Ward Costello Edward " Ward " Costello was the actor who played Admiral Gregory Quinn in the two first season episodes and . Footage of his appearance in the latter episode was reused in the second season episode . Early life . Costello was born in Boston , Massachusetts . He served in both the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Corps during World War II . Following his tour of duty , he worked as a foreign news editor for CBS and was a journalist for a number of newspapers and magazines . He studied acting at the Yale School of Drama in New Haven , Connecticut , and at the Old Vic and the University of Birmingham in England . Acting career . 1940s – 1960s . His first major acting role was starring in an off - Broadway production of August Strindberg ' s play , " The Father " . In 1955 , he appeared in the Tony Award - winning Broadway production of " The Lark " , along with Theodore Bikel and Christopher Plummer . While he continued working on the stage in New York , he also performed in live television productions , including a segment of " The Alcoa Hour " with Richard Kiley . Costello made his feature film debut as the star of the cult 1958 science fiction film " Terror from the Year 5000 " , which also featured Salome Jens . He then played the supporting role of Captain Harry Black in the 1960 war film " The Gallant Hours " . Richard Carlyle , Harry Landers , and William Schallert had roles in this film , as well . In addition to acting in the film , Costello also wrote the movie ' s theme song . From 1964 through 1966 , Costello starred as Peter Ames on the CBS soap opera " The Secret Storm " . John Colicos and Diana Muldaur were also regulars on that program during Costello ' s tenure . In 1966 , Costello and Graham Jarvis both played witnesses for the prosecution in the Broadway play , " The Investigation " . 1970s – 1980s . In the early 1970s , Costello was part of the cast of the daytime soap opera " The Edge of Night " . He later made recurring appearances on the TV dramas " The Streets of San Francisco " ( working with Darleen Carr , Ron Glass , Jonathan Lippe , Susan Oliver , and Kenneth Tobey ) and " General Hospital " . Costello also worked with Darleen Carr on the 1976 western TV movie " Law of the Land " , along with Glenn Corbett and Andrew Prine . Costello ' s other television credits include guest appearances on the shows " Petrocelli " ( which starred Susan Howard ) , " Most Wanted " ( with Harris Yulin ) , " Police Story " ( with Bruce Davison ) , " Barnaby Jones " ( with Walker Edmiston , Gary Lockwood , and Lee Meriwether ) , and " Newhart " ( with William Denis ) . Harvey Hart directed Costello and Paul Fix in the 1976 TV movie " The City " , and in 1977 , Costello shot an unsold TV pilot called " Code Name : Diamond Head " with France Nuyen and Alex Henteloff . In addition to his television work , Costello continued acting in feature films during the 1970s and 1980s . He played General George C . Marshall in the 1977 war drama " MacArthur " , working with Nicolas Coster , Marj Dusay , Robert Mandan , Allan Miller , Kenneth Tobey , Harvey Vernon , and Garry Walberg . He also had a supporting role in Disney ' s " Return from Witch Mountain " , which starred Ike Eisenmann . His subsequent film credits include " Goldengirl " ( directed by Joseph Sargent ) , " Bloody Birthday " ( with William Boyett , Ellen Geer , and Cyril O ' Reilly ) , " Whose Life Is It Anyway ? " ( with Jeffrey Combs ) , " Missing " ( with David Clennon , Jerry Hardin , and Keith Szarabajka ) , " Firefox " ( with Richard Derr ) , and " Project X " ( with Shelly Desai , Robin Gammell , Dick Miller , Daniel Roebuck , and William Sadler ) . Costello retired from acting in 1989 . His final on - screen work was in the 1989 TV movie " Roe vs . Wade " , which also featured Jeff Allin , Dion Anderson , James Avery , Daniel Benzali , David L . Crowley , the aforementioned Jerry Hardin , Ken Jenkins , Paul Lambert , Glenn Morshower , George Murdock , Randy Oglesby , Terry O ' Quinn , Angela Paton , Randal Patrick , David Selburg , Karole Selmon , Kenneth Tigar , and Dierk Torsek . Death . Costello died on 4 June 2009 in Redlands , California , due to complications from a stroke . He was 89 years old .