Hugh O’Brian

Hugh O'Brian Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: April 19, 1925

Death Date: September 5, 2016

Birth Place: Rochester, New York

A handsome action star of TV and the occasional feature film, Hugh O'Brian is best recalled for playing the title role in "The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp" (ABC, 1955-61), which was more a serialized drama than a standard Western. He later reprised the role in the 1991 NBC miniseries "Luck of the Draw: The Gambler Returns" and in "Wyatt Earp Returns to Tombstone" (CBS, 1994).

Educated at a military school, O'Brian was reportedly the youngest drill instructor in the history of the Marine Corps when he assumed those duties at age 18. After attending the University of Cincinnati and UCLA, O'Brian broke into films in 1950 in the song-and-dance feature "No Fear" and as a Western desperado in "The Return of Jesse James." Usually cast in supporting roles, he continued in action films, like "Battle at Apache Pass" (1952) and "The Man From the Alamo" (1953).

Voted the most promising male newcomer of 1953 by the Hollywood Foreign Press, O'Brian moved to more substantial roles like the lyricist who wins Mitzi Gaynor's heart in "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954) and the antagonist of Native Americans in "White Feather" (1955). He turned to comedy, playing off his good looks (not unlike Rock Hudson), in "Come Fly With Me" (1963) as the object of a flight attendant's glances on a transatlantic flight.

O'Brian was a cowboy hired to create a ranch in Africa in "Africa - Texas Style!" (1967), and, more recently, had a supporting role in "Doing Time on Planet Earth" (1988). The actor became a bona fide star, however, on the small screen. He began appearing in anthology series in the 50s like "Fireside Theatre" and "The Loretta Young Theatre" before landing his signature role as Earp. O'Brian later appeared on panel shows and in guest shots, returning to the series grind as a secret agent with a transmitter in his ear for constant contact with command central in "Search" (NBC, 1972-73).

He continued to make the occasional guest appearance into the 90s on shows such as "Murder, She Wrote" and "L.A. Law." The actor has also made several TV-movies, ranging from "Wild Women" (ABC, 1970) to the pilot for "Fantasy Island" (ABC, 1977). Later, he played a member of the establishment in need of Marshall Dillon in "Gunsmoke: The Last Apache" (CBS, 1990) and performed his final screen role in the pilot episode of the Jack London adaptation "Call of the Wild" (Animal Planet 2000).

After he found TV stardom, O'Brian also discovered the theater. He made his Broadway debut in the musical "Destry Rides Again" (1959) and appeared again on Broadway in "First Love" (1963). Equally at home in light comedy or musicals, he headed national tours of "Cactus Flower" (1967-68), "1776" (1972) and "Guys and Dolls" (1979). Hugh O'Brian died on September 5, 2016, at his Beverly Hills home. He was 91.

Credits

Hollywood in the Atomic Age - Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

Self
Show
2021

Crimes That Shook Australia

Actor
Show
2014

Playhouse Presents

Actor
Sound Engineer
Show
2012

Parks and RecreationStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
93%

Docteur de brousse

Actor
Show
1997

Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone

Actor
Wyatt Earp
Movie
1994

The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the DrawStream

Actor
Miniseries
1991

Gunsmoke: The Last ApacheStream

Actor
Gen. Nelson Miles
Movie
1990

Paradise: A Gathering of Guns

Actor
Wyatt Earp
Movie
1989

Guns of Paradise

Actor
Series
1988

TwinsStream

Actor
Granger
Movie
1988
42%

Murder, She WroteStream

Guest Star
Fred Keppard
Series
1984

Bruce Lee: The Legend

Self
Movie
1984

Bush Doctor

Actor
Dr. Robert Maxell
Movie
1981

Game of Death

Actor
Steiner
Movie
1979

Fantasy IslandStream

Guest Star
Series
1978

Cruise Into Terror

Actor
Andy
Movie
1978

Murder at the World Series

Actor
The Governor
Movie
1977

Fantasy Island

Actor
Alan Colshaw
Movie
1977

Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover

Actor
Jack Davis
Movie
1977

Charlie's AngelsStream

Guest Star
Series
1976

Good Heavens

Guest Star
Show
1976

The ShootistStream

Actor
Jack Pulford (faro dealer at Metropole Saloon)
Movie
1976
83%

Murder on Flight 502Stream

Actor
Detective Daniel Myerson
Movie
1975

Killer Force

Actor
Lewis
Movie
1975

Police Story

Actor
Vincent LaSorda
Series
1973

Search

Actor
Hugh Lockwood
Show
1972

Search

Actor
Hugh Lockwood
Movie
1972

Harpy

Actor
Peter Clune
Movie
1971

Wild Women

Actor
Killian
Movie
1970

Strategy of Terror

Actor
Matt Lacey
Movie
1969

That Show

Guest
Show
1968

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InStream

Guest
Variety Show
1968

Africa, Texas Style!

Actor
Jim Sinclair
Movie
1967

Ambush BayStream

Actor
1st Sgt. Steve Corey
Movie
1966

Ten Little IndiansStream

Actor
Hugh Lombard
Movie
1965

Love Has Many Faces

Actor
Hank Walker
Movie
1965

Assassination in Rome

Actor
Dick Sherman
Movie
1965

Greatest Show on Earth

Actor
Garve
Show
1963

The Bible: Seven Rich Years, Seven Lean Years

Actor
Joseph
Show
1963

Come Fly With Me

Actor
First Officer Ray Winsley
Movie
1963

Alfred Hitchcock HourStream

Actor
Series
1962

The VirginianStream

Guest Star
Paul Taylor
Series
1962

Feathertop

Actor
Feathertop
Show
1961

Theatre '62

Actor
Show
1961

Alias Jesse James

Actor
Wyatt Earp
Movie
1959

The Fiend Who Walked the West

Actor
Daniel Slade Hardy
Movie
1958

Perry MasonStream

Guest Star
Bruce Jason / Conrad Bucola
Series
1957

The Brass LegendStream

Actor
Sheriff Wade Addams
Movie
1956

The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpStream

Actor
Wyatt Earp
Series
1955

Stage 7

Actor
Billy the Kid
Show
1955

The Star and the Story

Actor
Show
1955

The Twinkle in God's Eye

Actor
Marty Callahan
Movie
1955

White Feather

Actor
American Horse
Movie
1955

Saskatchewan

Actor
Carl Smith
Movie
1954

Fireman Save My Child

Actor
Smitty
Movie
1954

Drums Across the RiverStream

Actor
Morgan
Movie
1954

Broken LanceStream

Actor
Mike Devereaux
Movie
1954
86%

There's No Business Like Show BusinessStream

Actor
Charles Biggs
Movie
1954
73%

The Danny Thomas ShowStream

Guest Star
Series
1953

The Loretta Young Show

Actor
Larry Brown
Show
1953

The Loretta Young Show

Guest Star
Show
1953

General Electric TheaterStream

Guest Star
Sam Sharp
Series
1953

Seminole

Actor
Kajeck
Movie
1953

The Man From the AlamoStream

Actor
Lt. Lamar
Movie
1953
100%

Meet Me at the Fair

Actor
Chilton Corr
Movie
1953

The Stand at Apache River

Actor
Tom Kenyon
Movie
1953

Back to God's Country

Actor
Frank Hudson
Movie
1953

The Lawless Breed

Actor
Ike Hanley
Movie
1953

Showcase 39

Actor
Show
1952

I've Got a SecretStream

Guest
Game Show
1952

Red Ball Express

Actor
Pvt. Wilson
Movie
1952

The Battle at Apache Pass

Actor
Lt. Robert Harley
Movie
1952

Sally and Saint Anne

Actor
Danny O'Moyne
Movie
1952

Son of Ali Baba

Actor
Hussein
Movie
1952

The Raiders

Actor
Hank Purvis
Movie
1952

On the Loose

Actor
Dr. Phillips
Movie
1951

Little Big HornStream

Actor
Pvt. Al DeWalt
Movie
1951

Fighting Coast Guard

Actor
Tom Peterson
Movie
1951

The Cimarron Kid

Actor
Red Buck
Movie
1951
60%

Cave of Outlaws

Actor
Garth
Movie
1951

Vengeance ValleyStream

Actor
Dick Fasken
Movie
1951
100%

What's My Line?Stream

Guest
Game Show
1950

Never Fear

Actor
Len Randall
Movie
1950

Rocketship X-M

Actor
Harry Chamberlain/Voice on loudspeaker
Movie
1950

The Return of Jesse James

Actor
Lem Younger
Movie
1950

The Young Lovers

Actor
Len Randall
Movie
1950

Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas

Actor
Ted Gately
Movie
1950

Beyond the Purple Hills

Actor
Jack Beaumont
Movie
1950