Biography
Long before there was an "Anthony Eisley", a darkly handsome young man named Fred Eisley could be seen as John Clinton on the 1953
Ezio Pinza TV vehicle Bonino. Eisley retained his given name while appearing as Johnny Cassiano in the Jack Webb-produced TVer
Pete Kelly's Blue (1959), and was still Fred Eisley for his inaugural film appearances in
The Young Philadelphians (1959) and
The Wasp Woman (1960). He wasn't rechristened Anthony Eisley until September of 1959, when he was cast as private detective Tracy Steele on the Warner Bros. cop series
Hawaiian Eye; he remained in this role until 1962, when he was replaced by
Troy Donahue. Whatever fame he had achieved via
Hawaiian Eye faded the moment he left the series, though he continued making supporting appearances in films ranging from
Samuel Fuller's
The Naked Kiss (1964) to the redoubtable
Al Adamson's Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971). He also worked frequently for his old
Pete Kelly's Blues boss Jack Webb, accepting guest spots in such series as
Dragnet, Adam 12 and
Emergency. From 1969 onward, Anthony Eisley was busiest on the daytime-drama circuit, playing Charles Diedrich on Bright Promise (1969-72) and Philip Dade on
Capitol (1982-87). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide