Milburn Stone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milburn Stone
Stone in 1959
Born	Hugh Milburn Stone (1904-07-05)July 5, 1904 Burrton, Kansas, U.S.
Died	June 12, 1980(1980-06-12) (aged 75) La Jolla, California, U.S.
Resting place	El Camino Memorial Park, Sorrento Valley, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1919–1975
Spouse(s)	Ellen Morrison Stone ​ ​ (m. 1925; died 1937)​ Jane Garrison Stone ​ ​ (m. 1939; div. 1940)​ ​ ​ (m. 1946)​
Children	1
Relatives	Fred Stone (uncle) Madge Blake (cousin)

Hugh Milburn Stone (born July 5, 1904 – died June 12, 1980) was an American actor. He is most famous for playing "Doc" (Dr. Galen Adams) in the popular Western TV show Gunsmoke. This show was about life in the Old West. Milburn Stone played the kind and wise town doctor for many years.

Milburn Stone's Early Life

Milburn Stone was born in Burrton, Kansas. His parents were Herbert and Laura Stone. He went to Burrton High School. There, he loved drama, played basketball, and sang in a barbershop quartet. His uncle, Fred Stone, was also a famous actor. He performed on Broadway and in circuses.

Milburn Stone had a chance to go to the United States Naval Academy. But he decided to become an actor instead. He joined a theater group called a stock theater company.

Milburn Stone's Acting Career

Milburn Stone with Dennis Weaver on the Gunsmoke set in 1961.

Milburn Stone started acting on stage in Kansas in 1919. In the late 1920s, he performed in Vaudeville, which was a type of live show. By 1930, he was part of a song-and-dance act. He also acted in two Broadway plays.

In the 1930s, Stone moved to Los Angeles, California. He wanted to act in movies. He appeared in many films. For example, he was in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) with Henry Fonda. He also acted with Roy Rogers in the movie Colorado (1940).

Milburn Stone became a familiar face in movies. He often played serious or strong characters. He was in films like Captive Wild Woman (1943) and Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1944). In 1953, he played a sidekick to Charlton Heston in the Western movie Arrowhead.

Milburn Stone with Ken Curtis in 1974.

In 1955, the popular radio show Gunsmoke became a TV series. Milburn Stone was chosen to play "Doc" Adams. He gave the character a strong and realistic feel. He stayed on Gunsmoke for its entire TV run. This was from 1955 to 1975.

Stone appeared in 604 episodes of Gunsmoke. He often had friendly arguments with his co-stars. These included Dennis Weaver, who played Chester, and Ken Curtis, who played Festus. In 1971, Stone had heart surgery. During that time, another actor, Pat Hingle, filled in for him as Dr. Chapman for seven episodes.

Milburn Stone's Personal Life

Milburn Stone's brother, Joe, was a writer. Joe wrote scripts for three episodes of Gunsmoke. Milburn Stone was also a cousin to the actress Madge Blake.

In March 1971, Stone had heart surgery in Alabama. He passed away from a heart attack in June 1980. He was buried in El Camino Memorial Park in California.

Milburn Stone had one daughter, Shirley Stone Gleason. She was from his first marriage to Ellen Morrison. His second wife, Jane Garrison, passed away in 2002.

Milburn Stone's Legacy

Milburn Stone won an Emmy Award in 1968. This award was for his great acting as a supporting actor in Gunsmoke.

Milburn Stone with Judith Allen in The Port of Missing Girls (1938).

In 1975, he received an honorary doctorate degree. This was from St. Mary of the Plains College. This college was in Dodge City, Kansas, where Gunsmoke was set.

Milburn Stone has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1981, he was added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame. This is at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. After he died, a theater was named after him. The Milburn Stone Theatre is in North East, Maryland. It helps support the performing arts.

Selected Films and TV Shows

See also

In Spanish: Milburn Stone para niños