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Post by sliderocker on May 22, 2018 18:46:50 GMT -5
Another Hollywood western legend has ridden home to the range in the sky. Actor Clint Walker, who starred in the late 1950s series "Cheyenne" and starred in movies like "Night of the Grizzly" and "The Great Bank Robbery" (with Zero Mostel, Kim Novak, Larry Storch, Claude Akins and a host of other veteran character actors) died Monday at the age of 90. Walker died just nine days short of his 91st birthday. The extremely tall (6'6"), lanky actor portrayed Cheyenne Bodie in the series "Cheyenne," which began its run in 1955 and ended as the 1960s begun. The series was produced by Warner Brothers and would feature a litany of stars who would go on to greater fame, including actor James Garner, in one of his first TV roles and unbelievably, three actors who would later work together in the same show but not in the same episode of "Cheyenne" in which they appeared: future "Bonanza" stars Lorne Greene, Michael Landon and Dan Blocker all made appearances on the show. Pernell Roberts would be the only "Bonanza" Cartwright star never to appear in the show. A freak accident in the 1970s nearly took Walker's life. A ski pole pierced his chest, barely inches from his heart. He made an amazing recovery and was back to work just a few weeks later. He was married three times and had one child and was a twin. His twin sister died at age 73 in 2000. Walker's work will always be around for people to watch and enjoy. He was friendly with fans and didn't mind answering their questions. And with his passing, another reminder of the world that we were part of has left us. And that world grows a little grayer by the day. Rest in peace, Mr. Walker. www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/clint-walker-dead-cheyenne-star-722381 |
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Post by erik on May 22, 2018 19:14:34 GMT -5
I saw this too. A shame to have to lose another one, but also amazing that he survived that accident with the ski pole in the 70s, and went back to work just weeks later.
Another film appearance he made was with heavyweights like Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, and others in director Robert Aldrich's classic 1967 WW II drama THE DIRTY DOZEN.
It was always good that Clint Walker lasted as long as he did, to remind us all of what TV really used to be like in what they so often call "The Good Old Days".
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Post by JasonKlose on May 23, 2018 23:41:02 GMT -5
Yes, very sad to hear this. Another great legend of westerns has rode off into the sunset. I was telling my mom about it and she said that she used to get Clint Walker and Fess Parker of "Daniel Boone" and "Davy Crockett" fame confused. They were very similar in looks and stature. And I would put them in the same category with James Arness of "Gunsmoke" when it comes to big, tall and burly western character actors who seemed larger than life onscreen, and probably offscreen too. Hard to believe they are all gone now. He will be missed. And I'm sure since he was so friendly with his fans, he probably didn't mind them calling him by his first name. RIP Clint.
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Post by sliderocker on May 27, 2018 12:01:42 GMT -5
Yes, very sad to hear this. Another great legend of westerns has rode off into the sunset. I was telling my mom about it and she said that she used to get Clint Walker and Fess Parker of "Daniel Boone" and "Davy Crockett" fame confused. They were very similar in looks and stature. And I would put them in the same category with James Arness of "Gunsmoke" when it comes to big, tall and burly western character actors who seemed larger than life onscreen, and probably offscreen too. Hard to believe they are all gone now. He will be missed. And I'm sure since he was so friendly with his fans, he probably didn't mind them calling him by his first name. RIP Clint. Clint appeared to be very fan friendly, judging by the outpouring I saw on Facebook. There were a few accounts of Clint helping some of his fans out, which is something you don't hear about too many celebrities doing. Clint was a Christian and he seemed to live his faith by words and example. Many Christians who do not could learn a lesson of what it means to walk the walk and talk the talk from Clint. Clint and his wife Susan appeared at fan fairs and gave out autographs and that he had so many fans speak volumes. He probably didn't mind fans calling him Clint, though I would still have called him Mr. Walker out of respect for him. |
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Post by sliderocker on May 27, 2018 12:08:00 GMT -5
I saw this too. A shame to have to lose another one, but also amazing that he survived that accident with the ski pole in the 70s, and went back to work just weeks later. Another film appearance he made was with heavyweights like Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, and others in director Robert Aldrich's classic 1967 WW II drama THE DIRTY DOZEN. It was always good that Clint Walker lasted as long as he did, to remind us all of what TV really used to be like in what they so often call "The Good Old Days". One fact not generally known about Clint was that he recorded a few albums as a singer. All of the albums, I believe, were gospel recordings, reflecting his faith. He also co-wrote a novel based on his Cheyenne character not all that long ago, although I believe he had a disagreement with his co-writer on the way it turned out. Like James Garner, he parted ways with Warners for various reasons but he never lost the love he had for the Cheyenne character. It was part of him, just as Maverick had been part of James Garner's life. And both characters made good impressions on those two men and how others should be treated. |
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Post by erik on May 27, 2018 12:34:49 GMT -5
I wouldn't be surprised about the way Walker was treated by Warner Brothers, which at that time was still a "family business", with Jack Warner as CEO. Warner treated Garner the same way he treated Walker, which is to say with a certain amount of contempt. Indeed, one of the things Warner was known for saying about allegedly "overpaid" actors, was: "I don't want to see that son-of-a-bitch on this lot again...unless we absolutely need him!"
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