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R.I.P. ROBERT QUARRY


Goodbye, Count Yorga


by Sid Terror
February 21, 2009

Sadly, we have lost Robert Quarry, who has passed away at The Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, California. He was 83.

Bob was probably best known as a horror actor for playing the title role in COUNT YORGA VAMPIRE (1970) which was a big hit for American International Pictures and made him a major Horror star. It was such a hit in fact, that AIP put him under an exclusive contract which would not let him appear in horror films for any other studio. Unfortunately, this also kept him from appearing as another vampire in the film THE NIGHT STALKER which starred his good friend Darren McGavin.

AIP quickly began to groom him as a rival to their other big horror star at the time, Vincent Price. The next year Quarry appeared in the sequel THE RETURN OF COUNT YORGA (1971). A string of other films for AIP followed, including DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN (1972) starring Vincent Price, THE DEATHMASTER (1972) which Quarry not only starred in but was a producer of, MADHOUSE (1974) starring Vincent Price and Peter Cushing, and SUGAR HILL (1974).



ABOVE: Robert Quarry in
THE RETURN OF COUNT YORGA (1971)

A third sequel in the Count Yorgas series was planned which would have teamed him with William Marshall's BLACULA character, as was another film in the Dr. Phibes series (working title THE BRIDES OF DR.PHIBES) but neither were completed when the financally troubled AIP went under.

In the 1980's Quarry nearly lost his life when he was hit and dragged by a drunk driver. They were injuries he never quite recovered from. After a long period of rehabilitation Quarry was about to return to acting when he suffered a heart attack on opening night of a stage play he was to appear in.

Friend director Frank Olen Rey gave him small parts after that, but a full return to his former career never materialized.

His declining health the last several years, the resulting medical bills and other financial setbacks, forced Bob to lose his home and most of his belongings. He had to enter the Motion Picture Home for long term care in 2008.

Those of you that have been with us for awhile will recall that The Horror Drunx publicized his plight and gave donations to help get Bob back on his feet (director Tim Sullivan helped put the program togther). His physical and mental condition however continued to deteriorate over the last year.

This marks the passing of one of the last remaining great stars of the horror wave that ended in the 1970's. Price, Cushing, Carradine and now Quarry have all left us now. Only Christopher Lee remains.

R.I.P. Robert Quarry: November 3, 1925 - February 21, 2009


"My name is Sid Terror and I am a Horror Drunx"


Sid Terror
Horrorwood Karloffornia
February 21, 2009