John Herrick McIntire was born on June 27th, 1907, in Spokane, Washington.
Here he is in 1927 in the eighth grade (front row, right)
The son of a lawyer, he grew up in Montana where he learned to raise and ride broncos on the family homestead.
After two years at USC, he spent some time out at sea before turning his attentions to entertainment and the stage. As a radio announcer, he gained quite a following announcing on the "March of Time" broadcasts.
Met and married Jeanette Nolan in 1935 while appearing together on radio.
In the late 1940s, John migrated west. One of television and film's most durable supporting players, especially of western settings, he had no trouble finding constant work throughout his career.
1950 The Asphalt Jungle
as Police Commissioner Hardy
1950 Ambush
as Frank Holly (left), starring with Robert Taylor
1950 Winchester '73
as Joe Lamont, starring with Rock Hudson
1951 You're In the Navy Now
as Commander W. R. Reynolds (second from left)
1953 The Mississippi Gambler
as Kansas John Polly
1954 Apache
as Al Sieber, starring with Burt Lancaster
1954 The Far Country
as Gannon (second from left), starring with Walter Brennen, Jay C. Flippen, and James Stewart
1955 The Spoilers
as Dextry, starring with Jeff Chandler
1958-59 Naked City TV series
as Lt. Dan Muldoon, starring with James Franciscus
Television helped John gain an even stronger foothold in late 1950s Hollywood. Although his character was killed off on the Naked City program, he became a familiar face in two other classic western series.
He won the role of Christopher Hale in 1961 after Wagon Train series' star Ward Bond died. John played that role until 1965. Here’s an early one of the Wagon Train cast, and a later one, as well.
John’s real life daughter, Holly, appeared in two episodes of Wagon Train.
1960 Elmer Gantry
as Rev. John Pengilly, starring with Dean Jagger, Jean Simmons, and Edward Andrews
1960 Flaming Star
as Sam 'Pa' Burton, starring with Elvis Presley
1960 Psycho
as Sheriff Al Chambers, starring with Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, and Lurene Tuttle
*interesting note - John's real life wife, actress Jeanette Nolan, recorded the screams for this movie.
1960 The Twilight Zone - The Chaser
as Prof. A. Daemon, starring with George Grizzard
1961 Summer and Smoke
as Dr. Buchanan, starring with Laurence Harvey
1961 Bonanza - The Bride
as Sheriff Mike Latimer
1966 Bonanza – Old Charlie
as Charlie Connors, starring with real life wife, Jeanette Nolan, and their son, Tim McIntire
Here's John and Tim from this episode:
Here's Jeanette and Tim from this episode:
1967-70 as Clay Grainger on The Virginian, opposite his real life wife, Jeanette Nolan, as Holly Grainger
1971-72 Longstreet
Reunited with Naked City costar, James Franciscus, John played Dr. Dan Stockton
1975 Rooster Cogburn
as Judge Parker
1979 Dallas
as Senator Sam Culver, starring with Susan Howard
1982 Honkytonk Man
as Grandpa, starring with Kyle Eastwood and Clint Eastwood
In 1989, John starred in his final film, Turner and Hooch.
as Amos Reed
John and his wife, actress Jeanette Nolan, became the Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee of the sagebrush set, appearing together as the quintessential frontier couple for decades and decades. Their children, Tim McIntyre and Holly McIntire, both actors, appeared with their parents in several TV shows (including an appearance by John, Jeanette, and son, Tim, on Bonanza).
John and Jeanette were married for 56 years until John's death of emphysema at the age of 83 in 1991.
Here he is in 1927 in the eighth grade (front row, right)
The son of a lawyer, he grew up in Montana where he learned to raise and ride broncos on the family homestead.
After two years at USC, he spent some time out at sea before turning his attentions to entertainment and the stage. As a radio announcer, he gained quite a following announcing on the "March of Time" broadcasts.
Met and married Jeanette Nolan in 1935 while appearing together on radio.
In the late 1940s, John migrated west. One of television and film's most durable supporting players, especially of western settings, he had no trouble finding constant work throughout his career.
1950 The Asphalt Jungle
as Police Commissioner Hardy
1950 Ambush
as Frank Holly (left), starring with Robert Taylor
1950 Winchester '73
as Joe Lamont, starring with Rock Hudson
1951 You're In the Navy Now
as Commander W. R. Reynolds (second from left)
1953 The Mississippi Gambler
as Kansas John Polly
1954 Apache
as Al Sieber, starring with Burt Lancaster
1954 The Far Country
as Gannon (second from left), starring with Walter Brennen, Jay C. Flippen, and James Stewart
1955 The Spoilers
as Dextry, starring with Jeff Chandler
1958-59 Naked City TV series
as Lt. Dan Muldoon, starring with James Franciscus
Television helped John gain an even stronger foothold in late 1950s Hollywood. Although his character was killed off on the Naked City program, he became a familiar face in two other classic western series.
He won the role of Christopher Hale in 1961 after Wagon Train series' star Ward Bond died. John played that role until 1965. Here’s an early one of the Wagon Train cast, and a later one, as well.
John’s real life daughter, Holly, appeared in two episodes of Wagon Train.
1960 Elmer Gantry
as Rev. John Pengilly, starring with Dean Jagger, Jean Simmons, and Edward Andrews
1960 Flaming Star
as Sam 'Pa' Burton, starring with Elvis Presley
1960 Psycho
as Sheriff Al Chambers, starring with Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, and Lurene Tuttle
*interesting note - John's real life wife, actress Jeanette Nolan, recorded the screams for this movie.
1960 The Twilight Zone - The Chaser
as Prof. A. Daemon, starring with George Grizzard
1961 Summer and Smoke
as Dr. Buchanan, starring with Laurence Harvey
1961 Bonanza - The Bride
as Sheriff Mike Latimer
1966 Bonanza – Old Charlie
as Charlie Connors, starring with real life wife, Jeanette Nolan, and their son, Tim McIntire
Here's John and Tim from this episode:
Here's Jeanette and Tim from this episode:
1967-70 as Clay Grainger on The Virginian, opposite his real life wife, Jeanette Nolan, as Holly Grainger
1971-72 Longstreet
Reunited with Naked City costar, James Franciscus, John played Dr. Dan Stockton
1975 Rooster Cogburn
as Judge Parker
1979 Dallas
as Senator Sam Culver, starring with Susan Howard
1982 Honkytonk Man
as Grandpa, starring with Kyle Eastwood and Clint Eastwood
In 1989, John starred in his final film, Turner and Hooch.
as Amos Reed
John and his wife, actress Jeanette Nolan, became the Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee of the sagebrush set, appearing together as the quintessential frontier couple for decades and decades. Their children, Tim McIntyre and Holly McIntire, both actors, appeared with their parents in several TV shows (including an appearance by John, Jeanette, and son, Tim, on Bonanza).
John and Jeanette were married for 56 years until John's death of emphysema at the age of 83 in 1991.