Richard Egan (actor)

Richard Egan (July 29, 1921 – July 20, 1987) was an American actor. After beginning his career in 1949, he subsequently won a Golden Globe Award for his performances in the films ''The Glory Brigade'' (1953) and '' The Kid from Left Field'' (1953). He went on to star in many films such as '' Underwater!'' (1955), ''Seven Cities of Gold'' (1955), ''The Revolt of Mamie Stover'' (1956), '' Love Me Tender'' (1956), ''Tension at Table Rock'' (1956), ''A Summer Place'' (1959), ''Esther and the King'' (1960) and ''The 300 Spartans'' (1962).

Early life and education

Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Egan graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory. He won a public-speaking competition in 1938 that helped fire his interest in performing. He was supported by his brother who was a priest.

Egan was interested in drama and studied it while doing a BA at the University of San Francisco. He left in 1943 and served in the United States Army as a judo and knife fighting instructor during World War II. He served a year in the Philippines and was discharged with the rank of captain.

"The war had given me time to think", he later said, "and to decide what I really wanted to do. I think I had always been an actor in my mind, but now I was going to be one in public, too. Right out in front of everybody."

When Egan returned, he went back to school to earn a master's degree in theater history from Stanford University, with the help of the G.I. Bill. From there, he went on to teach public speaking at Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, he appeared in thirty campus stage productions and was eventually spotted by a Warner Bros talent scout, Solly Bioano, who encouraged him to try Hollywood.

Acting career

Egan had a series of unsuccessful screen tests. He eventually got a bit role in the 1949 Hollywood film '' The Story of Molly X'', at Universal. He had a small roles in '' The Good Humor Man'' (1950), at Columbia; '' The Damned Don't Cry'' (1950) (as Joan Crawford's husband) and '' Return of the Frontiersman'' (1950), at Warners; and ''The Killer That Stalked New York'' (1950), at Columbia.

Universal

In June 1950 Egan signed a contract with Universal. There he had supporting roles in '' Wyoming Mail'' (1950), '' Undercover Girl'' (1950), ''Kansas Raiders'' (1950), '' Up Front'' (1951); '' Highway 301'' (1950); ''Bright Victory'' (1951); and '' Up Front'' (1951). Egan later described these roles as saying things like "Charlie, go outside! The horses are ready."

He had a role in ''Hollywood Story'' (1951), directed by William Castle, and the swashbuckler '' The Golden Horde'' (1951), where he was billed fourth.

Egan was also in '' Flame of Araby'' (1951) and ''The Battle at Apache Pass'' (1952).

Edward Small cast him in a support role in '' Cripple Creek'' (1952). Egan went to RKO for ''One Minute to Zero'' (1952) and MGM for '' The Devil Makes Three'' (1952), shot in Germany. He did "Let George Do It" on TV for ''Hollywood Opening Night'' (1952).

Egan had support roles in RKO's ''Blackbeard the Pirate'' (1952) and '' Split Second'' (1953).

Egan supported Victor Mature in ''The Glory Brigade'' (1953), a war movie at 20th Century Fox, then had a small part in '' The Kid from Left Field'' (1953). He did "Malaya Incident" and "Double Bet" for ''Ford Television Theatre''(1953).

Egan's career received a boost when a casting director, according to Egan, said "Take off your shirt!", and then cast him in a small role in '' Demetrius and the Gladiators'' (1954), as a gladiator who fights Victor Mature.

This led to Egan's first leading role, in Edward Small's '' Wicked Woman'' (1953). On TV he did "Go Away a Winner" for ''Schlitz Playhouse'' (1954), then had another lead in a low budget movie, '' Gog'' (1954), produced by Ivan Tors.

Small used him as a leading man again in ''Khyber Patrol'' (1954). He was used by RKO to costar with Jane Russell in '' Underwater!'' (1955). It led to Hedda Hopper declaring Egan to be one of the most promising actors of 1954.

20th Century Fox

In July 1954, Darryl F. Zanuck of Fox offered Egan a seven-year contract at two films a year.

Egan was third billed in Fox's '' Untamed'' (1955), supporting Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward, taking a role that Victor Mature turned down. He was billed second in Fox's ''Violent Saturday'' (1955), directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Mature. The film was a success.

Fox announced him for ''Women in the Woods'' with Sheree North and Rita Moreno but it was not made.

Stardom

Egan was top-billed in Fox's ''Seven Cities of Gold'' (1955), an adventure film. He had the star part in '' The View from Pompey's Head'' (1955), which was well received.

He starred in ''The Revolt of Mamie Stover'' (1956), opposite Jane Russell again (playing a part turned down by Marilyn Monroe).

Egan went to RKO for a Western, ''Tension at Table Rock'' (1956). He followed this with another Western at Fox, '' Love Me Tender'' (1956), where Egan was top billed. It was a success at the box office. However this was attributed to the third-billed actor who played Egan's character's brother, Elvis Presley, whose first film it was. The success of the film saw Egan voted as the 13th biggest star in the US according to an exhibitor poll.

Egan signed a contract with Universal where he made '' Slaughter on Tenth Avenue'' (1957), and '' Voice in the Mirror'' (1958).

Back at Fox, Egan starred with Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner in '' The Hunters'' (1958), and Don Murray in '' These Thousand Hills'' (1959).

Egan had another hit with ''A Summer Place'' (1959) at Warner Bros. which co-starred Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue.

In 1960, Egan appeared with Jane Wyman and Hayley Mills in Disney's '' Pollyanna''. He co-starred with Joan Collins in Fox's ''Esther and the King'' (1960).

Egan was Rod Serling's first choice to narrate ''The Twilight Zone'', because of his distinctive voice. However, contractual issues got in the way, and Serling himself narrated instead, rather than select any actor other than his first choice.

Egan played the lead role of Leonidas I in Fox's ''The 300 Spartans'' (1962).

Television

Egan starred in the NBC western dramatic series, ''Empire'', which aired from September 25, 1962 to December 31, 1963. In the shortened second season, the program was renamed '' Redigo'' after Egan's character, ranch manager Jim Redigo.

When the series ended Egan starred in a TV thriller '' Fanfare for a Death Scene'' (1964). He did "Massacre at Fort Phil Kearney" for ''Theatre of Stars'' (1966) and the TV movie '' Valley of Mystery'' (1967).

In 1966, when asked about his lack of film roles, he said, "They want anti-heroes now, and it's just not for me. I'm just not right for that. It's much easier to be cynical than to make a positive statement, to set up a man only to knock him down, than to show convincingly a man who successfully sticks by his beliefs. We desperately need something to give strength and fortitude to the lost. I want to be a part of that. Part of the solution. And if I can't . . . well . . . I'm sure not interested in becoming part of the problem instead."

Egan had the lead in some low-budget films, ''Chubasco'' (1968) and ''The Destructors