Rory Calhoun ~ Bio

[Gillie]

Rory Calhoun

If the name Rory Calhoun conjures up the image of a western bad-guy, you are not completely off the mark.

Born in Los Angeles August 8, 1922, Francis Timothy McGown grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. His father, a professional gambler, died when he was two, and his mother remarried. At age 13, Frank stole a gun, and was sent to the California Youth Authority where he escaped, robbed several jewelry stores, drove a stolen car across state lines and landed in prison in Springfield, Missouri, and San Quentin, California. In 1943, shortly before his twenty-first birthday he was released, moved to Los Angeles, and worked various jobs as a lumberjack, cowpuncher, boxer, and truck driver.

Frank’s life changed abruptly when he was ‘discovered’ horseback riding in the Hollywood Hills. Actor Alan Ladd and his wife, agent Sue Carol, saw him and arranged a screen test. He must have impressed more than just the Ladds for soon he had a new name and a bit part as a soldier in the 1944 film Something for the Boys. That first role launched a career in film and later television as an actor, writer, and producer which spanned over 50 years. Bonanza, The Virginian, Wagon Train, The Texan (in which he starred), Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Death Valley Days, Gilligan’s Island, Lancer, Burke’s Law, Alias Smith and Jones, Police Woman, Starsky and Hutch, Hawaii Five-O, and Hart to Hart are a few of the familiar titles in the 125 credits following his name.

However, his rocky beginnings followed him to Los Angeles, and in the mid-1950’s, a blackmailer threatened to reveal Calhoun’s prison record and destroy his career. Rory Calhoun refused to be blackmailed, and chose to make the information public himself. His career did not falter.

At the height of his film career in the 40’s and 50’s, 6'3" Rory Calhoun starred with many beautiful leading ladies including Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), Lana Turner in Hitchcock’s Spellbound (1945), Rhonda Fleming in Adventure Island (1947) and Shirley Temple in That Hagen Girl (1947), also starring Ronald Reagan. He also played in Way of a Gaucho (1952) with Gene Tierney, With a Song in My Heart (1952) with Susan Hayward, and in River of No Return again with Marilyn Monroe (1954).

Lauen Becall, Rory Calhoun, Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe ~ How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)




Rory Calhoun and Marilyn Monroe ~ River of No Return (1954)

Rory Calhoun played the enigmatic Tom Watson in Bonanza’s Thanks for Everything, Friend in 1964. Adam befriends him after Tom pulls him from a river. The Cartwrights naturally offer Tom, a drifter whom they know nothing about, a job on the Ponderosa. However Tom chooses a more crooked path with unfortunate results.

Adam and Tom Wilson ~ Thanks For Everything, Friend


Joe and Tom ~ Thanks For Everything, Friend

Rory Calhoun was married twice. He wed his first wife, Lita Baron, on August 28, 1948, and they had three daughters. Their 21-year marriage ended in divorce on July 17, 1970. IMDb reports that during the divorce proceedings, Lita alleged that Rory had committed adultery with 79 women. IMDb quotes him as saying in response, “"Heck, she didn't even include half of them". His second marriage to journalist Susan Rhodes in April 1971 lasted till his death 28 years later. They had one daughter.

Rory Calhoun with wife, Lita Baron, and daughters

A diabetic, Rory Calhoun died on April 28, 1999 in Burbank, CA, due to complications of his diabetes and emphysema. He was 76 years old. For his work in film and television, Rory Calhoun has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

All that, and he could sing, too!

Rory Calhoun and Mary Costa on Shower of Stars hosted by comediene Jack Benny, November 11, 1956
Mary Costa is best know as the voice of Princess Aurora in Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Mary Costa at Mr. Benny's encouragement went on to a succesful career as an opera singer.

Credits:

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rory_Calhoun

IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001983/

Stirred, Straight up, with a Twist
http://stirredstraightup.blogspot.com/2 ... -peak.html