Charles Richard Garland Jr. (July 7, 1927 – May 24, 1969) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was known for playing the recurring role of "Constable Clay Horton" in CBS's television series Lassie from 1954 to 1956.[1]
Richard Garland | |
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![]() Garland in 26 Men, 1957 | |
Born | Charles Richard Garland Jr. (1927-07-07)July 7, 1927 Mineral Wells, Texas, U.S. |
Died | May 24, 1969(1969-05-24) (aged 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Film, stage and television actor |
Years active | 1951–1969 |
Spouse |
Garland was born in Mineral Wells, Texas.[2] He began his career in 1951, first appearing in the stage play Dark of the Moon at the Circle in the Square Theatre.[3] In the same year, Garland was married to actress Beverly Garland for which he was undergoing a contract at the Universal Pictures for at least a year.[3] He also performed in the stage play Dark of the Moon, where Garland had received reviews from critics for which in one of them, it had stated that he and his wife, Beverly would "both be famous actors one day soon".[3]
Garland had made film debut in 1951, first appearing in the film Week-End with Father, which starred Van Heflin and Patricia Neal. He then made an appearance in the 1952 film The Cimarron Kid, which starred Audie Murphy and Beverly Tyler.[4] Garland played Big Jim Moore in the film.[4] In the same year, he appeared in the films The Battle at Apache Pass, starring John Lund and Jeff Chandler; Red Ball Express, again with Jeff Chandler; Scarlet Angel, starring Yvonne De Carlo and Rock Hudson; Untamed Frontier, starring Joseph Cotten, Shelley Winters and Scott Brady; Son of Ali Baba, starring Tony Curtis and Torpedo Alley, starring Mark Stevens and Dorothy Malone.[5]
Garland divorced Beverly Garland in 1953. Garland had felt miserable about his divorce.[3] He began to drink too much in the late 1950s. Garland kept on drinking too heavily the rest of his life.[3] He still appeared in films. Garland made his television debut in the situation comedy television series My Little Margie in 1953. He also made appearances in the western television series The Adventures of Kit Carson.[6]
Garland appeared in numerous films, such as Forever Female (1953), starring Ginger Rogers and William Holden; The Desperado (1954), starring Wayne Morris; The Man from Bitter Ridge (1955), starring Lex Barker, Mara Corday and Stephen McNally; Friendly Persuasion (1956), starring Gary Cooper; My Gun Is Quick (1957), starring Robert Bray and Whitney Blake; 13 Fighting Men (1960), starring Grant Williams, Brad Dexter and Carole Matthews; Panic in Year Zero! (1962), starring Ray Milland and Mutiny in Outer Space (1965), starring William Leslie and Dolores Faith.[7] His final credit was from the 1966 film The Chase, which starred Marlon Brando. He made guest-starring in television programs including The Deputy, 77 Sunset Strip, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Mission: Impossible, 26 Men, Daniel Boone, Perry Mason and The Virginian.[6]
Garland died in May 1969 of alcoholism in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 41.[6] His body was used in a medical school as a laboratory specimen.[6]