Wikipedia

Rory Calhoun

Rory Calhoun(bornFrancis Timothy McCown,August 8, 1922 – April 28, 1999) was an American film and television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in supporting roles in films such asHow to Marry a Millionaire(1953).

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

Life and career

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1922–1943: Troubled early life

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Francis Timothy McCown was born inLos Angeles, California,the son of Elizabeth Cuthbert and Floyd Conley McCown,[1]a professional gambler. He spent his early years inSanta Cruz, California.[2]He was ofIrishancestry.[2]At age 13, he stole a revolver, for which he was sent to the California Youth Authority'sPreston School of Industryreformatory atIone, California.He escaped while in the adjustment center (jail within the jail).[3]

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

After robbing several jewelry stores, he stole a car and drove it across state lines. This was a federal offense, so when he was recaptured, he was sentenced to three years in prison. He served his sentence at theUnited States Medical Center for Federal Prisonersin Springfield, Missouri.[2]He remained there until he was paroled shortly before his 21st 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, fisherman, truck driver, crane operator, and forest firefighter.[5]

1944–1945: Early acting credits as Frank McCown

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In January 1944, he met actorAlan Laddwhile riding horseback in theHollywood Hills.Impressed with Calhoun's physique, Ladd introduced him to his wifeSue Carol,who was atalent agent.She arranged for him to have a screen test at20th Century Fox,and he was cast in uncredited roles forSomething for the Boys(1944) andSunday Dinner for a Soldier(1944).[6][7]He had a one-line role in aLaurel and Hardycomedy,The Bullfighters(1945), credited under the name Frank McCown.

He also appeared inWhere Do We Go from Here?(1945),The Great John L.(1945) (asGentleman Jim Corbett), andNob Hill(1945).

"I liked the money it brought in," said Calhoun. "And I felt it would be nice to go back to forestry with a neat bank roll when these fellows found me out. I never had any feeling I'd make good."[5]

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

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Shortly afterward, the Ladds hosted a party attended byDavid O. SelznickemployeeHenry Willson,an agent who was known for representing young actors. Willson signed McCown to a contract 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 be "Rory... because you're a Leo, Leos are lions and lions roar." Selznick suggested either Donahue, Calhoun, or Callahan as a surname, and he picked Calhoun.[9](In another account of the story, Selznick named him "Rory" because he helped put out roaring fire blazes when a firefighter and "Calhoun" because it sounded Irish.[6])

Calhoun was under contract with Selznick's company Vanguard, being used to do screen tests and make public appearances. His first public appearance in the film capital was asLana Turner's escort to the premiere ofAlfred Hitchcock'sSpellbound(1945), a Selznick production. The glamorous blonde and her handsome companion attracted the paparazzi, and photos appeared in newspapers and fan magazines.

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

Calhoun did not appear in a film for a year before being lent to producerSol LesserforThe Red House(1947) withEdward G. Robinson.[11]He was then loaned to Paramount'sPine-Thomassecond featurestudio to play the lead inAdventure Island(1947) with fellow Selznick contracteeRhonda Fleming.

Calhoun was announced for a film calledJet Pilotwith Fleming,Guy Madison,and other Selznick contract players,[12]but it was not made. Instead, he was third lead inThat Hagen Girl(1947) withRonald ReaganandShirley Temple.[13]

Sam Newfield,who used Calhoun inAdventure Island,cast him again inMiraculous Journey(1948). ForMonogram,Guy Madison and he were inMassacre River(1949). At Fox, Calhoun played a second lead inSand(1949)

In February 1949, Selznick did a deal withWarner Bros.,lending them seven of his stars, including Calhoun; they took over half his pictures for the rest of his contract with Selznick.[14]He played the villain inReturn of the Frontiersman(1950) and was hero of Monogram'sCounty Fair(1950).

1950–1954: 20th Century Fox and stardom

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

During Calhoun's contract with 20th Century Fox, he was inA Ticket to Tomahawk(1950) and was second male lead inI'd Climb the Highest Mountain(1951) withSusan HaywardandMeet Me After the Show(1951) withBetty Grable.

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

He was promoted to co-star forWith a Song in My Heart(1952) with Hayward andWay of a Gaucho(1952) withGene Tierney,directed byJacques Tourneur.

Calhoun was promoted to star in the WesternsThe Silver Whip(1953) withDale RobertsonandRobert WagnerandPowder River(1953) withCorinne Calvet.He was inHow to Marry a Millionaire(1953) asBetty Grable's love interest, then was back to second male leads inRiver of No Return(1954) asMarilyn Monroe's boyfriend, who loses her toRobert Mitchum.Both films were big hits. Calhoun then left Fox.

1954–1956: Freelancing and Universal Studios

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Calhoun starred in a Western,The Yellow Tomahawk(1954). He went to Columbia forA Bullet Is Waiting(1954).

Calhoun went to Universal for which he made a Western,Four Guns to the Border(1954). He stayed there to star in the musicalAin't Misbehavin'(1955). Also in 1955, Calhoun andJulie Adamsco-starred in the filmThe Looters.[16]He then co-starred with Jeff Chandler inThe Spoilers(1955). While filmingThe Spoilers,Calhoun's conviction history became public when his mugshot appeared on the May 1955 cover ofConfidentialmagazine.[17]When the news came out, he received an offer to play The Champion onClimax!andRKOasked him to be inThe Treasure of Pancho Villa(1955). Ultimately, 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 TV showZane Grey Theatre.At Universal, he was inRed Sundown(1956) andRaw Edge(1956). He wrote the story for the filmShotgun(1955) made by Allied Artists and tried to star in it, but Universal would not lend him. In late 1956, he arranged to pull out of his contract with Universal and said his fee was $75,000 per film.[18]

1957–1959: Producer andThe Texan

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As Bill Longley inThe Texan

In 1957, Calhoun formedRorvic Productions,a production company, with his partner,Victor Orsatti.[18]

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

He madeUtah Blaine(1957) forSam KatzmanandThe Big Caper(1957) forPine-Thomas.ForKirk Douglas' company, he appeared inRide Out for Revenge(1958), and he returned to Universal forThe Saga of Hemp Brown(1958).

In 1958, on the recommendation of studio BossDesi Arnaz,Calhoun co-produced and starred in the television seriesThe Texan,which aired on Monday evenings until 1960. He said in a 1959 article that the only two good films he made wereWith a Song in My HeartandHow to Marry a Millionaire,with the rest being "terrible".[19]

Calhoun produced and wrote screenplays throughout his career.The Texancould have filmed a third year, but Calhoun wanted to concentrate on films.[20]On March 26, 1959, he appeared as himself in the episode "Rory Calhoun, The Texan" on the sitcomDecember Bride,starringSpring Byington.

1960s

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AfterThe Texanended, Calhoun starred inThunder in Carolina(1960). He appeared on TV shows such asGunsmoke,Death Valley Days,andBonanza.

Calhoun went to Spain forThe Colossus of Rhodes(1961) directed bySergio Leone.(He was robbed during filming.[21]) He didThe Treasure of Monte Cristo(1961) in Britain, then didMarco Polo(1962) in Italy.

He returned to the U.S. to make several films for producerA.C. Lyles,such asThe Young and The Brave(1963),Young Fury(1965), andApache Uprising(1965), as well as other films such asFace in the Rain(1963).

Calhoun was considered for the lead of James West in the 1965–1969 CBS seriesThe Wild Wild West,but the producers were not impressed with his screen test and instead choseRobert Conrad.[22][23]He returned to Europe to makeOur Men in Bagdad(1966) andThe Emerald of Artatama(1969).

Later career

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Calhoun continued to appear in both television and film throughout the 1970s and 1980s, includingThunder in Carolina,Rawhide,Gilligan's Island,Hawaii Five-O,Alias Smith and JonesandStarsky and Hutch. He also wrote the novelsThe Man From Padera(1979) andCerrado(1980).

In 1982, Calhoun had a regular role on the soap operaCapitol,having been persuaded to accept the role by his family after his regret over turning down a part on CBS'sDallas.[24]He stayed with the series until 1987.[25]

Calhoun became known to a new generation for several roles in cult films such asNight of the Lepus(1972),Motel Hell(1980),Angel(1984), and its sequelAvenging Angel(1985), as well asHell Comes to Frogtown(1987).

His final role was that of grizzled family patriarch and rancher Ernest Tucker in the filmPure Country(1992).

Personal life

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Calhoun was married three times, once to his first wife and twice to his second wife. He had three daughters with first wife Lita Baron (m. 1948–1970), Cindy, Tami, and Lorri. When Baron sued Calhoun for divorce, she named Betty Grable as one of 79 women with whom he had adulterous relationships. Calhoun replied to her charge: "Heck, she didn't even include half of them".[7]Calhoun settled a paternity suit by actressVitina Marcus.[26]He had one daughter, Rory, with second wife (m. 1971–1979; 1982–1999, his death),journalistSue Rhodes.[2]

Political views

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Calhoun supportedBarry Goldwaterin the1964 United States presidential election.[27]

Death

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Calhoun died on April 28, 1999, at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, ofemphysemaanddiabetes.He was aged 76.[28]

Legacy

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For his contributions to the film and television industries, Calhoun was inducted into theHollywood Walk of Famewith two stars in 1960. Hismotion-picture staris located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard, and his television star is at 1752 Vine Street.[29][28]

InThe Simpsonsepisode "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds",Calhoun is mentioned in an apparentnon sequiturwhen some dogs, andBartandLisa,are said byMonty Burnsto resemble Rory Calhoun, so he cannot harm them. Speaking of the inclusion, writerJosh Weinsteinadvised this was because writers believed "Rory Calhoun" to be a "perfect name for a '50s heartthrob".[30]

Filmography

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Television

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Producer

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Writer

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References

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  1. ^"FamilyTreeDNA Discover Notable".
  2. ^abcdeOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999)."Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred in 1950s Westerns, TV Series".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedSeptember 15,2010.
  3. ^abBawden, James; Miller, Ron (April 1, 2016).Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era.University Press of Kentucky. p. 43.ISBN978-0-8131-6711-4.
  4. ^The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willsonby Robert Hofler, Carroll & Graf, 2005, p. 137ISBN0-7867-1607-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 Post and Times-Herald.ProQuest148706189.
  7. ^abcVallance, Tom (May 3, 1999)."Obituary: Rory Calhoun".The Independent.London, UK.
  8. ^Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2001).Screen World 2000.Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 355.ISBN978-1-55783-431-7.
  9. ^Oliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999)."Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred in 1950s Westerns, TV Series".LA Times.RetrievedMarch 29,2018.
  10. ^Dorsey, Helen (April 25, 1982). "Tempo: Black-sheep Rory Calhoun comes clean in soap role".Chicago Tribune.p. n1.
  11. ^"Grand and Temple to Co-Star for RKO – Will Share Leads in 'Bachelor and Bobby-Sox' – Danny Kaye Film Due Today at Astor".The New York Times.April 18, 1946. p. 22.RetrievedMarch 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 York Times.September 13, 1948. p. 17.RetrievedMarch 24,2018.
  13. ^Hofler, Robert. (2009).The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson.Starkville Press. pp. 141–142.
  14. ^"Selznick Stars To Do Movies for Warners".The New York Times.February 21, 1949. p. 18.RetrievedMarch 24,2018.
  15. ^Brady, Thomas F. (August 17, 1950)."Boyer Gets Role in Drama at Fox – Will Play 65-Year-Old Doctor in Studio's 'Scarlet Pen' – Preminger Is Directing".The New York Times.p. 24.RetrievedMarch 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);ISBN978-1-62619-161-7,pp. 182–183.
  17. ^Barbas, Samantha (September 4, 2018).Confidential Confidential: The Inside Story of Hollywood's Notorious Scandal Magazine.Chicago Review Press.ISBN978-0-912777-56-6.
  18. ^abHopper, Hedda (January 27, 1957). "Rory Calhoun: 'It's TV For Me!'".Chicago Daily Tribune.ProQuest180053179.
  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 Post and Times-Herald.September 29, 1960. p. A21.
  22. ^Roman, James W. (2005).From Daytime to Primetime: The History of American Television Programs.Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 37.
  23. ^"Shadoe Steele's Interview with Actor Robert Conrad".nctc.net.April 25, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2007.RetrievedJuly 10,2022.
  24. ^"Rory Calhoun Interview at Hollywood Cult Movies".
  25. ^"Rory Calhoun: Obituary".April 29, 1999. Archived fromthe originalon January 30, 2009.RetrievedNovember 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 Big Business Remade American Politics.Cambridge University Press.ISBN9781107650282.
  28. ^abOliver, Myrna (April 29, 1999)."Los Angeles Times – Hollywood Star Walk".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 13,2018.
  29. ^"Hollywood Walk of Fame – Rory Calhoun".walkoffame.Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 1,2018.
  30. ^Barstow, Anthony (December 23, 2020)."22 Simpsons Jokes Fans Never Understood, Explained By A Writer For The Show".Ranker.RetrievedApril 5,2021.
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