Biography
A talented and poetic actor who never fully realized his potential. The eldest of four children and son of an Episcopal minister, Kinsolving began acting after completing his first year of college. A dedicated Method actor, he trained under Mary Welch at the renowned Actors Studio in New York.
Following a brief stint on Broadway, he was signed by agent Richard Clayton, known for launching the careers of James Dean and Tab Hunter. Kinsolving soon appeared in various East Coast television programs, including a live production of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" starring Helen Hayes. In 1959, he moved to Hollywood and shared a residence with actor James Franciscus. After several TV roles, including an appearance on Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), he secured his first film role alongside Alan Ladd in All the Young Men (1960). That same year, he delivered a powerful portrayal of "Sammy Golden" in the film adaptation of William Inge's The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, earning critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Unfortunately, Kinsolving appeared in only one more film, The Explosive Generation (1961), before focusing on TV guest roles. Throughout his career, he infused his performances with a compelling mix of sexuality, emotion, and vulnerability, notably in Route 66 (1960). Frustrated by the industry, he retired from acting in 1966 and ran a trendy Manhattan restaurant-bar called "Toad Hall" for two years.
After brief relationships with Tuesday Weld and Candice Bergen, Kinsolving sold his bar and married in late 1969. He relocated to Florida, where he managed two art galleries. Following his divorce in 1972, the passionate sailor spent his remaining years navigating exotic waters aboard his private schooner.
Tragically, Kinsolving was struck by a mysterious respiratory illness that suddenly caused unconsciousness. On the afternoon of December 4, 1974, he collapsed and passed away in his Palm Beach apartment at the age of 36.
