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Jan Shepard, who acted opposite Elvis Presley in 1958’s King Creole and 1966’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style, and appeared in more than 30 TV Westerns, died Jan. 17 at a hospital in Burbank, Calif. of pneumonia brought on by respiratory failure. She was 96.

In King Creole, noted as Presley’s favorite of his films, she portrayed his on-screen sister Mimi. Eight years later, Shepard played Presley’s business partner’s wife in the ’60s buddy musical comedy. In an interview from last year, Shepard said she wasn’t a fan of Presley’s ahead of working with him, but “once I met him, I just adored him.”

Per an official obituary, Presley and Shepard got on well and went to off-set lunches (where Marlon Brando once made a chance appearance). Describing him as a “big teddy bear,” Shepard once recalled that he gave her a pair of 10-cent earrings as a joke before...

Jan Shepard, who guest-starred on Rawhide, The Virginian, Gunsmoke and two dozen other TV Westerns and played opposite Elvis Presley in movies eight years apart, has died. She was 96.

Shepard died Jan. 17 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of pneumonia brought on by respiratory failure, her son, Hollywood prop master, Brandon Boyle, told The Hollywood Reporter. “She was a good one and will be dearly missed,” he said.

Shepard portrayed Mimi, the sister of Presley’s Danny Fisher, in the Michael Curtiz-directed King Creole (1958) and the wife of Danny Kohana (James Shigeta), who partners with Presley’s Rick Richards in a helicopter business, in Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966).

“The first time, I found him to be just the cutest kid around, a big teddy bear, a lot of fun,” she said in an interview for Boyd Magers and Michael G. Fitzgerald’s 1999 book, Westerns Women. But on their next movie,...

One of the most notable television Westerns of the 1960s was the James Drury-led series, The Virginian. Behind NBC's other Western giants, Gunsmoke and Bonanza, The Virginian was the third longest-running horse opera in the network's history. With nine seasons total and just shy of 250 episodes, the series only ended as a result of the rural purge that wiped out most Western programs. But how did The Virginian start? Well, believe it or not, it had its origins in an earlier program — one that aired back in 1958.

Sara Lane, who portrayed the orphaned frontier girl Elizabeth Grainger for four seasons of the NBC drama The Virginian, has died. She was 73.

Lane died Friday at her home in Napa, California, after a six-year battle with breast cancer, her husband, Jon Scott, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Lane joined the 1890s Western for the start of its retooled fifth season in September 1966 alongside two other new castmembers: Charles Bickford, who played her grandfather, John Grainger, the new owner of the Shiloh Ranch, and Don Quine, who portrayed her older brother, Stacey Grainger.

She appeared on 105 episodes of the Wyoming Territory-set series through March 1970, with James Drury‘s title character and Doug McClure’s Trampas looking after Elizabeth. The Virginian aired one final season without her.

The oldest of three kids, Susan Russell Lane was born in New York on March 12, 1949. Her parents, Rusty Lane (The Harder They Fall) and Sara Anderson,...

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Clu Gulager, the real-life cowboy from Oklahoma known for his turns on The Tall Man, The Virginian, The Last Picture Show and horror movies including The Return of the Living Dead, has died. He was 93.

Gulager died Friday of natural causes at the Los Angeles home of his son John and daughter-in-law Diane, they told The Hollywood Reporter.

Gulager also portrayed the protégé of hitman Charlie Strom (Lee Marvin) taken out by a mob boss (Ronald Reagan) in Don Siegel’s The Killers (1964), a race-car mechanic opposite Paul Newman in Winning (1969) and a detective working alongside John Wayne’s character in John Sturges’ McQ (1974).

More recently, he showed up on the big screen in such critical darlings as Tangerine (2015), Blue Jay (2016) and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Gulager’s performance in The Killers convinced Peter Bogdanovich to cast him as Abilene,...

Many TV legends and contributors were included for the “In Memoriam” segment on Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony for ABC. But producers are always forced to omit some of the 100+ insiders who died since the last ceremony. Who was left out of the group that was honored?

With dozens of television veterans having died since last year’s mid-September ceremony, people certainly included were these six TV Academy Hall of Fame members:

Diahann Carroll

Leonard Goldberg (executive at 20th Century Fox and ABC; producer of “Charlie’s Angels” and more)

Jim Lehrer (anchor/reporter of “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour)

Regis Philbin

Carl Reiner

Fred Silverman

SEECelebrity Deaths 2020: In Memoriam Gallery

Even though he wasn’t known for his TV work, blockbuster film actor Chadwick Boseman was featured in the final slot. NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant was not mentioned, even though the event was being held in the Staples Center.

For Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on ABC, producers will have the always difficult task of assembling a memoriam segment. Even though the event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel will be virtual, it’s a certainty they will include the popular “In Memoriam” on the show.

With over 100 television veterans having died since last year’s mid-September ceremony, those expected to be honored would include such TV legends and TV Academy Hall of Fame members:

Diahann Carroll

Leonard Goldberg (executive at 20th Century Fox and ABC; producer of “Charlie’s Angels” and more)

Jim Lehrer (anchor/reporter of “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour)

Regis Philbin

Carl Reiner

Fred Silverman

SEECelebrity Deaths 2020: In Memoriam Gallery

Even though they weren’t known for their TV work, it’s very likely NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and blockbuster film actor Chadwick Boseman will be honored. Also among the dozens most likely included since they...

Veteran writer-producer Joel Rogosin, who was nominated for three Primetime Emmys in a TV career that spanned more than 30 years, has died. He becomes the the fifth resident at the Mptf’s Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills to succumb to the coronavirus. He was 87.

Rogosin’s first job in the industry in 1957 was as a messenger at Columbia Pictures. By 1961, he was producing the No. 1 show on TV, 77 Sunset Strip. He shared with friends at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home that beyond the 23 primetime series he had produced, the TV movies and specials, the highlights of his career were the two Jerry Lewis telethons he produced. He said never felt more alive than when he was doing something good for others.

More from DeadlineAnn Sullivan, Longtime Disney Animator, Is Third Coronavirus Death At Motion Picture Home FacilityGeorgia Is Opening For Business But Hollywood Studios Are Not Rushing...

James Drury, best known for starring in the long-running Western series “The Virginian,” died Monday of natural causes. He was 85.

His assistant, Karen Lindsey, posted the news on Facebook: “It is with immense sadness that I let you all know that James Drury, our beloved Virginian and dear friend passed away this morning of natural causes, Monday, April 6, 2020. He will be missed so much. It is beyond words. Memorial service to be determined later.”

Drury was born April 18, 1934 in New York City. During his childhood, the family made multiple trips to the family ranch in Oregon, where he developed a love for horses and the outdoor life. He first appeared on stage at the age of 8 when he played King Herod in a children’s Christmas play. He made his professional acting debut at the age of 12 in a touring company of “Life With Father.”

Drury was trained as an...

James Drury, who starred in one of the longest running Westerns in TV history, “The Virginian,” has died. He was 85.

His assistant, Karen Lindsey, shared the news on Facebook Monday, writing that he “passed away this morning of natural causes.” TheWrap reached out to his agent for additional comment.

While his most famous role was “The Virginian,” Drury also starred in Westerns on the big screen, including 1959’s “Good Day for Hanging,” 1960’s “Ten Who Dares” and “Ride the High Country.” His other credits include “Love Me Tender,” alongside Elvis Presley, and “Bernardine,” opposite Pat Boone.

Also Read: Shirley Douglas, Mother of Kiefer Sutherland, Dies at 86

“The Virginian” was based on Owen Wister’s 1902 novel of the same name and ran on NBC for nine seasons, from 1962 to 1971. It was launched by executive producer Roy Huggins and his father-in-law Frank Price, who would go on to run Columbia and Universal Pictures.

James Drury, who played the mysterious, nameless title character on the 1960s NBC Western The Virginian, died today of natural causes. He was 85. His death was announced on the actor’s Facebook page by his longtime assistant, Karen Lindsey.

“It is with immense sadness that I let you all know that James Drury, our beloved Virginian and dear friend passed away this morning of natural causes,” Lindsey wrote. “He will be missed so much. It is beyond words.”

The Virginian was TV’s first 90-minute Western and ended up being one of its longest running and enduring, airing nearly 250 episodes from 1962-1971. Drury’s character never revealed his real name as he “forced his idea of...

James Drury, who starred as the no-name, no-nonsense foreman of the Shiloh Ranch on The Virginian, one of the longest-running Westerns in the history of television, died Monday of natural causes. He was 85.

Drury died at his home in Houston, his assistant, Karen Lindsey, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Preparing for his most famous role, Drury appeared in several Westerns on the big screen, including Good Day for a Hanging (1959) with Fred MacMurray, Ten Who Dared (1960) at Disney and Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country (1962), working opposite Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea (who starred in the 1946 film The Virginian).

Drury ...

James Drury, who starred as the no-name, no-nonsense foreman of the Shiloh Ranch on The Virginian, one of the longest-running Westerns in the history of television, died Monday of natural causes. He was 85.

Drury died at his home in Houston, his assistant, Karen Lindsey, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Preparing for his most famous role, Drury appeared in several Westerns on the big screen, including Good Day for a Hanging (1959) with Fred MacMurray, Ten Who Dared (1960) at Disney and Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country (1962), working opposite Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea (who starred in the 1946 film The Virginian).

Drury ...

Before he became the flag bearer for cinema violence, Sam Peckinpah made his reputation with this unique western, a marvelous rumination on ethics, morality and personal responsibility. MGM all but threw it away in the summer of 1962 but it immediately became a critical favorite.

Ride the High Country

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1962 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 92 min. / Street Date April 4, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, Mariette Hartley, Ron Starr, Edgar Buchanan, R.G. Armstrong, Jenie Jackson, James Drury, L.Q. Jones, John Anderson, John Davis Chandler, Warren Oates.

Cinematography Lucien Ballard

Art Direction Leroy Coleman, George W. Davis

Film Editor Frank Santillo

Original Music George Bassman

Written by N.B. Stone Jr.

Produced by Richard E. Lyons

Directed by Sam Peckinpah

MGM’s western Ride the High Country put Sam Peckinpah on the map with critics and the foreign cinema literati — although it didn’t do big box office when new,...

Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon (1947-1988) was one of the most celebrated adventure comic strips of the 1950s. The blond, square-jawed hero was on the cutting edge of action as he took to the skies and had adventures around the world. Caniff populated the strip with memorable supporting characters and adversaries so it was a rich reading experience.

The strip was so popular that when Captain Action was introduced in 1966, Canyon was one of the first heroes he could turn into. Somewhat earlier, Canyon also served as inspiration for an NBC prime time series that, sadly, bore little resemblance to the strip (a common problem back then).

In 2008, John R. Ellis brought us this forgotten gem with The Complete Steve Canyon on TV Volume 1 and followed up a year later with Volume 2. The silence until late last year when the anticipated Volume 3 finally arrived, completing the run. Thankfully it came...

By Joe Elliott

Long-time Grass Valley, California resident (Norman Eugene) Clint Walker starred in the iconic television western Cheyenne from 1955-1963. This was the golden era of TV westerns, with dozens of similar shows airing around the same time.

Like their big screen counterparts, TV cowboys were usually handsome, brave, resourceful and of course good with a gun. However, there was something a bit different about the Cheyenne Bodie character as Walker portrayed him. He fit the genre all right. A big, handsome man built like an oak tree (6’6”, 48-inch chest, 32-inch waist), he rode easy in the saddle and looked better than almost anybody in a Stetson and boots. Men who doubted his resolve always ended up regretting it. Ladies looked his way. Still, despite never violating the conventions of the formula, Walker somehow managed to make the sum of his character add up to more than its parts.

Randolph Scott Westerns, comedies, war dramas: TCM schedule on August 19, 2013 See previous post: “Cary Grant and Randolph Scott Marriages — And ‘Expect the Biographical Worst.’” 3:00 Am Badman’S Territory (1946). Director: Tim Whelan. Cast: Randolph Scott, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Ann Richards. Bw-98 mins. 4:45 Am Trail Street (1947). Director: Ray Enright. Cast: Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffreys. Bw-84 mins. 6:15 Am Return Of The Badmen (1948). Director: Ray Enright. Cast: Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffreys, George ‘Gabby’ Hayes, Jacqueline White, Steve Brodie, Tom Keene aka Richard Powers, Robert Bray, Lex Barker, Walter Reed, Michael Harvey, Dean White, Robert Armstrong, Tom Tyler, Lew Harvey, Gary Gray, Walter Baldwin, Minna Gombell, Warren Jackson, Robert Clarke, Jason Robards Sr., Ernie Adams, Lane Chandler, Dan Foster, John Hamilton, Kenneth MacDonald, Donald Kerr, Ida Moore, ‘Snub’ Pollard, Harry Shannon, Charles Stevens. Bw-90 mins. 8:00 Am Riding Shotgun (1954). Director: André De Toth. Cast: Randolph Scott, Wayne Morris,...

The Virginian hasn’t been remade in a while, so I guess it’s time. Owen Wister’s novel is perhaps best remembered as the TV series of the same name, which starred James Drury. Other incarnations in 1946 saw Joel McCrea in the title role and in 2000 Bill Pullman took the lead.

Next to fill the saddle will be A Good Day to Die Hard‘s Cole Hauser, who will be joined by Ron Perlman and Jennifer Beals.

The synopsis:

South is the foreman of Sunk Creek Ranch and a feared enforcer for the cattle baron Judge Henry, who took him in after his parents were killed by rustlers. As part of his duties he is to look after a writer from the big city, Owen, who has come out West to research a novel. Owen is appalled at the savagery of the land, in particular the way cattle rustlers are treated.

I thought you might like the attached picture of a classic drive-in movie marquee from the early 60s.  The beautiful lady is actress Jan Shepard, posing with her classic 50s sports car.  As best as I've ever been able to tell, Third of a Man appears to be a lost film.  Neither Jan Shepard nor James Drury have any idea what happened to the film, and apparently the now-deceased director had no idea either.

Martin Sheffield

Retro responds: Thanks so much, Martin.....great photo. It was obviously taken at the drive-in located in Van Nuys, California in 1962. Our research shows that Third of a Man is indeed a little-known film, created for the bottom of double-bills. However, it was released by a major studio, United Artists and afforded a rare starring role for the great character actor Simon Oakland, which makes us want to see it even more. ...

Michael Eavis is to be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's European Festival Awards ceremony. The founder of Glastonbury Festival will be given the prize at the ceremony in Groningen, the Netherlands on January 11. The prize is dedicated to "an individual whose personal vision and energy has propelled the entire festival industry forward in a dynamic, creative and positive way". Eavis said of the news: "After 41 years, to win something of this magnitude is something to be incredibly proud of. To still be doing this after that amount of time is no mean feat." Festival Awards managing director James Drury commented: "Since founding one of the most famous and long-lasting festivals in the world, Michael has dedicated his life to Glastonbury and the millions (more)...

 

This year's Memphis Film Festival will include a tribute to Roy Rogers, seen here with Dale Evans.

Many stars from classic Western TV series of the 1960s will be appearing at this year's Memphis Film Festival, which ironically is not held in Memphis. The event takes place in nearby Olive Branch, Ms. Guest include James Stacy, James Drury, Peter Brown, Randy Boone, Barbara Luna and James Hampton. There will also be a celebration of Roy Rogers' 100th birthday. For info click here...

Beloved TV cowboy James Drury pulled out of his recent induction into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in Georgia after learning he needed surgery to remove precancerous growths from his colon and oesophagus.

The Virginian star, 76, is determined to beat the disease but admits the diagnosis came as a shock.

He tells the Globe, "I thought I had the flu. I've got an issue with my oesophagus - there are some cells at the bottom of it that are evolving. They could become cancerous, so they've got to go in there and take them off. I've got that and a colonoscopy coming up."...

Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales is among many classic Westerns shot in Kanab.

 

The annual Western Legends Roundup will take place on August 26-28 in Kanab, Utah, where many classic Westerns were filmed. The town also boasts major sets still standing from the Clint Eastwood film The Outlaw Josey Wales. Additionally, many favorite stars from Western films and TV series will be appearing including James Drury, Peter Brown, Clint Walker, Ed Faulkner and Glendon Swarthout, screenwriter of John Wayne's The Shootist. The weekend is jam-packed with many activities that will appeal to retro movie lovers. Click here for details...

Elvis Presley holds the throne as “The King” of rock n’ roll. Music was his forte, but he did dabble in film for awhile and the results were a mixed bag. In honor of his 75th birthday which he won’t be able to celebrate for himself (unless you’re an Elvis Lives conspiracy theorist), Fox has released the Elvis 75th Birthday Collection. Presented in 2.35:1 Widescreen (save for Kid Galahad in 1.85:1 and Frankie and Johnny in 1.66:1), the collection shows its age in a few places as Fox seems to have done little to remaster these classics, but overall it’s a nice look at the musician who would be an actor, even if the selection of films leaves a lot to be desired. If the set is good for anything it’s for showing his progress as an actor from his first film ever, Love Me Tender,...

At one time, Westerns were the most popular genre of television program. There were as many westerns on TV in the fifties and sixties as there are reality shows today. One of the longest running and most popular of these was The Virginian. It was among the first of the “Adult Westerns” (meaning it wasn’t the stereotypical white hat vs. the black hat shoot-em-up) and was the first 90-minute show of the Western genre.

The series starred James Drury as the unnamed hero, perpetually known only as “the Virginian”. It’s never made clear (at least, not in the first season) why the Virginian left his home to travel to Wyoming or why he never reveals his true name but no one in the series seems bothered by his secretive nature. Drury is one of the more laid back western heroes. He isn’t in the larger-than-life John Wayne mold.

DVD Playhouse—May 2010

By

Allen Gardner

Avatar (20th Century Fox) James Cameron beat his own title as box office champ, set with Titanic over a decade ago, with this eye-popping sci-fi epic about a paraplegic Marine name Sully (Sam Worthington), who takes the form of an “avatar,” or virtual being, to go undercover on the planet Pandora, attempting to infiltrate the native Na’vi to gather intelligence that will aid a joint corporate and military operation to rape the planet of its natural resources, destroying its indigenous population in the process. When Sully suddenly “goes native,” he locks horns with the company CEO (Giovanni Ribisi) and his gung-ho commanding officer (Stephen Lang, in a wonderful, scenery-chewing turn from a long-underrated actor). Thought of by many scholars and film buffs as a “game-changer” as much as the first Star Wars film was—and they may be right. While Cameron’s politically-correct...

Though it isn't remembered by many TV viewers today, The Virginian TV show was one of the most popular Westerns in its day. The NBC series ran for eight seasons, from 1962 until 1970. The characters returned in the 1970-71 season in a different format and the show was renamed The Men from Shiloh.

The Virginian series follows the adventures of a strong-willed man known only as the "Virginian" (James Drury) who works to maintain order on the Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming. Other regular actors during the run of the series include Doug McClure, Lee J. Cobb, John McIntire, Charles Bickford, Stewart Granger, Clu Gulager, Gary Clarke, Randy Boone, and Roberta Shore.

It's often been remarked that The Virginian had such high production values that each episode looked like a feature film. The 249 installments are 90 minutes apiece and were all shot...

Encore Westerns has a delightful retro lineup for the fans of the old Western TV series, starting up the New Year with 24 hours of .The Virginian. on New Year.s Day on Friday, January 1, followed by 24 hours of .Have Gun-Will Travel. n Saturday, January 2 and 24 hours of .Gunsmoke. on Sunday, January 3. The marathon begins midnight, January 1 with 24 hours of .The Virginian,. which aired from 1962 to 1971 and was the first Western to air in 90-minute installments each week The series revolved around a foreman, played by James Drury, who went by the name The Virginian; his real name was never revealed in the nine years the show was on...