25 Facts About John McIntire

John Herrick McIntire was an American character actor who appeared in 65 theatrical films and many television series.

John McIntire played Christopher Hale, the leader of the wagon train from early 1961 to the series' end in 1965.

John McIntire replaced Charles Bickford, upon Bickford's death in 1967, as ranch owner Clay Grainger on NBC's The Virginian for four seasons.

John McIntire was born in Spokane, Washington, the son of Byron Jean McIntire and Chastine Uretta Herrick McIntire.

John McIntire grew up primarily in Eureka, Montana, around ranchers, an experience that later inspired his performances in dozens of film and television westerns.

John McIntire studied at the University of California for two years before dropping out.

John McIntire began acting on radio in Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher and he met his future wife Jeanette Nolan through their work on radio programs.

John McIntire played the title role in a Los Angeles radio station's production of The Adventures of Bill Lance and was the first actor to play the title role in the CBS radio drama Crime Doctor.

John McIntire played Jack Packard in I Love a Mystery and Peter Carter in the radio version of The Lineup.

John McIntire worked on many episodes of Suspense from the early 1940s.

John McIntire can be heard on an episode of the radio version of Gunsmoke on CBS portraying Miss Kitty's estranged father.

John McIntire was active in the theatre, before he embarked on a lengthy film and television career as a character actor.

John McIntire was already 40 when he made his big-screen debut in 1947 in the movie The Hucksters, but went on to appear in films, often portraying police figures, doctors, judges, eccentric loners or other western characters.

John McIntire guest-starred as Judson in the episode "Chinese Invasion" of NBC's one-season western series, Cimarron City, with George Montgomery and John Smith.

John McIntire procured a regular role on ABC's Naked City, before his character was killed off.

John McIntire was cast from January to May 1961 in the supporting role of Pa Canfield in the NBC American Civil War drama The Americans.

John McIntire was a guest star playing a dogged investigative radio newsman 'Lauren Hall' in The Untouchables episode; 'A Seat On The Fence'.

John McIntire's co-stars were Robert Horton, Robert Fuller, Denny Scott Miller, Terry Wilson, Frank McGrath, and Michael Burns.

In 1960, John McIntire guest-starred as William Palmer in the series finale, "The Most Dangerous Gentleman", of the short-lived NBC western Overland Trail, starring William Bendix and Doug McClure, his subsequent co-star on The Virginian.

Also in 1960 John McIntire starred in a The Twilight Zone episode "The Chaser" where he played a mysterious purveyor of potions.

John McIntire guest starred twice in the western TV series Bonanza: he played Sheriff Mike Latimer in the 1961 episode "The Bride" and he portrayed Old Charlie Conners in the 1966 episode "Old Charlie".

John McIntire played Clay Grainger, the brother of Bickford's character for four seasons, a major recurring leading role in a weekly 90-minute western series similar in size and scope to his earlier work on Wagon Train.

John McIntire played the supporting role of Judge Parker in Rooster Cogburn, the sequel to True Grit starring John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn, and appeared as Owen Keating in the 1977 television miniseries Aspen.

John McIntire married actress Jeanette Nolan on August 26,1935, and the couple had two children together, one of whom was actor Tim John McIntire.

John McIntire died from emphysema and lung cancer at St Luke's Hospital in Pasadena on January 30,1991, at the age of 83.