Rory Calhoun

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Actor Born Francis Timothy McCown on Aug. 8, 1922 in Los Angeles, CA

Rory Calhoun, the handsome, lanky actor, producer, writer and rancher, is best remembered for his 1950s western films and the television series "The Texan."

He worked with screen queens Marilyn Monroe in "River of No Return," Betty Grable in "Meet Me After the Show" and Susan Hayward in his longtime favorite film, "With a Song in My Heart." He could sing and dance a little, and performed in some movie musicals, including his debut film, "Something for the Boys," in 1944 with Carmen Miranda and Vivian Blaine.

But Calhoun's breakthrough film was the 1952 western "Way of a Gaucho," filmed in Argentina, and it was westerns for which Calhoun was best remembered. Among them were "The Silver Whip," "Four Guns to the Border," "Powder River," "Utah Blaine" and "Black Spurs."

The eclectic Calhoun also wrote novels, including "The Man From Padera" and "Cerrado."

As an actor, he occasionally performed on stage, including in a London production of "Belle Starr" in 1969 and 1970. On television, he also appeared in several 1950s and early 1960s anthology series, including "Ford Television Theater," "Death Valley Days" and "Zane Grey Theater," and hosted the syndicated "Western Star Theater."

— Myrna Oliver in the Los Angeles Times April 29, 1999

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• Rory Calhoun; Handsome Actor Starred in 1950s Westerns, TV Series