Actor Kevin McCarthy dies, starred in 'Body Snatchers'

Kevin McCarthy, a stage and screen actor best known for his starring role as the panicked doctor who tried to warn the world about the alien "pod people" who were taking over in the 1956 science-fiction classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," died Saturday at 96 of natural causes at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass., said his daughter Lillah.

During a career of more than 70 years, beginning on stage in New York in the 1930s, McCarthy played Biff Loman in the 1949 London production of "Death of a Salesman." He reprised the role in the 1951 film version, earning an Oscar nomination and winning a Golden Globe as most promising male newcomer.

McCarthy made numerous guest appearances on TV series such as "The Twilight Zone," "Flamingo Road" and "Murder, She Wrote." He also appeared in about 50 films.

Author Mary McCarthy was his sister. - Los Angeles Times