Irish-born actor, a handsome though rather wooden leading man best known for his roles in several historical epics, including “The Fall of the Roman Empire,” 1964, “The Bible,” 1966 and, of course, his career peak in “Ben-Hur,” 1959. Boyd starred in “The Oscar,” 1966 and played in various B-grade foreign productions throughout the 1970s.
From his preteen years, Boyd played in Irish theater. He was one of nine kids; the family migrated to Canada in the 1940s where he acted in stock and on radio on both sides of the U.S./Canada border. After several lean years in which he worked in a cafeteria, as a doorman and other odd jobs, Boyd got his movie break in the 1955 British comedy “An Alligator Named Daisy.” The following year he signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. He made several films under contract before going independent.
Boyd’s career faded from the spotlight by the late ‘60s as he began to spend more time overseas in Europe where he seemed to find better roles suited to his own personal interests. Some of his choices were of controversial films such as “Slaves” and “The Black Brigade.”
Boyd was married twice. The first time to MCA executive, Italian-born Mariella di Sarzana which only lasted officially two weeks in 1958 during the filming of Ben Hur. The second time to Elizabeth Mills, a secretary at the British Arts Council and his friend since 1955. Liz Mills followed Boyd to the USA in the late ‘50s and was his personal assistant and secretary for years before they married about ten months before his untimely death. Boyd died of a massive heart attack on 6/02/1977 at the age of 45. He was at the Porter Valley Golf course with his wife Liz driving a golf cart when he complained of not feeling well and collapsed within minutes. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and arrived at 12:27 pm in complete cardiac arrest. Boyd was pronounced dead at 13:20 hours at the Granada Hills Hospital in Los Angeles County.
Link to Wikipedia biography