorabilia with the author. While the internet was a novelty when she started, later she used it for research and found thousands of Guy Williams fans, many with more information, including Mary Spooner who had created a extensive Guy Williams website. Ms. Lane was so intent on making sure the biography reflected Mr. Williams life accurately, she sought interviews with family, friends, co-workers and more and was able to get in-depth interviews with most of them, including his wife, Janice, who opened her home to the author. From all the people Ms. Lane met, Guy was always described as a gentleman. Ms. Lane tells the story of Guy's life from birth to death and beyond. Her stories, interviews, pictures and extensive details recreate Guy's life as a child, youth, young adult and life as a model and actor Born Armand Joseph Catalano, Guy Williams, was brought up in an old-school catholic Italian home. He loved classical music, played chess, took fencing and horse-riding lessons and behaved in a courtly manner. The love story between Guy Williams and his wife, Janice Cooper, is wonderful. It also captures New York of the 1940s. They were both models and meet during a photo shoot. I found it amusing that this drop-dead, handsome man was stunned by Janice's beauty claiming, she was "...the most gorgeous creature I had ever seen." Ms. Lane's biography includes a wealth of pictures from Guy's school pictures to family pictures over decades, to magazine covers and actor's head shots and to clips from various films and TV shows. One picture I was taken with was an early True Romance cover shot featuring a young Grace Kelly and Guy Williams. Guy's life was not perfect but came close. Like most people, sometimes we struggle to understand those closest to us. Guy's little sister never got to know Guy and he never got to know her, so they had many misunderstandings throughout their lives. Plus, while Guy was a loving father, was, at times, at odds with his children. Another characteristic that also stood out was that Janice and Guy made life-long friends in Hollywood. To me, that said a lot about Guy and Janice as people. They were down-to-earth people. Guy's career in modeling and acting illustrates how difficult those careers are and how the highs and lows can be devastating. I appreciated Ms. Lane's detailed description of Hollywood, Walt Disney, and an actor's life in those days. What I admired about Walt Disney was his commitment to quality. One reason, I think, Zorro was such a popular show was because Disney brought professional filmmaking standards to making a TV show. Everyone involved with the show wanted it to be a professional and accurate show. The longer shooting schedule, the fencing choreography; the horse riding scenes, the music, the reconstructed Mexican town, Mexican and Native American actors were used to make the stories authentic. Many of the themes in the Zorro shows are relevant today. Sadly, it was also because Mr. Disney wanted more control over his shows, he battled with the network that broadcast Zorro, as a result the show was cancelled at the height of its popularity. Even though, the story of Zorro has been made into several films starring Douglas Fairbanks, Robert Livingston, Reed Hadley, Tyrone Power, Frank Langella, and Antonio Banderas, Guy Williams has been considered the best Zorro of all. As you follow Guy's life and career, enjoy all the details. Note that after Guy Williams' death, his fans petitioned for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and succeeded. In the author's words: "Guy had some predictable traits, but he was also a walking paradox: masculine yet sensitive, firm yet gentle, conservative yet nonconforming, macho yet intellectual, simple yet complicated. Being somewhat of a mystery is what made him so fascinating, and he probably liked it that way. Overall, Guy was determined to be happy, and he wanted to make everyone around him happy. That was his nature. To enjoy life to the fullest was his goal." Lane, Antoinette (2011-04-09). Guy Williams, The Man Behind the Mask (Kindle Locations 100-103). BearManor Media. Kindle Edition. Guy Williams' personality makes me wonder: where can you find a guy like Guy today? Where can you find a TV show like Zorro? We Need Zorro Today. Z.

There was no Zorro like the Guy Williams Zorro. His life was very interesting. The book is packed full of all that he did, and all that he was. The only critique is that the print is a bit small. But I am happy to have the book. Through the years, they have not come up with a superhero better than Zorro. And guy portrayed him beautifully. He actually learned fencing, horsemanship, guitar playing. Also, he had been a model. He did it all. The Zorro character survived on his own skill - not CGI, and not with superpowers. Although his powers were super, for sure. They genericized his name for the times. He was actually Italian. I never knew that.

I felt like the author was a kindred spirit. I never saw Zorro until the 1980s reruns on Disney Channel and was completely hooked from that point on. This biography documents how Guy Williams enjoyed wave after wave of stardom as Zorro reruns were released around the world and new fans discovered the magic over and over and over again through 30 years time in every corner of the globe. The tremendous success of Zorro when it hit Argentina dominated the last 20 years of Williams' life. Who knew what was going on? The research the author did for this book is as comprehensive and as detailed as it gets. She located so many people and foreign language articles and facts -- an extraordinary job of scholarship. This book is a true labor of love. Guy Williams appealed to men and women alike and surely could have been a major leading man in Hollywood films in a class with Clark Gable or Sean Connery. There is a reason it didn't happen as the author explains. It's a total shame because super-stardom would have been richly deserved. Williams' brief career ended with the third season of Lost In Space. He never worked again. Why? How? Williams was the ultimate father figure! What the...? But this book covers all that happened in Williams' life. I had to read how it all ended. I never knew. Thanks for this biography. Obviously a lot of people were inspired by his work and now you can learn about his true life struggles. The crowds that cheered him, the children that loved him and that he loved in return are preserved properly.

I was born in 1958 so I don't really remember Zorro the first time it aired on network TV, but I do remember it in syndication on local TV as a kid. To me, Guy Williams always held the image of a hero. I do in great detail remember that first broadcast of Lost in Space back in 1965. Although I will always love Lost in Space as my childhood favorite Zorro is next in line. This book sets before us what I think is a great man, an interesting man, but not a perfect man. Guy Williams: Man behind the Mask was written with a great deal of input from his family, close friends, and professional co workers. Over the years I've had the chance to meet several people who come up in this book. A couple of weeks ago I was talking about Guy with a man who was a cinematographer for Disney back in the Zorro days (but not on Zorro). My friend always speaks of Guy with a smile on his face, and tells of a man of great warmth and intellect that left us to soon. I wish I could have met Guy Williams myself, but this book makes me feel as if I have. Guy Williams: Man behind the Mask is a great read! Matt Tuter - San Leandro, California - 23 July 2007

I was born 17 years after the first season of Disney Zorro aired on ABC of USA. My first experience of Zorro started when I was a primary school kid. It was the cartoon broadcasted on free TV of Thailand, an opposite side of the world to US. The show sparked my love for this swashbuckling story, horse riding, fencing and finding which the role model for the cartoon character. Finally, I found Disney Zorro on Youtube and immediately felt in love with a man named Guy Williams. I feel sorrowful to know that he passed away so early due to a ruptured brain aneurysm, so the first chapter of this book I begin to read is the time that Guy, I respectfully call him grandpa Guy Williams, died. Then, I look back to his previous illness situation and clearly understand why it happened again. Now, every time I take care stroke patients, I always think of him. Moreover, his life as a talented actor, a gentleman, and a good father makes me smile. Thank you an author for her dedication to letting a new generation like me for getting to know grandpa Guy.

Wonderful book, wonderful man

La vie de Guy WILLIAMS à travers son personnage de ZORRO. Sa carrière n'a pas été à la hauteur de l'acteur, dommage. Il est resté cantonné au personnage de ZORRO toute sa vie. Il vivait dans le culte de ZORRO d'où son déménagement en Argentine. Seul bémol, le livre est en anglais ...

Great story about a guy I only knew as Zorro in my childhood in the Netherlands. The writer explains a lot about who he was and background info about the years he lived in. This way you get a real feeling of how life was back then. Although you soon get the feeling this man was almost a saint, she(the writer) does pinpoint a few flaws in his armour. But that makes him only more human to me.A gentleman through and through. A man true to himself. Laidback, and by making some (in hindsight) wrong choiches, never accomplished his true movie potential. It`s fun to read, with only a few dull moments, and I had to read it till the end as quickly as I could. Even if you are not a big fan this is worth the money.

Ottimo libro, piuttosto corposo, con ben 495 pagine, narra la storia di Armando Catalano, in arte Guy Williams, l'indimenticabile protagonista di Zorro della Disney. Completamente illustrato in bianco e nero, presenta la biografia dell'attore più completa mai pubblicata, con aneddoti e risvolti assolutamente inediti. Consigliato a tutti gli appassionati di Zorro

O livro é um excelente trabalho de pesquisa da escritora Antoinette Girgenti Lane. Merecia uma edição em português para os fãs brasileiros do saudoso Guy Williams.