Mark Slade

For the British fencer, seeMark Slade (fencer).For the British Formula One engineer, seeMark Slade (engineer).

Mark Slade
Slade as Billy Blue Cannon inThe High Chaparral(1968)
Born	Mark Van Blarcom Slade (1939-05-01)May 1, 1939 Salem,Massachusetts,U.S.
Occupations	Actor artist author
Years active	1961–present
Spouse	Melinda Riccilli (m. 1968)
Children	2
Website	marksladestudio

Mark Van Blarcom Slade(born May 1, 1939) is an American actor, artist, and author, particularly remembered for his role of Billy Blue Cannon on theNBCWesterntelevision seriesThe High Chaparral.

Early life

Born inSalem, Massachusetts,Slade is the son of Elinor (née Van Blarcom) and William A. Slade Jr., aBostonbusinessman and watercolor artist. Along with his two sisters and a brother, he grew up in the Danvers/Hamilton area of the North Shore. His parents divorced when he was 13, and his stepfather, Esmond R. Crowley Jr., became a valuable influence on his life.

In 1956, he enrolled inWorcester Academywith the intention of becoming an artist. After he filled in for a sick classmate by playing the role of an English professor in the playThe Male Animal,he decided to study acting. Slade moved toNew York Cityto attend theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts,supporting himself by working at the21 Club.

During the beginning of his career in the early 1960s, Slade served in theUnited States Army Reserve.

Career

Actor

Slade began his career on theBroadwaystage appearing in the playThere Was a Little Girl,directed byJoshua Logan;it wasJane Fonda's first Broadway play. Slade then earned a role in the 1961 filmSplendor in the Grass,directed byElia Kazanand filmed in upstateNew York.In the early 1960s, he moved to the West Coast, where he was cast as Seaman Jimmy "Red" Smith in the feature filmVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea(1961). Despite his character being killed in the movie version,Irwin Allenbrought Slade back for theTV seriesonABC.He was cast in 1964 as a new character, Seaman Malone.He was hence the only one of six actors to have been cast in both the film and television versions ofVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea.He appeared only in the first half of the first season because he departed to become a semi-regular, Eddie, in theCBSsitcomGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.,starringJim Nabors.Slade appeared in eight episodes ofGomer Pyle,all of which were aired during the first half of the first season. He was cast in three episodes of the NBC education dramaMr. Novak,starringJames Franciscusin the title role. His first television role was as Stu Walters in the 1961 episode "Deadline" of the ABC sitcomMy Three Sons,starringFred MacMurray.In 1963, he was cast in the episode "A Girl Named Amy" ofJack Lord's ABC seriesStoney Burke,a rodeo adventure series. In 1964, he guest-starred in "The Enormous Fist" episode ofRawhideopposite Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood. That year, he also appeared as the title character Michael Manning, alias Michael Da Vinci, in thePerry Masonepisode, "The Case of the Careless Kidnapper".

In the 1965–1966 television season, Slade played Radioman Patrick Hollis in the NBC sitcomThe Wackiest Ship in the Army.

In 1966, at the age of 27, he obtained one of his most memorable parts, as Billy Blue Cannon, the blond-haired, blue-eyed son of the ranchpatriarch,John Cannon (Leif Erickson) onThe High Chaparral,set in theArizona Territory.The series aired for four seasons. In the same year he was cast in an episode of the western TV seriesBonanzaas Jud Rikeman.

He went on to play Taylor Reed in the 1973 filmSaltyand reprised his role in the syndicated adventure seriesSalty(1974–1975).

Slade's acting career continued into the early 1990s. He made more than 300 appearances on stage, screen, and television. Slade won international recognition and numerous awards for his efforts: the Belgian Viewers Award, the Bambi, the Bravo Golden Otto, and theWestern Heritage Award.

Artist

As an artist, Slade's illustrations, political cartoons, caricatures, and comic strips have run in numerous newspapers, magazines, and prominent publications around the world. His collaboration with producer/writer Danny Arnold (Barney Millertelevision series) resulted in the long-running comic strip, "Howard and Friends".

A number of his later works done in oils and graphite, as well as his hand-pulled prints, are held in private collections.

Writer

As a writer, Slade is well known for writing and playing the guest role in the "Cliffy" episode ofThe Rookiestelevision series, which won him critical acclaim and numerous citations. In 2012, he authored his first published novel,Going Down Maine,which explores the loss of innocence andunforeseen consequencesof youthful indiscretions. Published in late 2014,Of Pain and Coffee,a collection of sooth-sayings and soliloquies that explore life's foibles and fears, joys and heartbreaks, with illustrations by the author, was released. In December, 2014, Mark published a companion book,Someone's Story,that takes the reader on an emotional journey through those brief moments when one can feel another's life. The author's own photography creates a subtle melding of the pictorial and verse.Hangin' with the Truth,his second novel, was released in 2016.

Slade also lent his talents to the Slade Media Group, founded by his wife, Melinda Riccilli Slade, that specialized in corporate image campaigns, crisis management, graphic design, and marketing communications. The firm created national campaigns for diverse public and private companies, along with numerous product introductions. Together, they wrote and developed various media projects through their affiliated company, Slade Square Productions.

Personal life

Slade married Melinda Riccilli in 1968. They have two sons, Morgan and Mitchel. He is currently living in Northern California, where he continues the pursuit of his artistic endeavors.

Slade's maternal grandmother, Alice Louise (née Ford) Van Blarcom, wasHenry Ford's fifth cousin. His Ford lineage goes back to Martha and John Ford, who reachedPlymouth, Massachusetts,on theFortune,the second English ship to arrive inPlymouth Colony,on November 9, 1621. John Ford died on the voyage. Martha disembarked with their two sons and gave birth to their third on the same day. The ship's manifest lists among the passengers a John Cannon, also the name of the patriarch inThe High Chaparral.

External links

• Mark SladeatIMDb
• Mark Sladeat theInternet Broadway Database
• marksladestudio, Official Website
• What Happened To Blue?