'Sinbad' actor Kerwin Mathews dies

SAN FRANCISCO, July 11 (UPI) -- Kerwin Mathews, best known for battling Cyclops, a dragon and a skeleton in the fantasy "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad," died in his San Francisco home at age 81.

Mathews, who died last week, was known for his roles in fantasy and horror films, The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

Mathews was a Columbia Pictures contract player when he was cast as the lead in the 1958 "Sinbad" movie, which featured stop-motion animated creatures created by special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen.

"He was very good in it," Harryhausen told the Times. "I get a lot of fan mail saying they think he was the best Sinbad. We've had three or four different Sinbads."

Mathews, born in Seattle and raised in Janesville, Wis., also appeared in "The Devil at 4 O'Clock," "Man on a String," "Pirates of Blood River," "Battle Beneath the Earth," "Octaman," "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" and "Nightmare in Blood."

Mathews moved to San Francisco in the early 1970s and spent his post-acting career selling antiques and furniture.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Tom Nicoll.