Gene Evans

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia   Gene Evans July 11 1922 April 1 1998 was an American actor He was born in Holbrook Arizona but reared in Colton California His acting career began while he was serving in World War II He performed with a theatrical troupe of GIs in Europe Evans made his film debut in 1947 and appeared in dozens of movies and television programs He specialized in playing tough guys like cowboys sheriffs convicts and sergeants Evans appeared in numerous films produced directed and written by Samuel Fuller In his memoirs A Third Face Fuller described meeting Evans when casting his Korean War film The Steel Helmet in 1950 Fuller threw an M1 Garand rifle at Evans who caught it and inspected it as a soldier would have done Evans had been a US Army engineer in the war Fuller kept Evans and refused John Wayne for the role and fighting to keep him despite Robert L Lippert and his partner wanting Larry Parks for the role Fuller walked off the film and would not return until Evans was reinstated Evans also appeared in Fullers Fixed Bayonets Hell and High Water Shock Corridor and lost thirty pounds to play the lead in Park Row Evans portrayed the authoritarian but wise father Rob McLaughlin on the 19561957 television series My Friend Flicka based on a Western novel and film of the same name set in Wyoming He appeared with Anita Louise 19151970 as his wife Nell Johnny Washbrook born 1944 as his son Ken and fellow character actor Frank Ferguson 18991978 as the ranch handyman Gus Broeberg who addressed Evans as Captain In 1958 Evans costarred as Major Al Arthur in the film Damn Citizen based on the life of crusading Louisiana State Police superintendent Francis Grevemberg Keith Andes starred as Grevemberg In the fall of 1976 Evans starred in the elevenepisode CBS adventure series Spencers Pilots with Christopher Stone Todd Susman and Britt Leach In January 1979 Evans appeared as Garrison Southworth in one episode of CBSs Dallas in January 1979 He appeared in ten episodes of CBSs Gunsmoke with James Arness including The Snow Train and Tatum In 1965 he guest starred as Jake Burnett in the episode Vendetta of ABCs western The Legend of Jesse James starring Christopher Jones Two years later he appeared as Deedricks in the episode Breakout of another ABC western Custer starring Wayne Maunder in the title role In the late 1980s Evans appeared on stage as the gruesome Papa in the stage production Papa is All directed by playwright Tommy F Scott in Jackson Tennessee He retired to a farm in Tennessee following his role in the original film version of Walking Tall Description above from the Wikipedia article Gene Evans  licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia