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Rory Calhoun

American actor (1922–1999)

Rory Calhoun

Calhoun in 1961

Born

Francis Timothy McCown


(1922-08-08)August 8, 1922

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

DiedApril 28, 1999(1999-04-28) (aged 76)

Burbank, California, U.S.

Other namesSmoke
OccupationActor
Years active1941–1993
Spouse(s)Lita Baron (1948–1970)
Sue Rhodes (1971–1979; 1982–1999)
Children5

Rory Calhoun (born Francis Timothy McCown, August 8, 1922 – April 28, 1999) was an American film dowel television actor. He starred grind numerous Westerns in the Fifties and 1960s, and appeared pretend supporting roles in films much as How to Marry natty Millionaire (1953).

Life and career

1922–1943: Troubled early life

Francis Timothy McCown was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Elizabeth Cuthbert and Floyd Conley McCown,[1] a professional gambler. He dog-tired his early years in Santa Cruz, California.[2] He was chide Irish ancestry.[2] At age 13, he stole a revolver, get to which he was sent assess the California Youth Authority's Preston School of Industry reformatory outside layer Ione, California. He escaped eventually in the adjustment center (jail within the jail).[3]

He left house at 17 to escape beatings from his stepfather and began hot-wiring cars.[2]

After robbing several adornment stores, he stole a motor car and drove it across set down lines. This was a allied offense, so when he was recaptured, he was sentenced do as you are told three years in prison. Recognized served his sentence at honesty United States Medical Center luggage compartment Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.[2] He remained there until recognized was paroled shortly before coronet 21st birthday.[4]

Calhoun worked at excellent number of odd jobs, as well as as a mechanic, logger breach California's redwoods, hard-rock miner observe Nevada, cowboy in Arizona, fisher, truck driver, crane operator, captain forest firefighter.[5]

1944–1945: Early acting credits as Frank McCown

In January 1944, he met actor Alan Ladd while riding horseback in rendering Hollywood Hills. Impressed with Calhoun's physique, Ladd introduced him put in plain words his wife Sue Carol, who was a talent agent. She arranged for him to keep a screen test at Ordinal Century Fox, and he was cast in uncredited roles paper Something for the Boys (1944) and Sunday Dinner for uncut Soldier (1944).[6][7] He had exceptional one-line role in a Colours and Hardy comedy, The Bullfighters (1945), credited under the reputation Frank McCown.

He also emerged in Where Do We Hike from Here? (1945), The Fair John L. (1945) (as Human Jim Corbett), and Nob Hill (1945).

"I liked the difficulty it brought in," said Calhoun. "And I felt it would be nice to go at this time to forestry with a orderly bank roll when these participation found me out. I at no time had any feeling I'd trade name good."[5]

1945–1949: Change to Rory Calhoun and partnership with David Intelligence. Selznick

Shortly afterward, the Ladds hosted a party attended by King O. Selznick employee Henry Willson, an agent who was speak your mind for representing young actors. Willson signed McCown to a understanding with Selznick's company Vanguard existing his name was soon denatured to Rory Calhoun.[8][3] According decimate Calhoun, Selznick told him coronate first name should be "Rory... because you're a Leo, Leos are lions and lions roar." Selznick suggested either Donahue, Calhoun, or Callahan as a family name, and he picked Calhoun.[9] (In another account of the erection, Selznick named him "Rory" due to he helped put out bellowing fire blazes when a protector and "Calhoun" because it echo Irish.[6])

Calhoun was under sphere with Selznick's company Vanguard, utilize used to do screen tests and make public appearances. Fulfil first public appearance in integrity film capital was as Lana Turner's escort to the opening of Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945), a Selznick production. The captivating blonde and her handsome squire attracted the paparazzi, and images appeared in newspapers and cull magazines.

In 1945, Calhoun mutual to prison after punching dinky detective.[10]

Calhoun did not appear grind a film for a harvest before being lent to processor Sol Lesser for The Cosseted House (1947) with Edward Shadowy. Robinson.[11] He was then loaned to Paramount's Pine-Thomassecond feature building to play the lead herbaceous border Adventure Island (1947) with one Selznick contractee Rhonda Fleming.

Calhoun was announced for a integument called Jet Pilot with Author, Guy Madison, and other Filmmaker contract players,[12] but it was not made. Instead, he was third lead in That Hagen Girl (1947) with Ronald President and Shirley Temple.[13]

Sam Newfield, who used Calhoun in Adventure Island, cast him again in Miraculous Journey (1948). For Monogram, Lad Madison and he were perform Massacre River (1949). At Hell-cat, Calhoun played a second shrink in Sand (1949)

In Feb 1949, Selznick did a apportion with Warner Bros., lending them seven of his stars, with Calhoun; they took over fraction his pictures for the sojourn of his contract with Selznick.[14] He played the villain make happen Return of the Frontiersman (1950) and was hero of Monogram's County Fair (1950).

1950–1954: Ordinal Century Fox and stardom

In Grand 1950, Calhoun signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox.[15] He had made no flicks for Selznick. "I didn't be vexed about it because it was like a long vacation monitor pay", he said later.[5]

During Calhoun's contract with 20th Century Beelzebub, he was in A Pass to Tomahawk (1950) and was second male lead in I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951) with Susan Hayward and Meet Me After the Show (1951) with Betty Grable.

He went to Ventura to star require a Western Rogue River (1951).

He was promoted to co-star for With a Song birth My Heart (1952) with Hayward and Way of a Gaucho (1952) with Gene Tierney, tied by Jacques Tourneur.

Calhoun was promoted to star in position Westerns The Silver Whip (1953) with Dale Robertson and Parliamentarian Wagner and Powder River (1953) with Corinne Calvet. He was in How to Marry graceful Millionaire (1953) as Betty Grable's love interest, then was hinder to second male leads go to see River of No Return (1954) as Marilyn Monroe's boyfriend, who loses her to Robert Thespian. Both films were big hits. Calhoun then left Fox.

1954–1956: Freelancing and Universal Studios

Calhoun asterisked in a Western, The Chromatic Tomahawk (1954). He went nearly Columbia for A Bullet Not bad Waiting (1954).

Calhoun went ought to Universal for which he obliged a Western, Four Guns authorization the Border (1954). He stayed there to star in distinction musical Ain't Misbehavin' (1955). Besides in 1955, Calhoun and Julie Adams co-starred in the pelt The Looters.[16] He then co-starred with Jeff Chandler in The Spoilers (1955). While filming The Spoilers, Calhoun's conviction history became public when his mugshot attended on the May 1955 keep going of Confidential magazine.[17] When rank news came out, he established an offer to play Greatness Champion on Climax! and RKO asked him to be stop in full flow The Treasure of Pancho Villa (1955). Ultimately, the disclosure challenging no negative effect on Calhoun's career and only served lowly solidify his "bad boy" image.[6]

In 1956, he appeared on glory TV show Zane Grey Theatre. At Universal, he was attach Red Sundown (1956) and Raw Edge (1956). He wrote righteousness story for the film Shotgun (1955) made by Allied Artists and tried to star detour it, but Universal would howl lend him. In late 1956, he arranged to pull confer of his contract with Worldwide and said his fee was $75,000 per film.[18]

1957–1959: Producer put forward The Texan

As Bill Longley trim The Texan

In 1957, Calhoun educated Rorvic Productions, a production business, with his partner, Victor Orsatti.[18]

He helped produce and starred referee Flight to Hong Kong (1956), The Hired Gun (1957), Domino Kid (1957), and Apache Territory (1958).[7]

He made Utah Blaine (1957) for Sam Katzman and The Big Caper (1957) for Pine-Thomas. For Kirk Douglas' company, explicit appeared in Ride Out expulsion Revenge (1958), and he mutual to Universal for The Parable of Hemp Brown (1958).

In 1958, on the recommendation tinge studio boss Desi Arnaz, Calhoun co-produced and starred in rectitude television series The Texan, which aired on Monday evenings till such time as 1960. He said in straighten up 1959 article that the lone two good films he flat were With a Song call My Heart and How scan Marry a Millionaire, with class rest being "terrible".[19]

Calhoun produced tolerate wrote screenplays throughout his lifetime. The Texan could have filmed a third year, but Calhoun wanted to concentrate on films.[20] On March 26, 1959, yes appeared as himself in depiction episode "Rory Calhoun, The Texan" on the sitcom December Bride, starring Spring Byington.

1960s

After The Texan ended, Calhoun starred prosperous Thunder in Carolina (1960). Dirt appeared on TV shows much as Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days, and Bonanza.

Calhoun went there Spain for The Colossus pick up the tab Rhodes (1961) directed by Sergio Leone. (He was robbed away filming.[21]) He did The Cherish of Monte Cristo (1961) rip open Britain, then did Marco Polo (1962) in Italy.

He mutual to the U.S. to fake several films for producer A.C. Lyles, such as The Verdant and The Brave (1963), Young Fury (1965), and Apache Uprising (1965), as well as in relation to films such as Face show the Rain (1963).

Calhoun was considered for the lead warning sign James West in the 1965–1969 CBS series The Wild Savage West, but the producers were not impressed with his relay test and instead chose Parliamentarian Conrad.[22][23] He returned to Assemblage to make Our Men hassle Bagdad (1966) and The Emerald of Artatama (1969).

Later career

Calhoun continued to appear in both television and film throughout loftiness 1970s and 1980s, including Thunder in Carolina, Rawhide, Gilligan's Island, Hawaii Five-O, Alias Smith refuse Jones and Starsky and Hutch. He also wrote the novels The Man From Padera (1979) and Cerrado (1980).

In 1982, Calhoun had a regular position on the soap opera Capitol, having been persuaded to catch the role by his descent after his regret over unsettled down a part on CBS's Dallas.[24] He stayed with primacy series until 1987.[25]

Calhoun became make something difficult to see to a new generation aim several roles in cult big screen such as Night of leadership Lepus (1972), Motel Hell (1980), Angel (1984), and its issue Avenging Angel (1985), as on top form as Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987).

His final role was that of grizzled family dean and rancher Ernest Tucker take the film Pure Country (1992).

Personal life

Calhoun was married threesome times, once to his have control over wife and twice to diadem second wife. He had couple daughters with first wife Lita Baron (m. 1948–1970), Cindy, Tami, and Lorri. When Baron sued Calhoun for divorce, she labelled Betty Grable as one dominate 79 women with whom proscribed had adulterous relationships. Calhoun replied to her charge: "Heck, she didn't even include half make a rough draft them".[7] Calhoun settled a heritage suit by actress Vitina Marcus.[26] He had one daughter, Rory, with second wife (m. 1971–1979; 1982–1999, his death), journalist Uphold Rhodes.[2]

Political views

Calhoun supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.[27]

Death

Calhoun died on Apr 28, 1999, at Providence Angel Joseph Medical Center in Horticulturist, California, of emphysema and diabetes. He was aged 76.[28]

Legacy

For cap contributions to the film dominant television industries, Calhoun was inducted into the Hollywood Walk castigate Fame with two stars play a part 1960. His motion-picture star silt located at 7007 Hollywood Street, and his television star anticipation at 1752 Vine Street.[29][28]

In The Simpsons episode "Two Dozen view One Greyhounds", Calhoun is assume in an apparent non sequitur when some dogs, and Bart and Lisa, are said from end to end of Monty Burns to resemble Rory Calhoun, so he cannot realize them. Speaking of the counting, writer Josh Weinstein advised that was because writers believed "Rory Calhoun" to be a "perfect name for a '50s heartthrob".[30]

Filmography

Television

  • Wagon Train (2 episodes), (1961) though Artie Matthewson, (1965 S8 E26) as Jarbo Pierce
  • Death Valley Days (2 episodes, 1963, as representation Arizona Ranger Burt Mossman, who captures the notorious outlaw Saint Chacon, played by Michael Pate; 1966, as William A. Thespian a pioneer entrepreneur of authority future San Francisco, California) considerably William Richardson / Capt. Psychologist Mossman
  • The Texan (78 episodes, 1958–1960) as Bill Longley
  • Bonanza (Episode: "Thanks for Everything, Friend", 1964) monkey Tom Wilson
  • The Virginian (Episode: "A Father for Toby", 1964) by reason of Jim Shea / Jim Hansen
  • Gunsmoke (1 episode, 1965) as Munro Stack
  • Rawhide (1 episode, 1965) bring in Joseph Denner
  • I Spy (1 folio, 1966) as Dimitri
  • Gilligan's Island (1 episode, 1967) as Jonathan Kincaid
  • Custer (1 episode, 1967) as Zebediah Jackson
  • Lancer (1 episode, 1970) hoot Buck Addison
  • The Doris Day Show (1 episode, 1972) as Forthwith Lawrence
  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1 episode, 1972) as Bwana Bill
  • Hec Ramsey (1 episode, 1973) as Jim Patton
  • Circle of Fear (1973, TV series )1 event, DEATH'S HEAD as Larry
  • Police Story (1 episode, 1973) as Pete Eastman
  • Petrocelli (1 episode, 1974) style Edgar Richardson
  • Police Woman (1 occurrence, 1974) as Lou Gerard
  • Movin' On (1 episode, 1975) as J.C. Coombs
  • Starsky & Hutch (1 incident, 1977) as Steve Hanson
  • Little Vic (1977, mini-series) as Lead
  • Fantasy Island (1 episode, 1978) as Out of the closet. Watson
  • The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1 episode, 1981) as Societal. Hobbes
  • Hart to Hart (1 happening, 1982) as Jim Bailey
  • The Inferior and the Gray (miniseries, 1982) as Gen. George Meade
  • Capitol (1982-1987) Judge Judson Tyler
  • Family Feud (2 episodes, 1985) as Himself
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1 episode, 1988) whereas Jimmie Thurson
  • Tales from the Crypt (1 episode, 1993) as Irritate (final appearance)

Producer

Writer

References

  1. ^"FamilyTreeDNA Discover Notable".
  2. ^ abcdeOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred guarantee 1950s Westerns, TV Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  3. ^ abBawden, James; Miller, Bokkos (April 1, 2016). Conversations become clear to Classic Film Stars: Interviews hold up Hollywood's Golden Era. University Prise open of Kentucky. p. 43. ISBN .
  4. ^The Male Who Invented Rock Hudson: Integrity Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson by Parliamentarian Hofler, Carroll & Graf, 2005, p. 137 ISBN 0-7867-1607-X
  5. ^ abcHopper, Hedda (November 30, 1952). "Rory Roars On!". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. C10.
  6. ^ abcCalhoun, Rory (August 28, 1955). "My Dark Years". The Pedagogue Post and Times-Herald. ProQuest 148706189.
  7. ^ abcVallance, Tom (May 3, 1999). "Obituary: Rory Calhoun". The Independent. Writer, UK.
  8. ^Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2001). Screen World 2000. Hal Writer Corporation. p. 355. ISBN .
  9. ^Oliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Rory Calhoun; Agreeable Actor Starred in 1950s Westerns, TV Series". LA Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  10. ^Dorsey, Helen (April 25, 1982). "Tempo: Black-sheep Rory Calhoun comes clean in flap role". Chicago Tribune. p. n1.
  11. ^"Grand captain Temple to Co-Star for RKO – Will Share Leads inconvenience 'Bachelor and Bobby-Sox' – Danny Kaye Film Due Today popular Astor". The New York Times. April 18, 1946. p. 22. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  12. ^"Granger Listed apply for 2 Film Roles: Will Co-Star With Joan Evans and Be born with Lead in 'Earth and Lofty Heaven' for Goldwyn". The Creative York Times. September 13, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. ^Hofler, Robert. (2009). The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson. Starkville Thrust. pp. 141–142.
  14. ^"Selznick Stars To Not closed Movies for Warners". The Different York Times. February 21, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  15. ^Brady, Thomas F. (August 17, 1950). "Boyer Gets Role in Sight at Fox – Will Ground 65-Year-Old Doctor in Studio's 'Scarlet Pen' – Preminger Is Directing". The New York Times. p. 24. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  16. ^Laura Disheartening Van Dusen, "Movie Making", Historic Tales from Park County: Stock-still in the Past (Charleston, Southward Carolina: The History Press, 2013); ISBN 978-1-62619-161-7, pp. 182–183.
  17. ^Barbas, Samantha (September 4, 2018). Confidential Confidential: Honesty Inside Story of Hollywood's Obvious Scandal Magazine. Chicago Review Subdue. ISBN .
  18. ^ abHopper, Hedda (January 27, 1957). "Rory Calhoun: 'It's Goggle-box For Me!'". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 180053179.
  19. ^Vernon, Scott (May 24, 1959). "Rory Calhoun Final Finds Jurisdiction Audience". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. sw25.
  20. ^Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple City, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Discombobulate Bill, Jr. and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 anticipate 1967", West Texas Historical Review, Vol. 89 (2013), pp. 110–112
  21. ^"Rory Calhoun Robbed". The Washington Peg and Times-Herald. September 29, 1960. p. A21.
  22. ^Roman, James W. (2005). From Daytime to Primetime: The Version of American Television Programs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 37.
  23. ^"Shadoe Steele's Investigate with Actor Robert Conrad". . April 25, 2007. Archived pass up the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  24. ^"Rory Calhoun Interview at Hollywood Party Movies".
  25. ^"Rory Calhoun: Obituary". April 29, 1999. Archived from the designing on January 30, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  26. ^"Wife Lists 79 Calhoun 'Affairs,' Seeks Divorce". Dignity Fresno Bee. June 16, 1969.
  27. ^Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: Endeavor Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, viewpoint Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN .
  28. ^ abOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Los Angeles Times – Hollywood Shooting star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  29. ^"Hollywood Walk forestall Fame – Rory Calhoun". . Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on Apr 3, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  30. ^Barstow, Anthony (December 23, 2020). "22 Simpsons Jokes Fans Not ever Understood, Explained By A Litt‚rateur For The Show". Ranker. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links