Lee Philips; Movie Actor, Prolific TV Director

Lee Philips, a motion picture actor and prolific television director whose work ranged from portraying Michael Rossi in the 1957 film “Peyton Place” to directing the TV series “Diagnosis Murder,” has died. He was 72.

Philips died March 3 in his Brentwood home of complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Born in New York City, Philips moved into the entertainment industry in the 1950s as an actor. He had roles in “Marty,” the 1957 version of “12 Angry Men,” “The Hunters” and “Middle of the Night,” among others.

He later turned to directing, primarily for the small screen. He directed the 1971 series “The Man and the City,” starring Anthony Quinn and Mike Farrell. A year later, Philips joined the durable “MASH,” where he remained for several years and again directed Farrell, who played one of the series’ irreverent Army surgeons on the front lines in the Korean War. Other series of which Philips directed episodes included “The Waltons,” “The Practice,” “The American Girls,” “Salvage 1,” “Lottery!” and most recently “Diagnosis Murder,” starring Dick Van Dyke.

Philips also directed dozens of television movies and such miniseries as Sidney Sheldon’s “Windmills of the Gods” in 1988 and James A. Michener’s “Space” in 1985. Among his made-for-TV movies were “Silent Movie,” “Barnum,” “American Geisha,” “Samson and Delilah,” “Mae West,” “Wanted: The Sundance Woman” and “Louis Armstrong--Chicago Style.”

Critics often praised the director for his ability to juggle multinational locales and establish period settings.

Philips scripted one television movie that he directed, “Valentine,” in 1979.

He is survived by two daughters, Caitlin and Julie.

They have asked that donations be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation Inc., 1501 NW 9th Ave., Miami, FL 33136-1494.