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Richard Webb (actor)

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For other people named Richard Webb, see Richard Webb (disambiguation).

Richard Webb
Webb as Captain Midnight (1954)
Born
John Richard Webb

(1915-09-09)September 9, 1915
Bloomington, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 10, 1993(1993-06-10) (aged 77)
Van Nuys, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1941–1979
Spouses
Elizabeth Sterns
​
​
(m. 1942, divorced)​
  • Florence Webb
Children4

John Richard Webb (September 9, 1915 – June 10, 1993) was an American film, television and radio actor.

He appeared in more than fifty films, including many westerns and films noir including Out of the Past (1947), Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948), I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951) and Carson City (1952). Today, he may be best remembered as the star of the 1950s television series, Captain Midnight (Jet Jackson, Flying Commando in syndication), based on a long-running radio program of the same name and Border Patrol.

Early years

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Leaving Brown University theological school in 1936 when he realized he was not meant to be a Methodist minister, Webb enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed with the 1st Coast Artillery Regiment in Panama for three years when he decided to go to Hollywood[1] attending the Bliss Hayden School of Acting.

Career

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1940s

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Webb was discovered by Paramount Pictures in 1940[2] where he was soon engaged as a contract player appearing in such films as I Wanted Wings, Sullivan's Travels and This Gun for Hire . During World War II he reenlisted at Fort Ord in 1942, then was commissioned in the US Army at Fort Benning ending the war as a captain; he remained in the Army Reserve rising to the rank of Major. Four months after leaving the Army he was back at Paramount in O.S.S.. After leaving Paramount Webb was originally offered a leading role in Sands of Iwo Jima. After receiving his salary and costume he was told that "powers that be" wished John Agar in the role and asked him if he would like another part in the film, that Webb accepted.[3]

1950s

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Richard Webb with Mari Aldon at the Florida premiere of Distant Drums (1951)

In 1951, Webb was contracted to Warner Bros where he played in I Was a Communist for the FBI then appeared along with Gary Cooper in the "Florida Western" Distant Drums. In 1957, Webb played Ben Maxwell in the episode "The Long Hunt" of the TV series Maverick. In 1958, Webb appeared in the episode "Wheel of Fortune" of the NBC western series, Jefferson Drum. Webb in 1958 played the role of Rocky Norton in the episode "Dead Reckoning" of the ABC/Warner Bros. western series, Colt .45.

1960s

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In 1960, Webb shot an unsuccessful television pilot for a spy series with Mark Damon, called Calling CQ.[4]

In the same year he was cast as Clay in the episode "Calico" of another ABC/WB western series, The Alaskans then played imposter Henry Walker on CBS's Rawhide in the episode "Incident of the Stargazer". He was also cast in an episode of the 1960 CBS sitcom, My Sister Eileen.

In still another 1960 role, Webb was cast as Thomas Francis Meagher in the 1960 episode "The General Who Disappeared" on the syndicated television anthology series, Death Valley Days. In a 1963 appearance, Webb was cast as Caleb in the Death Valley Days episode, "The Peacemaker".

In 1963, Webb also portrayed George C. Belter, the murdered owner of Spicy Bits, a gossip magazine, in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Velvet Claws. In 1965, Webb again played the murder victim on Perry Mason, this time as Addison Powell in "The Case of the Impetuous Imp."

In 1966 Webb played greedy Furrier “Aaron Tigue” in S11E29's “The Treasure of John Walking Fox” on Gunsmoke. Webb played Lieutenant Commander Ben Finney in an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series ("Court Martial", 1967). In the 1970s, Webb became a writer and published four books on psychic phenomena.

Writing

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Webb wrote four books, Great Ghosts of the West, Voices From Another World and These Came Back, about psychic phenomena and the occult, and The Laughs on Hollywood, a collection of anecdotes about the entertainment industry.[5]

Death

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Hindered by a long-term respiratory illness, Webb died of a self-inflicted gunshot on June 10, 1993, in Van Nuys, California.[6]

Selected filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1960 Rawhide Henry Walker S2:E23, "Incident of the Stargazer"
1961 Rawhide Paul Morgan S4:E9, "The Little Fishes"
1967 Star Trek Lt. Cdr. Ben Finney S1:E20, "Court Martial"

References

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  1. ^ Page 11 The Pantagraph January 19, 1942
  2. ^ p.33 Lenburg, Jeff Peekaboo: The Story of Veronica Lake iUniverse, 1 Aug, 2001
  3. ^ Henderson, Jan Alan 1988 interview Richard Webb'...'My Adventures With Captain Midnight.' Part Three
  4. ^ p. 43 Terrace, Vincent Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937-2012 McFarland, 26 Feb 2013
  5. ^ "Archives".
  6. ^ "Richard Webb, Actor And 50's TV Hero, 77". The New York Times. June 13, 1993.
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