Rory Calhoun

 Rory Calhoun (August 8, 1922 – April 28, 1999)

He was born Francis Timothy McCown in Los Angeles, California, and spent his early childhood in Santa Cruz, California. McCown worked a number of odd jobs before signing with agent Henry Willson. Soon after, he changed his name to Rory Calhoun. Calhoun first appeared on film in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945). As Calhoun's career gained momentum, he next appeared in several westerns, musicals and comedies, including Way of a Gaucho with Gene Tierney, With a Song in My Heart with Susan Hayward, How to Marry a Millionaire (as the love interest of Betty Grable) and River of No Return. The last two films featured Marilyn Monroe. In 1958, on the recommendation of studio boss Desi Arnaz, Sr., Calhoun co-produced and starred in the CBS western television series, The Texan, which aired on Monday evenings until 1960. While filming The Texan, Calhoun would continue to produce and write screenplays throughout his career. The Texan could have filmed a third year had not Calhoun desired to concentrate on films. On March 26, 1959, he appeared as himself in the episode "Rory Calhoun, The Texan" on the CBS sitcom December Bride, starring Spring Byington, a series then in its fifth and final season of production.

After The Texan ended, Calhoun was considered for the lead of James West in the 1965-1969 CBS series, The Wild Wild West, but the producers were not impressed with his screen test and instead chose Robert Conrad. Like many American actors, Calhoun also made a variety of films in Europe, notably starring in Sergio Leone's first film, The Colossus of Rhodes. Rory Calhoun died in Burbank, California, at the age of 76 from complications resulting from emphysema and diabetes.