The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974’s The Towering Inferno

by

The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974's The Towering Inferno

Reflecting on the lives of these remarkable individuals, it is truly astounding to see how their careers have evolved over the decades. From epics like “The Three Musketeers” and “The Towering Inferno,” to more recent roles in popular TV series such as “Desperate Housewives” and “Brothers and Sisters,” these actors have left an indelible mark on the silver screen.

In a flash and with a fierce blaze, “The Towering Inferno” stormed the box office, earning an impressive profit and standing out as a key film in the surge of disaster movies during the mid-1970s. Not only was it a marvel of cinematic technology back then, but it also garnered numerous Oscar nominations, just one fewer than Irwin Allen’s other disaster production, “The Poseidon Adventure.” This is undeniably a disaster movie that every film enthusiast should witness before they bid farewell to this world.

In this film, much like other disaster tales by Allen, we find a dense portrayal of humanity confined within a single setting – a towering skyscraper named the Glass Tower in San Francisco. This colossal structure, reaching 1,688 feet and boasting 138 stories, houses numerous characters who either reside, work, or contribute to its construction. The building is adorned with all contemporary amenities, even a luxurious restaurant at its summit. Architect Doug Roberts (played by Paul Newman) envisions the Glass Tower as his masterpiece, unaware that Roger Simmons (Richard Chamberlain), the negligent son-in-law of the builder James Duncan (William Holden), has compromised the safety regulations and materials in the building’s electrical system.

With just a bit more pressure on the electrical system, a fire can ignite and quickly consume the entire building. Tough-talking fire chief Michael O’Hallorhan, portrayed by Steve McQueen in the film, tries to minimize casualties, but devastation and sorrow prevail before the blaze is extinguished.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on the iconic movie “The Towering Inferno” as it celebrates its 50th anniversary on December 14. It’s bittersweet to acknowledge that many of the film’s stellar cast members are no longer with us. Yet, fascinatingly, a significant number of them remain active in the entertainment industry. Here’s a rundown of the surviving cast members from the movie, as we pay tribute to their enduring contributions.

Faye Dunaway

The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974's The Towering Inferno

By the time “The Towering Inferno” was planned, Faye Dunaway had been a prominent actress for about ten years. She rose to fame portraying the chic Bonnie Parker in the classic film “Bonnie and Clyde,” and following her success in “Chinatown,” she starred as Susan Franklin, the fiancée of Doug Roberts. In the movie, Susan faces numerous hardships when the building’s dedication party attendees become trapped during a fire. She is among a few who are rescued by helicopter after the elevator connected to the burning tower is destroyed.

As a gamer, I can say that the role I landed was my comeback victory after a streak of box office failures. It set the stage for me to reach new heights, eventually earning an Oscar for Best Actress in 1977’s “Network.” Since then, I’ve graced both memorable films like “The Eyes of Laura Mars” and infamous productions such as the cult classic “Mommie Dearest.” After experiencing a series of additional movie setbacks, I decided to take an eight-year break from acting – one of the longest absences ever taken by an actor.

I, a dedicated fan, have followed the captivating journey of this remarkable actress. She initially made her mark on television with the brief but memorable sitcom “It Had to Be You,” and since then, she’s graced series as diverse as “Touched by an Angel” and “Alias.” In 1994, she was honored with an Emmy for her outstanding guest role in a drama series for the TV movie “Columbo: It’s All In the Game.” Apart from her television success, she’s also thrived on stage, performing in a production of “A Man for All Seasons.” As of now, she’s still actively acting, with the film “Fate” yet to be released. What truly intrigues me is the 2024 Max documentary “Faye,” which chronicles her extraordinary career and life.

Susan Blakely

The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974's The Towering Inferno

In this scenario, Patty Duncan Simmons, played by Susan Blakely, finds herself on the unfair end of a sticky situation. Her husband, Roger, acts recklessly by skimping on her father’s construction plans, jeopardizing the entire family. As chaos ensues and everything disintegrates, Patty witnesses terrible scenes including people burning alive and her own father, James, engaging in a physical altercation with Roger. In a dramatic turn of events, she escapes from the fire using a rescue device called a breeches buoy, which is suspended between buildings. She’s hauled across the gap to safety, seated in a chair. Unfortunately, Roger perishes, but James manages to survive the ordeal.

Following the release of “The Towering Inferno,” Blakely gained recognition by featuring in numerous television films and miniseries. She played Julie Prescott in the hit series “Rich Man, Poor Man,” and took on the role of attorney Leslie Abramson in “Honor thy Mother and Father: The True Story of the Menendez Murders.” Additionally, she starred in the disaster film “Concorde: Airport ’79.” More recently, she appeared in the 2022 production titled “Emily or Oscar.”

Currently active in acting, Blakely features in the movie “Mr. Christmas” alongside Tom McLaren. You can catch her at conventions and she continues to make public appearances. To stay updated about her activities, follow her on Instagram.

Richard Chamberlain

The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974's The Towering Inferno

Richard Chamberlain portrays the most reprehensible character in “The Towering Inferno” as Roger Simmons. It’s not just that the fire is caused by his reckless greed for corners, nor is it enough that he denies fault and avoids confrontation with his father-in-law when necessary. Instead, in a final act of selfishness, Roger forcefully insists on boarding the rescue line (breeches buoy) as the fire reaches the Observatory Room at the Glass Tower’s peak. Tragically, he ends up clinging to the seat with several other men, only to fall to his death when an explosion removes the chair from beneath them.

In a drastic shift from his past roles as stoic, morally upright characters in miniseries such as “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds,” where he initially gained fame portraying the lead character in “Dr. Kildare,” Chamberlain has taken on a new challenge. This versatile actor also made his mark with significant roles in big-screen historical epics like “The Music Lovers” and played Aramis in the 1973 adaptation of “The Three Musketeers.” His filmography includes other epic disasters like “The Swarm,” before focusing on TV epics. More recently, he’s been seen in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Brothers and Sisters,” and his most recent role was in 2019’s “Finding Julia.”

For several decades, Chamberlain was in a domestic partnership with Martin Rabbett while maintaining a low-profile about his sexuality. Later in life, he semi-retired from acting due to his personal life.

Robert Wagner

The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974's The Towering Inferno

In the movie, Dan Bigelow, portrayed by Robert Wagner, may not have had a significant part, but his death certainly stood out. He and his secretary, Lorrie (played by Susan Flannery), sneaked away from the dedication party for a clandestine rendezvous in the Duncan Industries office. However, their romantic interlude turned tragic when a fire broke out in Dan’s office. Trapped, they were engulfed by flames. Moved by their dire situation, Dan confessed his feelings to Lorrie before attempting a desperate escape. He ran through the flames, hoping to find an exit and save Lorrie. Unfortunately, he got caught in the fire and fell out of a broken window, leaving Lorrie to face her fate alone.

Wagner may be best known these days as Number Two from the “Austin Powers” series, as Tony DiNozzo Sr. on “NCIS,” or as handsome sleuth Jonathan Hart in the long-running mystery procedural “Hart to Hart,” but back in the day he was known as quite the matinee idol. Appearing in musical comedies and war dramas toward the end of the studio system, Wagner became involved in the television world once the New Hollywood era swept in, and continued to appear in film and television over the years. His last appearance was as DiNozzo Sr. in 2019. Wagner keeps in regular touch with his fans via his Instagram and continues to make public appearances.

Susan Flannery

The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1974's The Towering Inferno

According to Susan Flannery, Lorrie views her romantic encounter with Dan Bigelow as another step towards happiness and advancement. However, things take a tragic turn when Lorrie encounters a fire while wearing only a purple shirt. Following Dan’s untimely death, the room she was staying in ignites, leading to a flashover. In an attempt to escape the blaze, Lorrie smashes a window. Heartbreakingly, she catches fire upon doing so and falls to her death. Her flaming shirt continues to burn as it descends, extinguishing halfway through the fall.

Following assisting Lorrie with her last swan dive, Flannery gained considerable recognition within the realm of daytime dramas. Initially, she portrayed the iconic character Dr. Laura Horton on “Days of Our Lives,” later elevating to soap opera royalty by creating the role of matriarch Stephanie Forster on “The Bold and the Beautiful.” The former performance earned Flannery a Daytime Emmy for outstanding actress, while the latter garnered her an additional three such awards. Upon retiring from acting in 2018, Stephanie’s character met her end onscreen, succumbing to lung cancer. Although a quieter departure, it was still a significant and memorable farewell.

Read More

2024-08-02 04:00