Richard Coogan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Coogan
Coogan in 1958
Born	(1914-04-04)April 4, 1914 Madison, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	March 12, 2014(2014-03-12) (aged 99) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1941–1963
Partner(s)	Leona
Children	1

Richard Charles Potter Coogan (born April 4, 1914 – died March 12, 2014) was an American actor. He was most famous for playing Captain Video in the TV show Captain Video and His Video Rangers from 1949 to 1950.

Richard Coogan's Acting Career

Richard Coogan was born in Madison, New Jersey. Before becoming a TV star, he worked in radio. He even appeared in a radio show called Abie's Irish Rose.

Early Stage and TV Roles

Coogan also performed on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. He was in five different plays between 1945 and 1955. Two of his most successful plays were Diamond Lil, where he acted alongside the famous actress Mae West, and The Rainmaker.

While he was still acting in Diamond Lil on Broadway, he took on the role of Captain Video. This was for a new TV show called Captain Video and His Video Rangers, which started on June 27, 1949, on the DuMont Television Network.

Life as Captain Video

Playing Captain Video was a busy job! After the live TV show ended each day around 7:30 pm, Richard Coogan would take a taxi straight to the theater for his Broadway play.

As Captain Video became more popular, Coogan started to feel uncomfortable with the role. The show also had a very small budget. Because of these reasons, he decided to leave Captain Video in December 1950. Another actor named Al Hodge took over the role and played Captain Video until the show ended in 1955. After leaving Captain Video, Coogan joined the soap opera Love of Life, where he played a hero named Paul Raven.

Coogan in Movies and Other TV Shows

Between 1954 and 1961, Richard Coogan appeared in several movies. Some of these films include Three Hours to Kill, The Revolt of Mamie Stover, and Vice Raid.

He also had a regular role on the NBC Western TV series The Californians. This show was set in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush in the 1850s. Coogan played Marshal Matthew Wayne. Many people thought his character was similar to Marshal Matt Dillon from the popular show Gunsmoke. His co-stars included Carole Mathews and later Art Fleming, who became famous as the host of Jeopardy!.

Coogan also had a continuing role in the police show Vice Raid from 1960 to 1961, where he played Sergeant Whitey Brandon. From 1951 to 1963, he appeared as a guest star on many other TV series. Most of these were Westerns like Gunsmoke, Laramie, Bonanza, Maverick, and Cheyenne. He also appeared in crime dramas such as Perry Mason.

Retirement from Acting

Richard Coogan stopped acting in films and television in 1963. His last TV appearances were on Perry Mason and Gunsmoke. After he retired from acting, he became well-known as a professional golfer and a golf instructor.

Richard Coogan's Later Life and Death

Richard Coogan passed away on March 12, 2014, in Los Angeles. He died from natural causes, just a few weeks before his 100th birthday.

Filmography