His stage name was changed from an Italian-sounding name to the name of Humphrey Bogart's character in The Petrified Forest.[1] He made a great number of guest appearances in well-known television shows and starred in a handful of films, including a cult classic, Robinson Crusoe on Mars.[2] Mantee authored two novels, In Search of the Perfect Ravioli (Ballantine Books, 1991) and a semi-autobiographical Bruno of Hollywood (Ballantine Books, 1994).[1][2]
Mantee, a longtime Malibu resident, died November 7, 2013, at a rehabilitation center in Canoga Park, California. He was survived by his wife, Suzy Davis Mantee[1] whom he met while standing in line at the Malibu post office.[6]