John Forsythe (born
Jacob Lincoln Freund; January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010) was an American
stage,
television, and
film actor. Forsythe starred in three television series, spanning four decades and three genres: as single playboy father Bentley Gregg, in the
sitcom Bachelor Father (1957–62); as the unseen millionaire, Charles Townsend, on the crime
drama Charlie's Angels (1976–81); and as patriarch
Blake Carrington on
Dynasty (1981–89). He hosted
World of Survival (1971–77).