Hugh O'Brian obit

TV's Wyatt Earp, Hugh O'Brian, has died at 91

He was not on the list.

Hugh O'Brian, who shot to fame as Sheriff Wyatt Earp in what was hailed as television's first adult Western, has died. He was 91.

A representative from HOBY, a philanthropic organization O'Brian founded, says he died at home Monday morning in Beverly Hills.

Until "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" debuted in September 1955, most TV Westerns — "The Lone Ranger," ''Hopalong Cassidy," the singing cowboys' series — were aimed at adolescent boys.

 "Wyatt Earp," on the other hand, was based on a real-life Western hero, and some of its stories were authentic. (The real Earp, who lived from 1848 to 1929, is most famous for his participation in the 1881 "Shootout at the O.K. Corral" in Tombstone, Arizona.)

Critics quickly praised it, and it made O'Brian a star.

"If we were doing Westerns with the chase and the fights that last endlessly, and the sheriff's daughter in sunbonnet and calico and the Wanted posters ... we wouldn't reach the audience we reach each week," O'Brian once said.

"Gunsmoke," which debuted just a few days after "Wyatt Earp," became an even bigger hit, and by 1956-57, both were in the top 20 shows. In the 1958-59 season, Westerns accounted for an incredible seven out of the top 10 U.S. television series, including No. 1 "Gunsmoke" and No. 2 "Wagon Train," with "Wyatt Earp" at No. 10.

"Wyatt Earp" remained a Top 20 hit until 1960, but it was canceled the following year after being supplanted by the avalanche of other adult Westerns.

O'Brian, meanwhile, continued to work frequently in movies, television and theater through the 1990s, although he never again achieved the prominence he enjoyed as Wyatt Earp.

He starred in the 1970s detective series "Search" and appeared in such films as "In Harm's Way" and "Ten Little Indians," and reprised his role as Earp in 1994's "Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone," a film that combined new footage with colorized scenes from the original black-and-white TV show.

He also had a small but memorable role as the faro dealer in John Wayne's last film, "The Shootist," and later noted with pride that it gave him the distinction of being the last bad guy killed by Wayne. (Wayne himself is reputed to have met the real Wyatt Earp as a young man in Hollywood in the 1920s.)

Late in his career, O'Brian made frequent guest appearances in television series and variety shows and toured in the national companies of "Cactus Flower," ''1776" and "Guys and Dolls."

O'Brian had originally planned to study law at Yale University. But after actress Ida Lupino saw him in a play at a small Los Angeles theater she cast him in "Never Fear," a 1949 film she was directing, and his acting career was launched. He went on to appear in small parts in such films as "The Return of Jesse James," ''Red Ball Express," ''Broken Lance" and "There's No Business Like Show Business."

O'Brian was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1992.

He also made his mark in philanthropy as founder of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership organization.

In 1959, impressed by the work of Albert Schweitzer, O'Brian made a pilgrimage to the 83-year-old savant's settlement and hospital in central Africa. Although his journey was derided by some critics as a publicity stunt, the actor dismissed the remarks, telling reporters how his life had been changed by the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Shortly after returning home, he founded the youth group. Each year, it brought together promising high school sophomores at sites around the country for leadership seminars. In 1999 O'Brian estimated that HOBY had more than 200,000 graduates from ages 16 to 59. He received numerous awards for his achievement.

Born Hugh Krampe in Rochester, New York., O'Brian was educated in Winnetka, Illinois, leaving school at 17 to join the Marines. He went on to become one of the corps' youngest drill sergeants.

In June 2006, at age 81, O'Brian wed 54-year-old Virginia Barber at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in what they quipped was a "wedding to die for."

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1948      Kidnapped          Sailor     Uncredited.

1949      D.O.A.   Jazz Fan                Uncredited.

1950      Never Fear          Len Randall         Also known as Young Lovers.

Rocketship X-M                 Harry Chamberlain          Also voice on loudspeaker.

Beyond the Purple Hills Jack Beaumont

The Return of Jesse James            Lem Younger     

1951      Vengeance Valley            Dick Fasken       

Fighting Coast Guard      Tom Peterson   

Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas             Ted Gately         

Little Big Horn    Pvt. Al DeWalt  

On the Loose      Dr. Phillips          

Cave of Outlaws                Garth    

1952      The Cimarron Kid             Red Buck             

The Battle at Apache Pass             Lt. Robert Harley             

Red Ball Express                Pvt. Wilson        

Sally and Saint Anne        Danny O'Moyne               

Son of Ali Baba Hussein               

Yankee Buccaneer           Off-Screen Narrator        Uncredited.

The Raiders         Hank Purvis         Also known as Riders of Vengeance.

1953      The Lawless Breed           Ike Hanley          

Meet Me at the Fair        Chilton Corr       

Seminole             Kajeck  

The Man from the Alamo              Lt. Tom Lamar   Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Male.

The Stand at Apache River            Tom Kenyon      

Back to God's Country    Frank Hudson   

1954      Taza, Son of Cochise        Killed settler       Uncredited, voice role.

Saskatchewan   Carl Smith          

Playgirl —           Voice double (Claude Stroud), uncredited.

Fireman Save My Child   Smitty  

Drums Across the River Morgan               

Broken Lance     Mike Devereaux              

There's No Business Like Show Business Charles Gibbs    

1955      White Feather   American Horse               

The Twinkle in God's Eye               Marty Callahan

1956      The Brass Legend             Sheriff Wade Addams    

1958      The Fiend Who Walked the West              Daniel Slade Hardy         

1959      Alias Jesse James              Wyatt Earp          Uncredited, cameo.

1963      Come Fly with Me            FO Ray Winsley

1965      Love Has Many Faces      Hank Walker     

In Harm's Way   USAAC major     Uncredited.

Assassination in Rome    Dick Sherman    Also known as Il segreto del vestito rosso in Italy.

Ten Little Indians              Hugh Lombard/ Charles Morley

1966      Ambush Bay       1Sg Steve Corey               

1967      Africa Texas Style             Jim Sinclair          Also known as Cowboy in Africa.

1969      Strategy of Terror             Det. Matt Lacey                Re-edited from Kraft Suspense Theatre episode "In Darkness, Waiting".

1976      Killer Force          Lewis    

The Shootist       Jack Pulford       

1978      Game of Death Steiner

1988      Doin' Time on Planet Earth           Richard Camalier             

Twins    Granger               

1994      Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone            Wyatt Earp          Colorized footage from TV series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp with new scenes.

Television

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1949      Oboler Comedy Theatre                N/A        Series, episode: "Dog's Eye View".

1950      Fireside Theater                N/A        Anthology, 4 episodes (1950-51).

1954      Hallmark Hall of Fame    Starbuck               Anthology, episode: "Moby Dick".

Letter to Loretta               Various                 Anthology, 4 episodes (1954-55).

Studio 57             Giff Dillard           Anthology, 2 episodes (1954-55).

1955      The Millionaire Luke Fortune      Anthology, episode: "The Luke Fortune Story".

Stage 7 Billy the Kid        Anthology, episode: "Billy and the Bride"; credited as O'Brien.

Damon Runyon Theater                Packy     Anthology, episode: "A Light in France".

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp            Wyatt Earp          Series, 227 episodes (1955-61).

Nominated—Primetime Emmy for Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Series.

Celebrity Playhouse        N/A        Series, episode: "A Very Big Man".

1956      Make Room for Daddy   Wyatt Earp          Sitcom, episode: "Wyatt Earp Visits the Williamses".

The Star and the Story    Hank Bartlett     Anthology, episode: "Arab Duel".

Matinee Theater              N/A        Anthology, episode: "Tall, Dark Stranger".

1957      The Ford Television Theatre         Matty Curran     Anthology, episode: "Ringside Seat".

Playhouse 90     Various                 Anthology, 2 episodes (1957-58).

The Christophers              N/A        Series, episode: "As You Make It".

Date with the Angels      Himself                 Sitcom, episode: "Star Struck"; credited as O'Brien.

1959      Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse                Various                 Anthology, 2 episodes (1959-60).

1960      The Secret World of Eddie Hodges            Wyatt Earp          Musical

General Electric Theater                Sam Sharp           Anthology, episode: "The Graduation Dress".

1961      Sunday Showcase            John Honeyman                Anthology, episode: "Our American Heritage: The Secret Rebel".

The Play of the Week      N/A        Anthology, episode: "The Wingless Victory".

Feathertop         Feathertop         Musical

The Dick Powell Show     Jack Farmer        Anthology, episode: "Up Jumped the Devil".

1962      Theatre '62         N/A        Series, episode: "Spellbound".

Alcoa Premiere Miles Hadley      Series, episode: "The Rules of the Game".

The Virginian      Paul Taylor          Series, pilot: ""The Executioners".

Kraft Mystery Theatre    Various                 Anthology, 2 episodes (1962-63).

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour            Christopher Martin/ Christopher Phillips                Anthology, episode: "Ride the Nightmare".

1963      Perry Mason       Bruce Jason/

Conrad Bucola   Court show, episode: "The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout".

The Greatest Show on Earth        Garve    Series, episode: "Garve".

1964      Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre                Various                 Anthology, 2 episodes (1964-65).

Vacation Playhouse         Sam Sharp           Series, episode: "The Graduation Dress".

1965      Kraft Suspense Theatre Det. Matt Lacey                Anthology, 2-part episode: "In Darkness, Waiting".

The Red Skelton Show    Count Mustache               Variety show, episode: "Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie".

1966      Preview Tonight                Joseph Series, episode: "Great Bible Adventures: Seven Rich Years and Seven Lean"

1967      Dial M for Murder            Mark Halliday   

1968      A Punt, a Pass, and a Prayer         Johnny Aragon

1970      Wild Women      Killian   

Swing Out, Sweet Land Thomas Jefferson           

1971      Harpy    Peter Clune        

1972      Probe    Hugh Lockwood               

Search   Series, 23 episodes (1972-73).

1973      Police Story        Various                 Series, 3 episodes (1973-77).

1975      Murder on Flight 502      Det. Daniel Myerson      

1976      Good Heavens   N/A        Anthology, episode: "A Night with Brockton".

Charlie's Angels                 Tony Mann         Series, episode: "Lady Killer".

1977      Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover             Jack Davis           

Fantasy Island    Various                 Series, 5 episodes ( 1977-82).

Murder at the World Series         The Governor   

1978      Cruise Into Terror             Andy - Captain  

Greatest Heroes of the Bible       Abner    Series, episode: "David & Goliath".

1979      The Seekers       Andrew Piggot  

1982      Bush Doctor       Dr. Robert Maxell            

The Love Boat    Gabriel Series, episode: "April in Boston / Saving Grace / Breaks of Life".

Matt Houston    Thom 'Buck' McCune      Series, episode: "The Kidnapping".

1989      Paradise               Wyatt Earp          Series, 2 episodes.

1990      Gunsmoke: The Last Apache        Nelson Miles     

Murder, She Wrote         Fred Keppard     Series, episode: "A Body to Die For".

1991      The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw         Wyatt Earp         

1993      L.A. Law                Raymond Holtz Series, episode: "Odor in the Court".

2000      Call of the Wild Older   Miles         Series, pilot 2-part episode.