Paul taylor pew biography of rory

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 captain television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns critical the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in pertinence roles in films such as How to Join in matrimony a Millionaire (1953).

Life and career

1922–1943: Troubled apparent life

Francis Timothy McCown was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Elizabeth Cuthbert and Floyd Conley McCown,[1] a professional gambler. He spent monarch early years in Santa Cruz, California.[2] He was of Irish ancestry.[2] At age 13, he headland a revolver, for which he was sent come to the California Youth Authority's Preston School of Production reformatory at Ione, California. He escaped while control the adjustment center (jail within the jail).[3]

He not done home at 17 to escape beatings from emperor stepfather and began hot-wiring cars.[2]

After robbing several jewellery stores, he stole a car and drove punch across state lines. This was a federal thump, so when he was recaptured, he was sentenced to three years in prison. He served coronet sentence at the United States Medical Center book Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.[2] He remained here until he was paroled shortly before his Xxi birthday.[4]

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

1944–1945: Trustworthy acting credits as Frank McCown

In January 1944, perform met actor Alan Ladd while riding horseback fit into place the Hollywood Hills. Impressed with Calhoun's physique, Ladd introduced him to his wife Sue Carol, who was a talent agent. She arranged for him to have a screen test at 20th Hundred Fox, and he was cast in uncredited roles for Something for the Boys (1944) and Sunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944).[6][7] He had graceful one-line role in a Laurel and Hardy wit comedy, The Bullfighters (1945), credited under the name Open McCown.

He also appeared in Where Do Phenomenon Go from Here? (1945), The Great John L. (1945) (as Gentleman Jim Corbett), and Nob Hill (1945).

"I liked the money it brought in," said Calhoun. "And I felt it would breed nice to go back to forestry with put in order neat bank roll when these fellows found clue out. I never had any feeling I'd pull off good."[5]

1945–1949: Change to Rory Calhoun and partnership silent David O. Selznick

Shortly afterward, the Ladds hosted top-hole party attended by David O. Selznick employee Speechmaker Willson, an agent who was known for championing young actors. Willson signed McCown to a perform with Selznick's company Vanguard and his name was soon changed to Rory Calhoun.[8][3] According to Calhoun, Selznick told him his first name should hide "Rory... because you're a Leo, Leos are lions and lions roar." Selznick suggested either Donahue, Calhoun, or Callahan as a surname, and he chosen Calhoun.[9] (In another account of the story, Filmmaker named him "Rory" because he helped put powder roaring fire blazes when a firefighter and "Calhoun" because it sounded Irish.[6])

Calhoun was under commit with Selznick's company Vanguard, being used to better screen tests and make public appearances. His culminating public appearance in the film capital was makeover Lana Turner's escort to the premiere of King Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945), a Selznick production. The captivating blonde and her handsome companion attracted the trumped up, and photos appeared in newspapers and fan magazines.

In 1945, Calhoun returned to prison after piercing a detective.[10]

Calhoun did not appear in a release for a year before being lent to manufacturer Sol Lesser for The Red House (1947) pounce on Edward G. Robinson.[11] He was then loaned tell somebody to Paramount's Pine-Thomassecond feature studio to play the recoil in Adventure Island (1947) with fellow Selznick contractee Rhonda Fleming.

Calhoun was announced for a lp called Jet Pilot with Fleming, Guy Madison, charge other Selznick contract players,[12] but it was groan made. Instead, he was third lead in That Hagen Girl (1947) with Ronald Reagan and Shirley Temple.[13]

Sam Newfield, who used Calhoun in Adventure Island, cast him again in Miraculous Journey (1948). Fetch Monogram, Guy Madison and he were in Massacre River (1949). At Fox, Calhoun played a in no time at all lead in Sand (1949)

In February 1949, Filmmaker did a deal with Warner Bros., lending them seven of his stars, including Calhoun; they took over half his pictures for the rest delineate his contract with Selznick.[14] He played the baddie in Return of the Frontiersman (1950) and was hero of Monogram's County Fair (1950).

1950–1954: Twentieth Century Fox and stardom

In August 1950, Calhoun sign a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox.[15] Smartness had made no films for Selznick. "I didn't worry about it because it was like uncomplicated long vacation with pay", he said later.[5]

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

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

He was promoted to co-star unjustifiable With a Song in My Heart (1952) strip off Hayward and Way of a Gaucho (1952) take up again Gene Tierney, directed by Jacques Tourneur.

Calhoun was promoted to star in the Westerns The Hollowware Whip (1953) with Dale Robertson and Robert Architect and Powder River (1953) with Corinne Calvet. Flair was in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) as Betty Grable's love interest, then was impede to second male leads in River of Negation Return (1954) as Marilyn Monroe's boyfriend, who loses her to Robert Mitchum. Both films were cavernous hits. Calhoun then left Fox.

1954–1956: Freelancing build up Universal Studios

Calhoun starred in a Western, The Sorry Tomahawk (1954). He went to Columbia for A Bullet Is Waiting (1954).

Calhoun went to Omnipresent for which he made a Western, Four Weapons blazonry to the Border (1954). He stayed there come to star in the musical Ain't Misbehavin' (1955). As well in 1955, Calhoun and Julie Adams co-starred intricate the film The Looters.[16] He then co-starred occur to Jeff Chandler in The Spoilers (1955). While cinematography The Spoilers, Calhoun's conviction history became public conj at the time that his mugshot appeared on the May 1955 bail out of Confidential magazine.[17] When the news came give confidence, he received an offer to play The Backing on Climax! and RKO asked him to tweak in The Treasure of Pancho Villa (1955). At the end of the day, the disclosure had no negative effect on Calhoun's career and only served to solidify his "bad boy" image.[6]

In 1956, he appeared on the Idiot box show Zane Grey Theatre. At Universal, he was in Red Sundown (1956) and Raw Edge (1956). He wrote the story for the film Shotgun (1955) made by Allied Artists and tried dressingdown star in it, but Universal would not borrow him. In late 1956, he arranged to attract out of his contract with Universal and supposed his fee was $75,000 per film.[18]

1957–1959: Producer spell The Texan

As Bill Longley in The Texan

In 1957, Calhoun formed Rorvic Productions, a production company, process his partner, Victor Orsatti.[18]

He helped produce and asterisked in Flight to Hong Kong (1956), The Leased 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. Guarantor Kirk Douglas' company, he appeared in Ride Neaten for Revenge (1958), and he returned to Typical for The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958).

In 1958, on the recommendation of studio boss Desi Arnaz, Calhoun co-produced and starred in the newsmen series The Texan, which aired on Monday evenings until 1960. He said in a 1959 lie that the only two good films he prefabricated were With a Song in My Heart tolerate How to Marry a Millionaire, with the take in for questioning being "terrible".[19]

Calhoun produced and wrote screenplays throughout diadem career. The Texan could have filmed a tertiary year, but Calhoun wanted to concentrate on films.[20] On March 26, 1959, he appeared as man in the episode "Rory Calhoun, The Texan" discovery the sitcom December Bride, starring Spring Byington.

1960s

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

Calhoun went to Spain for The Colossus of Rhodes (1961) directed by Sergio Leone. (He was robbed during filming.[21]) He did The Treasure of Cards Cristo (1961) in Britain, then did Marco Polo (1962) in Italy.

He returned to the U.S. to make several films for producer A.C. Lyles, such as The Young and The Brave (1963), Young Fury (1965), and Apache Uprising (1965), monkey well as other films such as Face make the addition of the Rain (1963).

Calhoun was considered for nobility lead of James West in the 1965–1969 CBS series The Wild Wild West, but the producers were not impressed with his screen test become peaceful instead chose Robert Conrad.[22][23] He returned to Assemblage to make Our Men in Bagdad (1966) come to rest The Emerald of Artatama (1969).

Later career

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

In 1982, Calhoun had a usual role on the soap opera Capitol, having archaic persuaded to accept the role by his race after his regret over turning down a shadow on CBS's Dallas.[24] He stayed with the sequence until 1987.[25]

Calhoun became known to a new fathering for several roles in cult films such similarly Night of the Lepus (1972), Motel Hell (1980), Angel (1984), and its sequel Avenging Angel (1985), as well as Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987).

His final role was that of grizzled kinsfolk patriarch and rancher Ernest Tucker in the single Pure Country (1992).

Personal life

Calhoun was married yoke times, once to his first wife and scruple to his second wife. He had three issue with first wife Lita Baron (m. 1948–1970), Cindy, Tami, and Lorri. When Baron sued Calhoun accommodate divorce, she named Betty Grable as one detect 79 women with whom he had adulterous vendor. Calhoun replied to her charge: "Heck, she didn't even include half of them".[7] Calhoun settled nifty paternity suit by actress Vitina Marcus.[26] He locked away one daughter, Rory, with second wife (m. 1971–1979; 1982–1999, his death), journalist Sue Rhodes.[2]

Political views

Calhoun slender Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States statesmanly election.[27]

Death

Calhoun died on April 28, 1999, at Handout Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, light emphysema and diabetes. He was aged 76.[28]

Legacy

For empress contributions to the film and television industries, Calhoun was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Abomination with two stars in 1960. His motion-picture practice is located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard, and queen television star is at 1752 Vine Street.[29][28]

In The Simpsons episode "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds", Calhoun is mentioned in an apparent non sequitur like that which some dogs, and Bart and Lisa, are voiced articulate by Monty Burns to resemble Rory Calhoun, ergo he cannot harm them. Speaking of the affixing, writer Josh Weinstein advised this was because writers believed "Rory Calhoun" to be a "perfect honour for a '50s heartthrob".[30]

Filmography

Television

  • Wagon Train (2 episodes), (1961) as Artie Matthewson, (1965 S8 E26) as Jarbo Pierce
  • Death Valley Days (2 episodes, 1963, as representation Arizona Ranger Burt Mossman, who captures the infamous outlaw Augustine Chacon, played by Michael Pate; 1966, as William A. Richardson a pioneer entrepreneur invite the future San Francisco, California) as William Player / Capt. Burt Mossman
  • The Texan (78 episodes, 1958–1960) as Bill Longley
  • Bonanza (Episode: "Thanks for Everything, Friend", 1964) as Tom Wilson
  • The Virginian (Episode: "A Curate for Toby", 1964) as Jim Shea / Jim Hansen
  • Gunsmoke (1 episode, 1965) as Ben Stack
  • Rawhide (1 episode, 1965) as Joseph Denner
  • I Spy (1 sheet, 1966) as Dimitri
  • Gilligan's Island (1 episode, 1967) chimp Jonathan Kincaid
  • Custer (1 episode, 1967) as Zebediah Jackson
  • Lancer (1 episode, 1970) as Buck Addison
  • The Doris Dowry Show (1 episode, 1972) as Matt 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 episode, DEATH'S HEAD as Larry
  • Police Story (1 episode, 1973) monkey Pete Eastman
  • Petrocelli (1 episode, 1974) as Edgar Richardson
  • Police Woman (1 episode, 1974) as Lou Gerard
  • Movin' On (1 episode, 1975) as J.C. Coombs
  • Starsky & Hutch (1 episode, 1977) as Steve Hanson
  • Little Vic (1977, mini-series) as Lead
  • Fantasy Island (1 episode, 1978) restructuring Mr. Watson
  • The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1 folio, 1981) as Mr. Hobbes
  • Hart to Hart (1 leaf, 1982) as Jim Bailey
  • The Blue and the Gray (miniseries, 1982) as Gen. George Meade
  • Capitol (1982-1987) Umpire Judson Tyler
  • Family Feud (2 episodes, 1985) as Himself
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1 episode, 1988) as Jimmie Thurson
  • Tales from the Crypt (1 episode, 1993) as Programme (final appearance)

Producer

Writer

References

  1. ^"FamilyTreeDNA Discover Notable".
  2. ^ abcdeOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred in Decennary Westerns, TV Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Sept 15, 2010.
  3. ^ abBawden, James; Miller, Ron (April 1, 2016). Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews cheat Hollywood's Golden Era. University Press of Kentucky. p. 43. ISBN .
  4. ^The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Nice-looking Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson vulgar Robert 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 Washington Pass on and Times-Herald. ProQuest 148706189.
  7. ^ abcVallance, Tom (May 3, 1999). "Obituary: Rory Calhoun". The Independent. London, UK.
  8. ^Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2001). Screen World 2000. Hal Author Corporation. p. 355. ISBN .
  9. ^Oliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred in 1950s Westerns, Video receiver Series". LA Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  10. ^Dorsey, Helen (April 25, 1982). "Tempo: Black-sheep Rory Calhoun appears clean in soap role". Chicago Tribune. p. n1.
  11. ^"Grand significant Temple to Co-Star for RKO – Will Tone of voice Leads in 'Bachelor and Bobby-Sox' – Danny Kaye Film Due Today at Astor". The New Royalty Times. April 18, 1946. p. 22. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  12. ^"Granger Listed for 2 Film Roles: Will Co-Star With Joan Evans and Have Lead in 'Earth and High Heaven' for Goldwyn". The New Royalty Times. September 13, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. ^Hofler, Robert. (2009). The Man Who Invented Quake Hudson. Starkville Press. pp. 141–142.
  14. ^"Selznick Stars To Wide open Movies for Warners". The New York Times. Feb 21, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  15. ^Brady, Poet F. (August 17, 1950). "Boyer Gets Role tag Drama at Fox – Will Play 65-Year-Old Gp in Studio's 'Scarlet Pen' – Preminger Is Directing". The New York Times. p. 24. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  16. ^Laura King Van Dusen, "Movie Making", Historic Tales from Park County: Parked in the Past (Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press, 2013); ISBN 978-1-62619-161-7, pp. 182–183.
  17. ^Barbas, Samantha (September 4, 2018). Confidential Confidential: Illustriousness Inside Story of Hollywood's Notorious Scandal Magazine. Metropolis Review Press. ISBN .
  18. ^ abHopper, Hedda (January 27, 1957). "Rory Calhoun: 'It's TV For Me!'". Chicago Ordinary Tribune. ProQuest 180053179.
  19. ^Vernon, Scott (May 24, 1959). "Rory Calhoun Final Finds His Audience". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. sw25.
  20. ^Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr. and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967", West Texas Historical Review, Vol. 89 (2013), pp. 110–112
  21. ^"Rory Calhoun Robbed". The Washington Pass on and Times-Herald. September 29, 1960. p. A21.
  22. ^Roman, James Weak. (2005). From Daytime to Primetime: The History commuter boat American Television Programs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 37.
  23. ^"Shadoe Steele's Interview with Actor Robert Conrad". nctc.net. April 25, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  24. ^"Rory Calhoun Interview strike Hollywood Cult Movies".
  25. ^"Rory Calhoun: Obituary". April 29, 1999. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  26. ^"Wife Lists 79 Calhoun 'Affairs,' Seeks Divorce". The Fresno Bee. June 16, 1969.
  27. ^Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Ample Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN .
  28. ^ abOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Los Angeles Bygone – Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  29. ^"Hollywood Walk of Fame – Rory Calhoun". walkoffame.com. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Archived evacuate the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved Feb 1, 2018.
  30. ^Barstow, Anthony (December 23, 2020). "22 Simpsons Jokes Fans Never Understood, Explained By A Litt‚rateur For The Show". Ranker. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links