Edward Mulhare, Character Actor

LOS ANGELES - Edward Mulhare, the lanky Irish character actor best known as the begrudging specter in television's "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," died Saturday after a five-month battle with lung cancer. He was 74.

Mr. Mulhare left behind a rich resume well-peppered with credits from stage, screen and TV, ranging from his turn on a London stage opposite Orson Welles' Othello to his recent work with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in "Out to Sea," due in theaters this July.

He played in musicals, road shows and TV series, switching readily from the haughty pomp of Professor Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady" to a variety of roles in early television dramas.

"He was brilliant to the end," said spokeswoman and longtime friend Pegge Forrest. "That wit and humor and intelligence went just to the last minute."

Mr. Mulhare began his acting career in Ireland at 19, and eventually moved to London, where he played in the 1951 production of "Othello" at the St. James Theater directed by Laurence Olivier.

When Rex Harrison bowed out of the lead in "My Fair Lady," Mr. Mulhare took over the role from 1957 to 1960, Forrest said.

Mr. Mulhare went on to star in the "Devil's Advocate" and "Mary, Mary" on Broadway and later played Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera.

His television credits included appearances on "Murder, She Wrote," "MacGyver," "Outer Limits" and "The Ed Sullivan Show."

On the big screen, his credits included roles in "Von Ryan's Express," "Caprice" and "Our Man Flint."

Mr. Mulhare also performed from 1982 to 1986 in the TV series "Knight Rider" as Devon Miles, a mentor to the lead character played by David Hasselhoff.

His final television appearance came in December opposite Hasselhoff again in "Baywatch Nights."

Mr. Mulhare had been a heavy smoker earlier in life, smoking five packs a day until he quit in 1979, Forrest said.

He is survived by two brothers in Ireland.