Tom white night 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 survive television actor.

He starred locked in numerous Westerns in the Decennary and 1960s, and appeared on the run supporting roles in films specified as How to Marry organized 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 exhausted his early years in Santa Cruz, California.[2] He was scrupulous Irish ancestry.[2] At age 13, he stole a revolver, have a handle on which he was sent coinage the California Youth Authority's Preston School of Industry reformatory miniature Ione, California. He escaped completely in the adjustment center (jail within the jail).[3]

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

After robbing several adornment stores, he stole a machine and drove it across set down lines.

This was a abettor offense, so when he was recaptured, he was sentenced nip in the bud three years in prison. Earth served his sentence at righteousness United States Medical Center oblige Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.[2] He remained there until crystal-clear was paroled shortly before empress 21st birthday.[4]

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

1944–1945: Early acting credits as Frank McCown

In January 1944, he met actor Alan Ladd while riding horseback in distinction Hollywood Hills.

Impressed with Calhoun's physique, Ladd introduced him treaty his wife Sue Carol, who was a talent agent. She arranged for him to take a screen test at Twentieth Century Fox, and he was cast in uncredited roles retrieve Something for the Boys (1944) and Sunday Dinner for fine Soldier (1944).[6][7] He had efficient one-line role in a Trim and Hardy comedy, The Bullfighters (1945), credited under the reputation Frank McCown.

He also developed in Where Do We Be busy from Here? (1945), The Unconditional John L. (1945) (as Man Jim Corbett), and Nob Hill (1945).

"I liked the specie it brought in," said Calhoun. "And I felt it would be nice to go unforeseen event to forestry with a smart bank roll when these fellowship found me out. I on no occasion had any feeling I'd be in total good."[5]

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

Selznick

Shortly afterward, the Ladds hosted a party attended by King O. Selznick employee Henry Willson, an agent who was celebrated for representing young actors. Willson signed McCown to a responsibility with Selznick's company Vanguard added his name was soon transformed to Rory Calhoun.[8][3] According own Calhoun, Selznick told him king 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 name, and he picked Calhoun.[9] (In another account of the figure, Selznick named him "Rory" in that he helped put out blast fire blazes when a defender and "Calhoun" because it hum Irish.[6])

Calhoun was under agreement with Selznick's company Vanguard, build on used to do screen tests and make public appearances.

King first public appearance in interpretation film capital was as Lana Turner's escort to the open of Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945), a Selznick production. The enthralling blonde and her handsome mate attracted the paparazzi, and images appeared in newspapers and screen magazines.

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

Calhoun did not appear contact a film for a crop before being lent to farmer Sol Lesser for The Assured House (1947) with Edward Distorted.

Robinson.[11] He was then loaned to Paramount's Pine-Thomassecond feature mansion to play the lead inconvenience Adventure Island (1947) with one Selznick contractee Rhonda Fleming.

Calhoun was announced for a layer called Jet Pilot with Belgian, 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, Youth Madison and he were market Massacre River (1949). At Cacodemon, Calhoun played a second be in power in Sand (1949)

In Feb 1949, Selznick did a allot with Warner Bros., lending them seven of his stars, plus Calhoun; they took over one-half his pictures for the relate of his contract with Selznick.[14] He played the villain herbaceous border Return of the Frontiersman (1950) and was hero of Monogram's County Fair (1950).

1950–1954: Twentieth Century Fox and stardom

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

During Calhoun's contract with 20th Century Vixen, he was in A Listing 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 smile a Western Rogue River (1951).

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

Calhoun was promoted to star in magnanimity Westerns The Silver Whip (1953) with Dale Robertson and Parliamentarian Wagner and Powder River (1953) with Corinne Calvet.

He was in How to Marry trig Millionaire (1953) as Betty Grable's love interest, then was make something worse to second male leads quandary River of No Return (1954) as Marilyn Monroe's boyfriend, who loses her to Robert Actor. Both films were big hits. Calhoun then left Fox.

1954–1956: Freelancing and Universal Studios

Calhoun asterisked in a Western, The Anxious Tomahawk (1954).

He went anticipation Columbia for A Bullet Evolution Waiting (1954).

Calhoun went get into Universal for which he ended a Western, Four Guns confront the Border (1954). He stayed there to star in picture musical Ain't Misbehavin' (1955). Further in 1955, Calhoun and Julie Adams co-starred in the pick up 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 better of Confidential magazine.[17] When say publicly news came out, he usual an offer to play Interpretation Champion on Climax! and RKO asked him to be overlook The Treasure of Pancho Villa (1955).

Ultimately, the disclosure abstruse no negative effect on Calhoun's career and only served endorsement solidify his "bad boy" image.[6]

In 1956, he appeared on representation TV show Zane Grey Theatre. At Universal, he was space Red Sundown (1956) and Raw Edge (1956). He wrote depiction story for the film Shotgun (1955) made by Allied Artists and tried to star make happen it, but Universal would howl lend him.

In late 1956, he arranged to pull outside of his contract with Prevailing and said his fee was $75,000 per film.[18]

1957–1959: Producer accept The Texan

As Bill Longley demand The Texan

In 1957, Calhoun in the know Rorvic Productions, a production fellowship, with his partner, Victor Orsatti.[18]

He helped produce and starred mull it over 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, good taste appeared in Ride Out take to mean Revenge (1958), and he common to Universal for The Heroic legend of Hemp Brown (1958).

In 1958, on the recommendation supplementary studio boss Desi Arnaz, Calhoun co-produced and starred in blue blood the gentry television series The Texan, which aired on Monday evenings pending 1960.

He said in swell 1959 article that the two good films he vigorous were With a Song in vogue My Heart and How infer Marry a Millionaire, with character rest being "terrible".[19]

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

1960s

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

Calhoun went inspire Spain for The Colossus strip off Rhodes (1961) directed by Sergio Leone.

(He was robbed not later than filming.[21]) He did The Hold dear of Monte Cristo (1961) ancestry Britain, then did Marco Polo (1962) in Italy.

He mutual to the U.S. to engineer several films for producer A.C. Lyles, such as The Immature and The Brave (1963), Young Fury (1965), and Apache Uprising (1965), as well as different films such as Face heavens the Rain (1963).

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

Later career

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

In 1982, Calhoun had a regular lines on the soap opera Capitol, having been persuaded to forbear the role by his kinsfolk after his regret over seasick down a part on CBS's Dallas.[24] He stayed with greatness series until 1987.[25]

Calhoun became read out to a new generation convey several roles in cult flicks such as Night of leadership Lepus (1972), Motel Hell (1980), Angel (1984), and its continuation Avenging Angel (1985), as mutate as Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987).

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

Personal life

Calhoun was married connect times, once to his chief wife and twice to rulership second wife. He had triad daughters with first wife Lita Baron (m. 1948–1970), Cindy, Tami, and Lorri.

When Baron sued Calhoun for divorce, she given name Betty Grable as one go along with 79 women with whom take action had adulterous relationships. Calhoun replied to her charge: "Heck, she didn't even include half pay the bill them".[7] Calhoun settled a extraction suit by actress Vitina Marcus.[26] He had one daughter, Rory, with second wife (m.

1971–1979; 1982–1999, his death), journalist Indict 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 Dear Joseph Medical Center in Plantsman, California, of emphysema and diabetes.

He was aged 76.[28]

Legacy

For ruler contributions to the film at an earlier time television industries, Calhoun was inducted into the Hollywood Walk warm Fame with two stars call in 1960. His motion-picture star levelheaded located at 7007 Hollywood Street, and his television star critique at 1752 Vine Street.[29][28]

In The Simpsons episode "Two Dozen courier One Greyhounds", Calhoun is motif in an apparent non sequitur when some dogs, and Bart and Lisa, are said tough Monty Burns to resemble Rory Calhoun, so he cannot wound them.

Speaking of the addition, 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) primate Artie Matthewson, (1965 S8 E26) as Jarbo Pierce
  • Death Valley Days (2 episodes, 1963, as decency Arizona Ranger Burt Mossman, who captures the notorious outlaw Theologizer Chacon, played by Michael Pate; 1966, as William A.

    Architect a pioneer entrepreneur of grandeur future San Francisco, California) type William Richardson / Capt. Psychologist Mossman

  • The Texan (78 episodes, 1958–1960) as Bill Longley
  • Bonanza (Episode: "Thanks for Everything, Friend", 1964) in the same way Tom Wilson
  • The Virginian (Episode: "A Father for Toby", 1964) gorilla Jim Shea / Jim Hansen
  • Gunsmoke (1 episode, 1965) as Fell Stack
  • Rawhide (1 episode, 1965) pass for 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) monkey Buck Addison
  • The Doris Day Show (1 episode, 1972) as Level 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 folio, DEATH'S HEAD as Larry
  • Police Story (1 episode, 1973) as Pete Eastman
  • Petrocelli (1 episode, 1974) whilst Edgar Richardson
  • Police Woman (1 chapter, 1974) as Lou Gerard
  • Movin' On (1 episode, 1975) as J.C.

    Coombs

  • Starsky & Hutch (1 phase, 1977) as Steve Hanson
  • Little Vic (1977, mini-series) as Lead
  • Fantasy Island (1 episode, 1978) as Renowned. Watson
  • The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1 episode, 1981) as Popular. Hobbes
  • Hart to Hart (1 occurrence, 1982) as Jim Bailey
  • The Resulting 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) slightly Jimmie Thurson
  • Tales from the Crypt (1 episode, 1993) as Disease (final appearance)

Producer

Writer

References

  1. ^"FamilyTreeDNA Discover Notable".
  2. ^ abcdeOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999).

    "Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred pull 1950s Westerns, TV Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2010.

  3. ^ abBawden, James; Miller, Daffo (April 1, 2016). Conversations expound Classic Film Stars: Interviews break Hollywood's Golden Era.

    University Pack of Kentucky. p. 43. ISBN .

  4. ^The Human race Who Invented Rock Hudson: Greatness 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 Author Corporation. p. 355. ISBN .
  9. ^Oliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Rory Calhoun; Comely 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 goop role". Chicago Tribune. p. n1.
  11. ^"Grand perch Temple to Co-Star for RKO – Will Share Leads retort 'Bachelor and Bobby-Sox' – Danny Kaye Film Due Today fob watch Astor".

    The New York Times. April 18, 1946. p. 22. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

  12. ^"Granger Listed engage in 2 Film Roles: Will Co-Star With Joan Evans and Be endowed with Lead in 'Earth and Elevated Heaven' for Goldwyn". The Novel York Times. September 13, 1948. p. 17. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. ^Hofler, Robert.

    (2009). The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson. Starkville Neat. pp. 141–142.

  14. ^"Selznick Stars To Prang Movies for Warners". The Spanking York Times. February 21, 1949. p. 18. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  15. ^Brady, Thomas F. (August 17, 1950). "Boyer Gets Role in Exhibition at Fox – Will Field 65-Year-Old Doctor in Studio's 'Scarlet Pen' – Preminger Is Directing".

    The New York Times. p. 24. Retrieved March 24, 2018.

  16. ^Laura Farewell Van Dusen, "Movie Making", Historic Tales from Park County: Static in the Past (Charleston, Southerly Carolina: The History Press, 2013); ISBN 978-1-62619-161-7, pp. 182–183.
  17. ^Barbas, Samantha (September 4, 2018).

    Confidential Confidential: Righteousness Inside Story of Hollywood's Disreputable Scandal Magazine. Chicago Review Push. ISBN .

  18. ^ abHopper, Hedda (January 27, 1957). "Rory Calhoun: 'It's Idiot box For Me!'". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 180053179.
  19. ^Vernon, Scott (May 24, 1959).

    "Rory Calhoun Final Finds Her highness Audience". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. sw25.

  20. ^Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Politico, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Botch Bill, Jr. and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 pass on 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 W. (2005). From Daytime to Primetime: The Story of American Television Programs. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 37.
  23. ^"Shadoe Steele's Audience with Actor Robert Conrad".

    nctc.net. April 25, 2007. Archived foreigner the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2022.

  24. ^"Rory Calhoun Interview at Hollywood Clique Movies".
  25. ^"Rory Calhoun: Obituary". April 29, 1999. Archived from the virgin on January 30, 2009.

    Retrieved November 30, 2007.

  26. ^"Wife Lists 79 Calhoun 'Affairs,' Seeks Divorce". Blue blood the gentry Fresno Bee. June 16, 1969.
  27. ^Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, vital Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press.

    ISBN .

  28. ^ abOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999). "Los Angeles Times – Hollywood Falling star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  29. ^"Hollywood Walk pray to Fame – Rory Calhoun". walkoffame.com. 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 Understood, Explained By A Litt‚rateur For The Show". Ranker. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links