FILM BRAKE: A TELEVISION KING

Wright King (Thomas Wright Thornburg King 1923-2018) 

Wright King, not to be confused with other notable kings—King Calder or King Donovan—was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned from 1949 until 1978 with an official retirement publicized in 1987. Also of note is King's single 1948 marriage which lasted until his wife's death ten years prior to his. His lengthy career placed him in stage productions on both sides of the Atlantic as well as a prolific supporting actor on numerous television series. Heady stuff for the small-town Oklahoma native. King studied drama at the St. Louis School of Theater, graduating in 1941 before enlisting in the United States Navy, serving in the South Pacific from 1943 to 1945. After being honorably discharged he continued his drama studies in New York at the Actors Studio and the American Theatre Wing. He garnered critical acclaim in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire (1947-49). A role he would repeat in the movie version, below.

His screen debut was in the 1949 television series, Captain Video and His Video Rangers for those who had a budget for a television set. He then gained notice in the thirty-nine episode children's fantasy series, Johnny Jupiter, playing Ernest P. Duckweather (1953-54) on the DuMont Network. Few considered to what heights his career would ascend. King made the rounds on popular anthology series of the day but being in the saddle is where one would soon expect to find him. On his second of three episodes on television's Cheyenne, entitled, “Born Bad” (1958), he played the young outlaw, The Pocatello Kid (below) decked out as if the inspiration for Woody of “Toy Story” fame. The versatile actor brought honesty to his roles, sometimes running a bit close to an over-the-top delivery simply to sell his character. His Pocatello Kid was one such role. Another actor might have played down the role, but King leaves no doubt his character is an immature, hot-headed gunslinger.

In 1957, King starred as a falsely accused horse thief saved from one hanging but not his second after killing one of his original hangmen in “Born To Hang” on Gunsmoke. His first of four appearances with Richard Boone in Have Gun Will Travel (1957) was "Helen of Abajinan." King is a delight to watch in this role as an independent young buck refusing to get tied down by any woman. But he is undeniably smitten by Lisa Gaye, the daughter of an Armenian winemaker. His comedic delivery and facial expressions define his character. His most visible role was eleven episodes on the television series Wanted Dead or Alive (1959) playing Jason Nichols, an eager partner to Steve McQueen's Josh Randall. It was an experiment to infuse another angle in the show or give McQueen what he wanted—less time on the set.

But you cannot keep a good King saddled forever. His two appearances on The Twilight Zone are of special note. In "Shadow Play" (1961), he plays a newspaper editor who becomes convinced that a death row inmate's "dreams" may become reality. His final episode is a dandy, ending under the false pretenses that all “Twilight” episodes ended with a twist—hence the most memorable. “Of Late I Think of Cliffordville” (1963, above right) has King, a forty-year janitor, “switching” roles with a wealthy, arrogant Albert Salmi in the end. All arranged by a devil, Julie Newmar. King had a minor role as Senator Richard B. Russell Jr. of Georgia in one of the most captivating television movies of the Twentieth Century, The Missiles of October (1974), a dramatization of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. King was cast as the District Attorney in the fantasy musical, “Finian's Rainbow” (1968), and notably “unseen” in “Planet of the Apes” (1968) as the chimpanzee veterinarian, Dr. Galen.

FORGOTTEN FILMS: TV TRANSITION

Though typically overshadowed by Hollywood's A-list, there were respectable performances by numerous actors and actresses who never became major film stars. A common career shift was to the new medium of television. These periodic posts offer insight into their transition.

Harry Lauter: Herman Arthur Lauter (1914-1990)

Character actor Harry Lauter seemed destined for television. His many uncredited film roles began a career in which he was better known as “what’s his name” or “that guy.” Though the western villain made up a big chunk of his career, he had bit parts in modern settings like White Heat (1949) or a radio officer in Twelve O’Clock High (1949). He received billing for a small role in Experiment Alcatraz (1950), as a wheelchair-bound veteran. Lauter had uncredited roles in the film noir Roadblock (1951) and as a platoon leader in The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951). He was also uncredited in two notable crime films, Crime Wave (1953) and The Big Heat (1953). His network appearances on the small screen eased him away from the uncredited roles. But never entirely.

Lauter kept busy with several appearances on The Lone Ranger (1949), The Range Rider (1951) and The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951). Lauter guest-starred in one of the twenty-six episodes of Biff Baker, U.S.A. (1952). He played Atlasander on eleven episodes of the serial, Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (1954). He neared stardom in Tales of the Texas Rangers (1955) playing Ranger Clay Morgan for three seasons. Part of the popularity was its twist on the typical western. Each week Willard Parker, as Ranger Jace Pearson, and Lauter played Rangers from different points in history.

Lauter certainly hit his stride on many popular shows during the Fifties. When he was not riding horseback, one might find him in such comedies as The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet or My Favorite Martian. Strictly as a straight man of course. As the Sixties came to a close, Lauter made several appearances on Gunsmoke and Death Valley Days during the western’s waning years. The Seventies cast him often as a sheriff or detective. However, small the role he was a dependable actor.

Note: Before retiring in 1979, there was the occasional bit part in a few forgettable films but television is where he made a name for himself as Harry...somebody or other. He devoted much of his energy late in life to his own painting and running an art gallery.

FORGOTTEN FILMS: TV TRANSITION

Though typically overshadowed by Hollywood's A-list, there were respectable performances by numerous actors and actresses who never became major film stars. A common career shift was to the new medium of television. These periodic posts offer insight into their transition.

Myron Healey: Myrton Healey (1923-2005)

Myron Healey began his career during the early 1940s in uncredited and minor supporting roles at various studios, Monogram Pictures among them. Perhaps for commonality, he or the studio changed his name to Myron. There were not many by either name in Hollywood. The low-budget western film is most associated with the actor and he never abandoned the genre as television loomed. He became a familiar face yet his name usually drew a blank. Perhaps many could not make the connection with a despicable outlaw named Myron. Adding to the confusion, he was sometimes credited as Michael.

There were countless television westerns under Healey’s gun belt. His recurring roles or frequented series appearances are the only ones mentioned here beginning with The Lone Ranger (1950-57) with seven appearances. Healey was a frequent visitor on the set of Cheyenne (1955-62). He had a recurring role as Doc Holliday on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1956-59) and played a doctor twice on the forgotten adventure series, The Man and The Challenge (1959-60). Along the same period, he played Maj. Peter Horry in seven episodes of The Swamp Fox for The Magical World of Disney. Healey left his horse in the stable for several episodes of modern-day dramas, among them Schlitz Playhouse (1955-58) and State Trooper (1957-59). As the Sixties progressed his workload hardly skipped a beat in television or films.

In the Seventies the western was being replaced by detective or police shows. Healey was there as always with numerous appearances on Ironside (1969-72) or Adam-12 (1969-73). But his phone rang less and less as the Eighties drew to a close. An actor does not have much staying power if he is not a team player, like Healey. He was happy to be acting in whatever role he was asked to do without complaining. One sign of a professional. Unfortunately, his professional success did not carry over at home. His four marriages from 1943 to 1971 were all short-term for reasons unknown.

Note: Healey was a child prodigy who sang on radio and performed violin and piano recitals while still in his early teens. He served in World War II as an Air Corps navigator and bombardier in Europe. After the war he continued military duties, retiring in the early 1960s as a captain in the United States Air Force Reserve. His military discipline carried over into his acting career.