Or Leslie Howard?

Not Lawrence or Leslie.

In 1959, I became the host of my own TV drama series, which ran for 13 episodes that summer.

I became an even bigger international star in the 1960’s, with several war/action and comedy films (including one for Blake Edwards). I also appeared in a James Bond film.

Of course: The Phantom! (Not the Pink Panther as some people suggest; that was the diamond, not the thief.)

David Niven

Excellent, S2000magician! I only had three clues left:

In 1974, while I was co-hosting the Oscars ceremony, a naked man "streaked" across the stage behind me. In what instantly became a live-TV classic moment, I responded, "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?”

Blake Edwards brought me back for two cameo appearances in the early 1980s. By this time, I was having serious health problems. When the raw footage was reviewed, my voice was inaudible, and my lines had to be dubbed by Rich Little.

I died in 1983 after appearing in many TV shows and nearly 100 films. I also wrote four books with considerable commercial success.

ADDITIONAL TRIVIA: An interesting fact I did not include in my clues was that Niven never spoke about his wartime experiences, despite public interest in stories from celebrities in combat. He once said: “I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war.”

You’re up next, Bill.

1. I was born in Oklahoma.

2. My mother passed away when I was 5 years old.

3. I had two older brothers.

At this stage it's still too vague. However, another clue would be helpful ...

4. When I was 16, I worked in the US Merchant Marine, even though I suffered from chronic seasickness.

5. I was briefly a swimsuit model, but I hated it.

Burt Lancaster.

Not Burt.

6. I earned two purple hearts for wounds sustained in Korea: the first I received immediately (for shrapnel wounds to my face and hand); the second one I didn't receive until 32 years after a friendly fire bullet in my . . . um . . . seat (from a fighter jet as I was diving into a foxhole).

7. I began my career with a nonspeaking rôle in a Broadway play starring Henry Fonda.

8. After that I worked in TV commercials for a while, before moving on to series rôles.

9. I missed out on what could have been my first big starring rôle in television because the casting director who wanted me for the part couldn't reach me, so they went with their second choice. (At least, that's what I wrote in my autobiography.)

I did play a guest rôle in the pilot of the show, however.

<crickets>

Lyle waggoner?

Not Lyle, but I like the guess.

10. After a couple of movie rôles, I played a part in a TV anthology series episode about a librarian from 40 years in the future. The studio shortened my surname in the credits (without my permission), so I began to use the shortened version professionally, eventually having my name changed legally.

11. In the episode mentioned in clue 10, the producer (who was also the writer) liked my comical facial expressions (for a rôle not written to be comical) so much that he later cast me in what was to become my first iconic TV rôle.

Still no idea who this could be ...

12. After making a film with Marlon Brando, I started the series mentioned in clue 11. The series creator and I were the only people who thought that it could compete with The Ed Sullivan Show and The Steve Allen Show, but for two years it beat both in its time slot.