John McIntire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John McIntire
McIntire as Chris Hale in Wagon Train (1961)
Born	(1907-06-27)June 27, 1907 Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Died	January 30, 1991(1991-01-30) (aged 83) Pasadena, California, U.S.
Resting place	Tobacco Valley Cemetery, Eureka, Montana, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Southern California
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1932–1989
Spouse(s)	Jeanette Nolan ​ (m. 1935)​
Children	Tim McIntire Holly Wright

John Herrick McIntire (June 27, 1907 – January 30, 1991) was an American actor. He was known for playing many different types of characters in movies and TV shows. He appeared in 65 films and many television series.

McIntire became famous for taking over lead roles in popular TV shows. He replaced Ward Bond as the star of Wagon Train in 1961. He played Christopher Hale, the leader of the wagon train, until the show ended in 1965. He also replaced Charles Bickford on The Virginian in 1967. There, he played ranch owner Clay Grainger for four seasons.

Early Life and Education

John McIntire was born on June 27, 1907, in Spokane, Washington. His parents were Byron Jean and Chastine Uretta McIntire. His family had roots in Ireland.

He spent most of his childhood in Eureka, Montana. He grew up around ranchers and their way of life. This experience later helped him play many roles in Western movies and TV shows. Later, he lived in Santa Monica, California.

McIntire went to the University of California for two years. However, he decided to leave before finishing his degree.

Acting Career

McIntire started his acting career on the radio. He appeared in shows like Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher. He met his future wife, Jeanette Nolan, while working on radio programs.

He played the main character in The Adventures of Bill Lance. He was also the first actor to play the lead in the CBS radio drama Crime Doctor. McIntire played Jack Packard in I Love a Mystery. He was Peter Carter in the radio version of The Lineup. He also worked on many episodes of Suspense starting in the 1940s. He was the narrator for radio shows like Lincoln Highway and The March of Time. You can even hear him in an episode of the radio version of Gunsmoke.

McIntire also acted in the theatre. He began his long film and television career as a character actor later in life. He was 40 years old when he first appeared on the big screen in 1947. His first movie was "The Hucksters." He often played police officers, doctors, judges, or unique Western characters.

Memorable Film Roles

McIntire and James Stewart in The Far Country (1955)

Some of his most famous roles were in Western films. These include The Far Country (1955) with James Stewart. He also starred in The Tin Star (1957) with Henry Fonda. In Anthony Mann's Winchester '73, McIntire played a clever card player and gun seller.

He also gave a great performance as an older detective in Scene of the Crime (1949). He played a police commissioner in The Asphalt Jungle (1950). McIntire was a sheriff in the 1960 Hitchcock thriller Psycho. He also played a reverend in the 1960 drama Elmer Gantry.

McIntire received his best reviews for his role in The Phenix City Story (1955). In this true-crime movie, he played Albert Patterson. Patterson was a politician who fought against local criminals.

Moving to Television

In the mid-1950s, McIntire started working in television. He appeared in many different types of shows. These included drama series and comedies. He was a guest star in the episode "Chinese Invasion" of the Western series Cimarron City.

1962 Wagon Train cast with (clockwise) McIntire, Terry Wilson, Frank McGrath, and Scott Miller.

With Wagon Train guest stars Dan Duryea and Jane Wyman, 1962

McIntire had a regular role on ABC's Naked City. He also played Pa Canfield in the NBC American Civil War drama The Americans in 1961.

Even though he never played the main character in a movie, television gave him his most important roles. In 1961, he took over from the late Ward Bond in Wagon Train. He played trailmaster Chris Hale in over 150 episodes. His co-stars included Robert Horton and Robert Fuller.

In 1960, McIntire was a guest star in the final episode of Overland Trail. He also appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "The Chaser" in 1960. McIntire guest-starred twice in the Western TV series Bonanza. He played Sheriff Mike Latimer in 1961 and Old Charlie Conners in 1966. In 1967, he was a guest star in an episode of Dundee and the Culhane.

McIntire replaced actor Charles Bickford on NBC's The Virginian in 1967. This was after Bickford passed away. McIntire played Clay Grainger, who was Bickford's character's brother. He played this major role for four seasons.

His later film roles include playing Judge Parker in Rooster Cogburn (1975). This movie starred John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn. He also appeared in the 1977 TV miniseries Aspen. His very last film role was in Turner & Hooch (1989).

In 1979–1980, McIntire played Ethan McHenry in Shirley on NBC. In 1981, he played Sam Whittier on the ABC drama The American Dream.

Working with Jeanette Nolan

Starting in 1960, McIntire often appeared with his wife, Jeanette Nolan. They were both in Psycho. He played a sheriff, and she voiced some of the "mother" lines. In the Wagon Train episode "The Janet Hale Story," McIntire and Nolan played husband and wife. They also played a married couple in The Virginian.

They appeared together as a married couple again in The Fugitive (1966). Their real-life son, Tim, also appeared in that episode. In a 1979 Charlie's Angels episode, they played Chris Monroe's aunt and uncle. They were a US senator and his wife in the TV movie Goliath Awaits (1981). In the 1984 movie Cloak & Dagger, they played spies pretending to be harmless tourists. They also played the parents of John Larroquette's character on Night Court.

McIntire and Nolan also worked together as voice actors. In a 1969 TV reading of a radio play, McIntire voiced the Devil. Nolan voiced Lucrezia Borgia. In 1977, they were in the Disney animated film The Rescuers. He voiced the cat Rufus, and she voiced the muskrat Ellie Mae. Four years later, they worked on another Disney film, The Fox and the Hound. McIntire voiced Mr. Digger, a badger, and Nolan voiced Widow Tweed.

Personal Life

With daughter Holly McIntire on Wagon Train (1963)

John McIntire married actress Jeanette Nolan on August 26, 1935. They had two children together. Their son, Tim McIntire, also became an actor. Their daughter, Holly McIntire, was an actress too. She appeared in two episodes of Wagon Train. Later, she became a photographer.

John McIntire passed away on January 30, 1991, at the age of 83. He died from emphysema and lung cancer in Pasadena.

Partial Filmography

See also

In Spanish: John McIntire para niños