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Richard Long (actor)

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For other people named Richard Long, see Richard Long (disambiguation).
Richard Long
Long in 1970
Born
Richard McCord Long

(1927-12-17)December 17, 1927
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 21, 1974(1974-12-21) (aged 47)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1946–1974
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1954; died 1955)​
  • ​
    (m. 1957)​
Children3
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch U.S. Army
Years of service1950–1952
Rank  Private first class
Battles / warsKorean War

Richard McCord Long (December 17, 1927 – December 21, 1974), also known as Dick Long, was an American actor best known for his leading roles in three ABC television series, The Big Valley, Nanny and the Professor, and Bourbon Street Beat.[1][2] He was also a series regular on ABC's 77 Sunset Strip during the 1961–1962 season.[3]

Career

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Early films: International Pictures

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In 1946, Long was cast in his first film, Tomorrow Is Forever, as Drew, the son of the characters played by Claudette Colbert and Orson Welles. The role had been unfilled for months, and producers selected Long, who most closely matched the credentials required.[4] It was made by International Pictures, which put him under contract.[5]

Long impressed Welles, who cast the actor in The Stranger (1946), from International, as the younger brother of Loretta Young's character.[6]

International was going to lend Long to 20th Century Fox to make Margie (1946), but then they changed their minds and put him in The Dark Mirror (1946) starring Olivia de Havilland and Thomas Mitchell and directed by Robert Siodmak.[7]

Tom Kettle and Universal Pictures

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International Pictures merged with Universal Pictures, which took over Long's contract. His fourth film was The Egg and I (1947), playing Tom Kettle, the eldest son of Ma and Pa Kettle, the characters played by Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. The movie was a huge hit – so much so that Universal decided to spin off the Kettles into their own series.

Long signed a contract with Universal, for which he appeared in Tap Roots (1948) and Criss Cross (1949), playing Burt Lancaster's brother in the latter for Siodmak. He supported William Bendix in The Life of Riley (1949) based on the NBC radio show.

Long reprised his role as Tom Kettle in Ma and Pa Kettle (1949), which was a solid success at the box office. So, too, was Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1950).[8] He was Frank James in the Western Kansas Raiders (1950).

In December 1950, Long was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War.[9] Before he left, he made Jet Men of the Air (1951), and then served for two years at Fort Ord, California.[10]

Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm (1952) was Long's fourth and final Kettle movie. He was the juvenile lead in Back at the Front (1952) and had supporting parts in All I Desire (1953), All American (1953) (as the villain to Tony Curtis's hero), Saskatchewan (1954), and Playgirl (1954).

Long began guest-starring on TV shows such as Lux Video Theater ("I'll Never Love Again") and was finally given a lead role by Universal in Cult of the Cobra (1955) – though still billed under Faith Domergue.

Television

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Long focused on television over the next few years, guest-starring on episodes of shows such as Climax!, Screen Directors Playhouse, TV Reader's Digest, The United States Steel Hour, Hey, Jeannie!, Schlitz Playhouse, Suspicion, Alcoa Theatre, Wagon Train, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Millionaire, Matinee Theatre, The Twilight Zone episodes ("Number 12 Looks Just Like You" and "Person or Persons Unknown"), and The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen.

At Columbia, he had a top supporting role in the Western Fury at Gunsight Pass (1956) and in a Blake Edwards comedy, He Laughed Last (1956).

Long went to Japan to star in Tokyo After Dark (1959) and had a key role in William Castle's House on Haunted Hill (1959).[11]

Bourbon Street Beat

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Long signed a contract with Warner Bros. and guest-starred in many of their TV series, including Lawman.

Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick and Long as Gentleman Jack Darby in Maverick, 1959

He played the recurring role of gambler/con artist Gentleman Jack Darby in four episodes of the ABC/WB Western series, Maverick beginning in 1958, including the memorable "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" installment.[12] His character always interacted with Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick, including in "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres", which starred both James Garner and Kelly. He also never appeared with later series regular Roger Moore. Gentleman Jack Darby was created by Maverick producer Roy Huggins as a replacement for "Dandy Jim Buckley", played by Efrem Zimbalist Jr., after Zimbalist had moved on to his own series, 77 Sunset Strip.

Warner Bros. starred Long in a show, Bourbon Street Beat (1959–60) as Rex Randolph, Private Eye, which only ran for 39 episodes.[13] with Andrew Duggan,[12] Van Williams, and Arlene Howell.[14][15]

77 Sunset Strip

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Long reprised his character on episodes of Hawaiian Eye and joined the cast of 77 Sunset Strip from 1960 to 1962.[16]

Long continued to guest star on shows such as Thriller, Tales of Wells Fargo, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone ("Person or Persons Unknown").[citation needed]

He returned to films with a role in the MGM romantic musical Follow the Boys, along with co-stars Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss, and Roger Perry.[4] He did The Tenderfoot (1964) for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.

In 1963, Long guest-starred in the episode "Hear No Evil" of ABC's Going My Way, a drama series starring Gene Kelly about a Catholic priest in New York City loosely based on the 1944 Bing Crosby movie. That same year, he was cast as Eddie Breech in the episode "Blood Bargain" of CBS's The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Long went to Finland to make a film, Make Like a Thief (1965), which he also helped direct. "I've had the longest awkward period in the history of Hollywood", he said around this time. "I sign more autographs than anyone in the industry. They either think I'm Robert Goulet, Gig Young, Robert Sterling, or myself. We don't look a thing alike if we're together, but there is a flash similarity."[17]

Long added that he hoped to play more character parts. "I'm rotting from the inside out and it's just gotten to my face", he said. "A man doesn't get interesting on screen until his 40s."[17]

The Big Valley

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The Big Valley cast
with Long at far left

In 1965, at the age of 38, Long began his role as attorney Jarrod Barkley, the oldest son of rancher Victoria Barkley (Barbara Stanwyck), in 112 episodes of The Big Valley, the last of the major Four Star Television series, a Western that ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969. The series was set in the 1870s. Long also directed 2 episodes of The Big Valley.[18][19] (In 1953, Long had costarred with Stanwyck in the film All I Desire.[12])

Nanny and the Professor

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Nanny and the Professor cast

In 1970–71, Long and Juliet Mills starred in the ABC sitcom Nanny and the Professor.[20]

Long and Mills later provided their voices for two animated-film versions of the show: Nanny and the Professor (1972) and Nanny and the Professor and the Phantom of the Circus (1973).

Thicker Than Water

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In 1973, he starred alongside Julie Harris in the short-lived series, Thicker than Water.

His last jobs were the TV movies The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped (1974) and Death Cruise (1974).

Personal life

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Long served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War,[21] where he was posted to Fort Ord, California, alongside actors Martin Milner, David Janssen, and Clint Eastwood.[22] He was also stationed in Tokyo, Japan.[21]

Long was twice married: his first wife, singer and actress Suzan Ball, whom he married April 11, 1954, died of cancer 14 months later, at age 22.[23][24][25][26] They had met in 1953, after her cancer diagnosis; her right leg was amputated in early 1954 and they wed in April.[27]

In 1957, he married actress/model Mara Corday in Las Vegas.[28] The couple had three children together during their troubled marriage: Carey (1957–2008), Valerie (b. 1958), and Gregory (b. 1960).[29][30][31] In 1961, Long was arrested by police after Corday accused him of attacking her while drunk.[32] Corday declined to pursue the charges, and after initially indicating she would file for divorce, she later reconciled with Long.[33]

Death

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As a youth, Long contracted pneumonia, which apparently weakened his heart. He later experienced cardiac problems as an adult and suffered his first heart attack in 1961.[34] After a month-long stay in Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles to treat additional attacks, he died on December 21, 1974, four days after his 47th birthday.[1][2]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1946 Tomorrow Is Forever Drew Hamilton
The Stranger Noah Longstreet
The Dark Mirror Rusty
1947 The Egg and I Tom Kettle
1948 Tap Roots Bruce Dabney
1949 The Life of Riley Jeff Taylor
Criss Cross Slade Thompson
Ma and Pa Kettle Tom Kettle
1950 Kansas Raiders Frank James
Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town Tom Kettle
1951 Air Cadet Russ Coulter Alternate title: Jet Men on the Air
Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm Tom Kettle
1952 Back at the Front Sergeant Rose Alternate title: Willie and Joe in Tokyo
1953 All I Desire Russ Underwood
All American Howard Carter Alternate title: The Winning Way
1954 Saskatchewan Abbott Alternate title: O'Rourke of the Royal Mounted
Playgirl Barron Courtney III
1955 Cult of the Cobra Paul Able
1956 He Laughed Last Jimmy Murphy
Fury at Gunsight Pass Roy Hanford
1959 House on Haunted Hill Lance Schroeder
Tokyo After Dark Sergeant Robert Douglas
1963 Follow the Boys Lieutenant Peter Langley
1964 Make Like a Thief V. Bartley "Bart" Lanigan
1972 Nanny and the Professor Professor Harold Everett (voice) Animated film
1973 Nanny and the Professor and the Phantom of the Circus Professor Harold Everett (voice) Animated film
1974 The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped Michael Green Television film
Death Cruise Jerry Carter Television film (final film role)
Television series
Year Title Role Notes
1958–59 Maverick "Gentleman" Jack Darby 4 episodes
1958–63 77 Sunset Strip Marc Harrington / Tony Wendice / Rex Randolph / Dick Lynwood / Charlie Carmichael 31 episodes
1959–60 Bourbon Street Beat Rex Randolph 38 episodes
1962 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Paul Devore Season 7 Episode 33: "The Opportunity"
1962 The Twilight Zone David Andrew Gurney Season 3 Episode 27: "Person or Persons Unknown"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Eddie Breech Season 2 Episode 5: "Blood Bargain"
1964 The Twilight Zone Uncle Rick / Dr. Rex / Professor Sigmund Friend / Tom /... Season 5 Episode 17: "Number 12 Looks Just Like You"
1965–69 The Big Valley Jarrod Barkley 98 episodes
1970–71 Nanny and the Professor Professor Harold Everett 54 episodes
1972–73 Thicker than Water Ernie Paine 9 episodes
1974 Match Game '74 Himself 5 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "Richard Long, TV Actor, Dies". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Associated Press. December 22, 1974. p. 10B.
  2. ^ a b "Actor Richard Long, TV private eye, dies". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. United Press International (UPI). December 23, 1974. p. 10A.
  3. ^ Finningan, Joseph (June 8, 1961). "Richard Long Quits Role As Sleuth in 'Sunset Strip'". Schenectady Gazette. UPI. p. 35.
  4. ^ a b "Richard Long (1927-1974)". Brian's Drive-In Theater. December 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Richard Long Deemed Find". Los Angeles Times. April 13, 1946. p. A5. ProQuest 165635850.
  6. ^ "Paramount Signs Robert Cummings". The New York Times. May 18, 1946. p. A12. ProQuest 107523427.
  7. ^ "Crosby To Co-Star in Paramount Film". The New York Times. February 6, 1946. p. A29. ProQuest 107586167.
  8. ^ Zylstra, Freida (April 10, 1950). "Ex-Chicagoan steps from class play to films". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 177896455.
  9. ^ "Richard Long Gives Up Film Uniform For Real". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 1950. ProQuest 166166387.
  10. ^ Jones, Grahame L. (December 22, 1974). "Richard Long, Star of Movies, TV, dies at 47". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 157622595.
  11. ^ Schallert, Edwin (December 21, 1957). "Film to delve into infinity". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167153055.
  12. ^ a b c "A Tribute to Richard Long". Archived from the original on September 11, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Thomas, Bob (July 25, 1959). "Richard Long gets starring role in television series". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. p. 8.
  14. ^ Gould, Jack (October 6, 1959). "James Michener series on the Pacific". The New York Times. ProQuest 114889425.
  15. ^ "Bourbon Street Rocks to Private Eye Beat". Los Angeles Times. November 8, 1959. p. G3. ProQuest 167530564.
  16. ^ Smith, Cecil (June 3, 1960). "Dog 'Speaks' Play's Only Lines". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167666738.
  17. ^ a b Alpert, Don (October 11, 1964). "Finland: Long and Short of It". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 155031543.
  18. ^ Big Valley - Legend of a General [VHS] : Long, Richard, Allen, Lewis, Dobkin, Lawrence, Dubin, Charles S., Golden, Murray, Graham, William A., Lewis, Joseph H., Long, Richard, Mazzuca, Joseph, McEveety (II), Bernard, Nadel, Arthur H., Newman, Joseph M., Pevney, Joseph, Powell, Norman S., Roley, Sutton, Sarafian, Richard C., Senensky, Ralph, Taylor, Don, Vogel, Virgil W., Webster, Nicholas: Movies & TV. ASIN 6300256812.
  19. ^ "Big Valley". Fifties Web. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Nanny and the Professor website; accessed March 10, 2014. Archived March 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (January 2, 1953). "Actor Richard Long Back From Two-Year Army Hitch". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. p. 12.
  22. ^ "Clint Eastwood Used the GI Bill". Military.com. 31 October 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Suzan Ball throws away crutches for marriage". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. April 12, 1954. p. 2.
  24. ^ "Suzan Ball wed without her crutches". Florence Times. Associated Press. April 12, 1954. p. 12.
  25. ^ "Suzan Ball dies of lung cancer". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. August 6, 1955. p. 1.
  26. ^ "Death takes Carmen Miranda, Suzan Ball". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. August 6, 1955. p. 9.
  27. ^ "Actress Suzan Ball waging new war against cancer". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. July 14, 1955. p. 3, part 1.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "Mara Corday becomes bride of Dick Long". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. January 28, 1957. p. 19.
  29. ^ "Mara Corday". Glamour Girls. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  30. ^ "Actor Richard Long is sued for divorce". Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. June 9, 1960. p. 7.
  31. ^ "Dick Long easy going on and off television". Schenectady Gazette. UPI. August 21, 1971. p. 16, TV section.
  32. ^ "Actor's wife accuses him of attacking her". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. April 22, 1961. ProQuest 141320033.
  33. ^ Aaker, Everett (May 16, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960–1975: A Biographical Dictionary. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 256. ISBN 978-1-4766-6250-3.
  34. ^ "TV star Richard Long fights heart ailment". The Blade. Toledo. Associated Press. April 26, 1961. p. 17.
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