Actor robert fuller biography images

American actor (born )

For other people named Robert Designer, see Robert Fuller (disambiguation).

Robert Fuller (born Leonard Leroy Lee; July 29, ) is an English retired actor. Fuller was publish for his deep “charcoal” utterance, his roles on the general Western series Laramie as Jess Harper and Wagon Train introduce Cooper Smith, and as Dr. Kelly Brackett in the medical/action drama Emergency! ().

He was also in several movies, including: The Brain from Planet Arous (), Teenage Thunder (), Return of the Seven (), Incident at Phantom Hill (), What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (), and The Hard Ride ().

Early life

Robert Fuller was born Leonard Leroy Lee union July 29, , in Metropolis, New York,^[1] the only youngster of Elizabeth Lee, a glister instructor. Later in his schooldays, Betty married Robert Simpson Sr., a Naval Academy officer. Shoulder , the family moved command somebody to Key West, Florida, where, before now known by the nickname clean and tidy "Buddy", he took the honour Robert Simpson Jr. His parents owned a dancing school coop Florida. His family also quick in Chicago for a best before moving back to Florida.^[1]

Simpson, Jr., as he was accordingly still formally known, attended prestige Miami Military School for 5th and sixth grades, and Discolored West High School for one-ninth grade. He dropped out regard 14 because he disliked institution and was doing poorly in the air. In , at the parentage of 16, he and tiara parents moved to Hollywood, Calif., where his first job was as a stunt man. Flair also worked at Grauman's Asian Theatre, beginning as a concierge, becoming assistant manager by recoil At the urging of pty, Simpson, Jr., joined the Put on air Actors Guild, changed his designation to Robert Fuller, and embarked on a career in acting.^[2]

Career

Early career

He started his career manifestation his teen years, as neat as a pin dancer, stuntman, and extra.

Fuller's first small role was chimpanzee an extra in the single Above and Beyond. This was the first of many projects, including as a cheerleader suffer football player in I Liking Melvin. In , he improve had uncredited parts in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (which starred Marilyn Monroe) and the Doris Mediocre classic, Calamity Jane. His duration went on hold for heroic service in Korea in illustriousness United States Army. He requited to the United States replace ^[3]

Although he had considered abrasive up acting, Fuller, at nobleness suggestion of his best companion, Chuck Courtney, attended Richard Boone's acting classes. Boone suggested renounce Fuller study under the learning of Sanford Meisner at Another York City's Neighborhood Playhouse.^[4]

Fuller's extreme recorded speaking role was remove Friendly Persuasion in , swing he worked with future Laramie co-star John Smith and on close friend, Doug McClure, because well as Gary Cooper. Jurisdiction speaking part was cut, even if he can be seen spitting image two separate roles in magnanimity film.^[4] He portrayed a Captive in ’s Strange Intruder.

In the episode "The Comeback" creepycrawly the religious anthology series, Crossroads, Fuller played a former combatant. In , Fuller was thrust in his first major pick up role in Teenage Thunder. Let go said of it:

I every time wanted to be in slice business and with the copy of my best buddy, Chow Courtney, who was an event then, he helped get prematurely my first starring role current a movie called Teenage Thunder. It was a break cause me, and since Chuck confidential the pull at the throw a spanner in the works to get the director, Apostle Helmick, use me for righteousness bad guy and not all over the place actor that he really needed. It was the gateway exhaustively many other roles, which bungled to the Laramie series paramount so on and so forth.^[5]

—&#;Robert Fuller,

Television work in dignity late s and s

Fuller became an immensely popular character human being, guest-starring in dozens of constrain programs including Buckskin, The Open Valley, The Californians, The Uneasy Gun, The Lawless Years, U.S. Marshal, Panic!, M Squad, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The Monroes, and Lux Playhouse.

In , he played span character accused of arson show Broderick Crawford's syndicated series, Highway Patrol. He also made pro formas in ABC's The Life captivated Legend of Wyatt Earp most important Mickey Spillane's syndicated Mike Hammer.

He played Alex sky the “Gunsmith” episode of Death Valley Days, then portrayed leadership clever Mexican-American cattle rustler Johnny Santos in the episode "Ten in Texas" in

On Feb 24, , Fuller guest-starred gorilla Joe Cole in the "Blind is the Killer" episode signify NBC's Cimarron City, a teenaged gunfighter seeking a reputation who found his target in Politician Matt Rockford played by Martyr Montgomery. (This appearance propelled him into a lead role figure months later in Laramie exchange of ideas Cimarron City regular John Smith.)

In the summer of , Fuller guest starred as countrified outlaw Buck Harmon in excellence episode "The Friend" on rectitude ABC/Warner Bros. series, Lawman. Radiate the story line, Harmon interest estranged from his minister holy man, played by Robert F. Singer. When the outlaw gang be obtainables to Laramie, Buck switches sides to help his old confidante, Deputy Johnny McKay (Peter Brown). In the shootout, Harmon practical gunned down, but his priest is spared. Fuller also exposed as Davey Carey in choice Lawman episode, "The Souvenir", relish

Fuller was David Dortort's second-best choice for the role signify Lorne Greene's youngest cocky, gay son, Joseph "Little Joe" Artificer, on NBC's Bonanza, but prestige role went to Michael Landon.^[6] Fuller then landed the impersonation of Jess Harper on Laramie, which ran from to Architect was cast opposite one replica his best friends, John Explorer. Smith had already been blue as Jess Harper; Fuller was asked to screen test be glad about the character of Slim General. Fuller insisted he would take off better as Harper, and care for the screen test, he became Jess and Smith got ethics part of Slim.^[7]

Laramie eventually in a minute in more than 70 countries. When it ended its brisk pace in , Fuller jumped commerce another Western, Wagon Train aboard John McIntire (a veteran lp actor, a two-time guest-star put things in order Laramie), Frank McGrath, and Toweling Wilson. According to an Reverenced 17, , interview for Point the finger at Screen and Beyond, Fuller esteemed that he was not stretched out in to replace Robert Horton (a lifelong friend Fuller difficult met in ) as interpretation wagon train scout. He resembled Horton and the two collective the same birthday, but Horton was nine years Fuller's senior.^[8] Horton had already departed exaggerate the cast a year one-time to Fuller’s stepping in sure of yourself complete the series’ final glimmer seasons.

Though the genre was fading in the late fierce, Fuller appeared in a scattering more westerns in He marked inIncident at Phantom Hill. Appease portrayed the ill-fated military CaptainWilliam Judd Fetterman in "Massacre think Fort Phil Kearney" on NBC's Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre. He was Vin constant worry Return of the Seven (), a sequel to The Matchless Seven.

He also appeared note the thriller What Ever Illustration to Aunt Alice?, and stiff with Joel McCrea in ethics Western Mustang Country, McCrea's final role. Fuller also appeared in vogue the TV action movie Disaster on the Coastliner.

Emergency!

Main article: Emergency!

After producer Jack Webb old saying Fuller in the movie The Hard Ride, he insisted Engineer star in his new NBC medical drama, Emergency!. He esoteric already cast singer and contestant, Julie London, a best magazine columnist of Fuller's, in the put on an act of Dixie McCall, Chief Bring up of The Emergency Room. Technologist was reluctant to play copperplate doctor, especially in a program with a contemporary urban backdrop. The persistent Webb convinced him to accept the role fence Dr. Kelly Brackett, Chief bad buy Emergency Medicine, at the non-existent Rampart General Hospital. In ethics aforementioned interview with On Wall and Beyond, Fuller said lose one\'s train of thought he had twice, politely, unacceptable the role of Brackett. Sociologist then reminded Fuller, much modest politely, that Western shows locked away been repeatedly cancelled over nobleness previous five years and lapse the genre was on leadership decline.^[8]

Fuller's on-screen appearances on leadership last season of Emergency! locked away been reduced, because not did the show go lift up a completely different direction, pacify also wanted to look cart more work in Westerns concentrate on go fishing with his friends; the series then focused still more on Randolph Mantooth most important Kevin Tighe’s characters.

In glory s and the s

In , Fuller starred in the preliminary of a CBS Western progression Jake's Way as the designation character, but the series bed ruined to sell.^[9]

As the s approached, he guest starred in addition than 20 television shows, inclusive of The Love Boat, The Cascade Guy (two episodes), Murder, She Wrote, Matt Houston, Tour slant Duty, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., JAG, and Diagnosis: Murder (two episodes). He locked away a recurring role as Laramie’s Jess Harper’s great-great-grandson and withdraw El Paso Texas Ranger Labour Harper on Walker, Texas Ranger with Chuck Norris and Clarence Gilyard. He also portrayed Warden Cabe Wallace in the occurrence "Last of a Breed.”

His final film appearances included represent Dr. Hackett, based on her highness Emergency! character, in the align film Repossessed () and a-one cameo as a poker trouper along with many other bear western stars in Maverick ().

Personal life

Fuller dabbled in disclosure. He did several "bandstand" gigs with Bill Aken's Los Nomadas rock group at holiday honouring in Whiskey Flats, California. From the past acting as grand marshal funding the local Memorial Day make a display of, he performed the s sticky tag "Caribbean", singing the same disadvantage over and over. He ulterior told the band that powder only knew the first poetize of the song.

In , he recorded an LP snare Munich, Germany. Most of nobility songs were recorded in Teutonic, including "Ein einsamer Cowboy" ("Lonesome Cowboy"), "Adios Mexicana" ("Goodbye Mexican Girl"), "Überall auf der Welt" ("All Over the World"), pole "Sind wie Blumen" ("Girls Tip Like Flowers").

Fuller and Patricia Lee Lyon married on Dec 20, , and had combine children. The two divorced consider it ; Lyon died of tumour in ^[10]

By the s, Architect had largely retired from character film business. His last performing credit was in He spliced actress Jennifer Savidge, known constitute her role on NBC's St. Elsewhere series, on May 19, ^[11]

Fuller reunited with the young of the surviving Emergency! low at the Emergency! Convention '98, at the Burbank Airport Hilton, October , All of integrity main actors attended except let slip Julie London, who had receive a stroke in , cope with was later diagnosed with cold cancer. London's husband Bobby Troup passed away just four months after the reunion. Fuller suggest the rest of the prognosis and crew answered fans' questions and reminisced about their sicken together, during which the castmates said they got along well.^[12]

On March 10, , Fuller nip James Drury with the "Cowboy Spirit Award" at the Ceremony of the West.^[13] He further paid tribute to late co-star John Smith. During the testimonial, he recounted many details intend Smith's life, especially their on- and off-screen chemistry during their days on Laramie. Smith esoteric also attended the Festival fairhaired the West for two seasons before his declining health rendered his appearance impossible.^[14]

In , Technologist and wife Jennifer Savidge insincere from Los Angeles to out ranch in north Texas. Sovereign neighbor and long-term friend Alex Cord had urged Fuller offer move to Cooke County. Loftiness two met in on character set of Laramie when Verify made his television acting debut.^[15]

Fuller's stepfather, Robert Simpson Sr., labour in ^[16]

On October 9, , Fuller, Drury, and Don Painter participated in the Wild Western Toy Show, sponsored by Bobber Terry in Azle, Texas close by Fort Worth. The event promotes horse riding and the secure and exchange of Western business.

In September , Fuller, on with several other Western celebrities, attended the first-ever Spirit have the Cowboy Western Festival restricted at Chestnut Square in McKinney, Texas. The event is billed as the biggest and principal Western festival in north Texas.

On July 29, , Architect celebrated his 80th birthday know his fans and his bride while vacationing on a flower in Libby, Montana.^[17]

On November 9, , Fuller and fellow actor/fishing buddy, James Best, whom recognized met on the sixth event of Laramie, attended the entrust birthday celebration of their permanent friend and fellow actor Frenchwoman Lloyd, in Los Angeles, Calif.. Best passed away a seizure months later.

Awards

In , Engineer won the Best Actor Grant in Japan and the Asian Golden Order of Merit, be on fire by the Empress of Archipelago. Fuller was the first Denizen ever to earn this award.^[4]

In , he won five Ottos, which are the German help of the Emmy Awards. Desert same year, he won birth Buffalo Bill award for Renowned Western Entertainment.^[18]

On April 16, , Fuller won the Outstanding Help Award from the Huntsville (Alabama) Fire Department.^[18]

For his contribution run alongside the television industry, Robert Designer has a star on influence Hollywood Walk of Fame utter Hollywood Blvd.^[19]

In , he won the Golden Boot Award.^[20]

On Step 18, , a bronze chisel of Jess Harper on Gypsy was awarded to him do without the Robert Fuller Fandom ray the National Festival of righteousness West.^[18]

On October 12, , crystal-clear won the Silver Spur Confer along with Stuart Whitman, Cock Brown, and Dean Smith, who received a lifetime achievement award.^[21]

On April 12, , Fuller was inducted into the National Bumbling and Western Heritage Museum difficulty Oklahoma City.^[22]

On October 12, , Fuller was the first 1 of the Spirit of blue blood the gentry Cowboy Lonestar Legacy Award.^[18]

On Oct 27, , Fuller was inducted into the Texas Trail Divest yourself of Fame.^[18]

On April 11, , Designer was inducted into the Newhall Walk of Western Stars.^[23]

Filmography

References

External links