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| Gail Fisher with Mark Stewart in 1970 |
A reader wanted to know what happened to Mark Stewart, the boy who played Toby, Peggy's (Gail Fisher) son on Mannix.
From 1968 to 1975, Mark Stewart portrayed Toby Fair in 12 episodes of Mannix, the CBS detective series starring Mike Connors. When the series made its debut in 1967, Joe Mannix, a Los Angeles private investigator, worked for a detective agency called Intertect. In the second season, Mannix opened his own detective agency, assisted by his secretary, Peggy Fair (Gail Fisher). Peggy was the widow of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty, while trying to prevent a burglary.
Mark first appeared as Toby on Mannix in a 1968 episode entitled "The Need of a Friend" (Season 2. Episode 9, Air Date: November 23, 1968). In the episode, Joe Mannix tries to help a man released from prison after serving 7 years. It was Mannix who helped send him to prison when he was on his first case.
In a Mannix episode entitled "Medal for a Hero" (Season 3, Episode 14, Air Date: January 3, 1970), police uncover evidence indicating that Peggy's late husband and other police officers were on the take. Young Toby is devasted by the news, but Mannix claims the boy as his client in an effort to clear his father's name in this case.
Below is a photo of Mark Stewart in an episode of Mannix entitled "Merry-Go-Round for Murder." It aired on April 5, 1969.
According to IMDb, Mark has no TV or film credits after Mannix. He seems to have ended his acting career when Mannix went off the air. There is very little information on him online and "Mark Stewart" is a common name. Perhaps he wants to remain private. If that's the case, I respect his privacy. If not, I wonder if anyone can provide TV Banter with some information about Mark. Even better, I invite Mark to send me an email to share with for my readers.
END NOTES
* Mark played the role of Curtis Bishop in a 1970 episode of the TV drama Bracken's World, starring Leslie Nielsen. The episode is entitled "Will Freddy's Real Father Stand Up?" (Season 2, Episode 13, Air Date: December 11, 1970).
* Gail Fisher died on December 2, 2000 in Los Angeles. She was 65 years old at the time of her passing and the cause of her death was kidney failure. Gail was one of the first African-American women to have a leading role in an American television series. The only other one I can think of right away is Diahnn Carroll who starred in Julia. She played Julia Baker, a widoed nurse with a young son (her husband was a soldier who died in Vietnam). Julia was a comedy and it ran from 1968 to 1971, at the same time Gail Fisher appeared in Mannix.
* Mike Connors passed away on January 26, 2017 at the age of 91.
- Joanne
EDITOR'S UPDATE: I was given information that child actor Mark Stewart became singer-songwriter "Stew." I wrote a follow-up article. To view the article click on the link below.
Mannix was one of my father's favorite T.V. series. It soon became one of mine as well.
ReplyDeleteMannix is one of my favorite TV shows please keep running the reruns. Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved watching Mannix when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteMannix was one of my favorite shows, back in the day, I still enjoy the re-runs now. As a young girl, it was nice to see a woman of color have a huge role in a night time Drama. Thank you, CBS for allowing, African Americans to play in such a fantastic series, as Mannix.
ReplyDeleteI was a great fan of mannix when I was a kid.I loved the convertible he drove.
ReplyDeleteM a n n i x is my favorite television series of all time it was so cool every one of the actors were wonderful Michael McClure
DeleteYes, I too LOVED watching Mannix as a kid with my father! Great TV back then. I currently watch reruns on METV, such fond memories. I'm delighted to know Mike Connor lived to see 91, what a legacy. Sadly, I was shocked to discover Gail Fisher had an incident with drugs after Mannix. I always thought she was such a beautiful woman.
ReplyDeleteBeen enjoying watching Mannix reruns. Couldn't help wonder about what Peggy Fishers career and life before and after a successful CBS 8-seasons from 1968-1975, cancelled mysteriously. Her acting career after Mannix was far and few t.v. appearances and movie roles, to be so successful early on had to take a toil, sadden to hear of her trails, surprise to read.. it does not change my delightful thoughts of Peggy's character, a trailblazer actress.
DeleteI loved the show , and do today , i have oftan wondered why joe never fell in love with peggy she seem to love himmand she cared for himn you could see the love in her totds him its a shame in to lives we cant find that kind of caring and love love like that as no color just love , ltc tony brooks us army retired
ReplyDeleteThey would never had an interracial relationship back then on tv. I was a teenager back then, and you could see the great chemistry between the two actors.
DeleteI love the show Mannix I watch it on MeTV and own the DVDs of all 8 seasons...Peggy was also a favorite of mine...she played her role so well with Mannix...I adore her! RIP (Gail Fisher) Peggy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know any of the above but after watching Mannix S3E25...I thought the Toby looked like a young Forrest Whitaker. Just wondering, the age is about right.
ReplyDeleteI thought he was Forrest Whitaker as well!
DeleteI loved watching Peggy and Mannix in their scenes together, the chemistry was great. I love the episode when Joe was temporarily blind and their walk l. The beach together. Great show
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here watching this right now it's one of my husband's favorite shows I have no choice but to watch it I love watching it when I'm up at 1 in the morning good luck
ReplyDeleteI love watching Mannix reruns.
ReplyDeleteI love watching Mannix, Hunter,Perry Mason. Matlock and all of the oldies.
ReplyDeleteGreat show, great actors and great cars brings me back.
ReplyDeleteGail Fisher made the TV show Mannix a lot better than first season without her.
ReplyDeleteI loved Mannix, Julia AND Star Trek. The author failed to mention Nichelle Nichols who portrayed Uhura, as one of the first African American women in a major role on TV.
ReplyDeleteWatched Mannix as a teen & now I love to watch the reruns on fetv!
ReplyDeleteI watched Mannix in my younger years, as it was one of the few shows on tv. I’m fascinated with the show and what prompted them to add an Africian American actors in the 60’s /70’s Watching the show at about 9 years old, I was just glad to see someone that looked like me. I recently found the show a few months ago, I tape it everyday but watched with a different perspective now. It has such a relaxing feel after work.
ReplyDeleteWatched the show intermittently as a young teen. Love it now. Joe’s alpha male character and Peggy. Love the interaction between them. They cared for each other!
DeleteRemember the series as a kid born in 62 so I was really young. It started running on FETV in my local area and I watch it twice a day before Perry Mason which I watch at 4 episodes daily if possible. Love them both.
ReplyDeleteDella Reece was on chico and the man in 1974
ReplyDeleteWatching reruns of Mannix right now on FETV…Love this show! 🤙
ReplyDeleteHave been watching Mannix re-runs again recently after decades. Used to sit with my dad and watch the show way back when. Besides Cannon, this is the only show I enjoyed in the private eye genre and there were a lot at that time.
ReplyDeleteMannix was one of my favorite shows actually watching Mannix now. Love this show so much even in reruns!
ReplyDeletegreat show I have made my 7:00 schedule around the show. Unfortunately it will be replaced next week.
DeleteI am certain that the person that played Toby is the musician stew. If you compare Toby's ears to stews they are a perfect match. Check out the ear lobes, they are indented at the top and flare out at the bottom, and they have two dimples in them. Too many coincidences for them to not be the same person.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing. Plus chat GPT says that he grew up to be a musician. I'm glad he is doing well.
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