Richard Egan (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Egan
Egan in 1949
Born	(1921-07-29)July 29, 1921 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	July 20, 1987(1987-07-20) (aged 65) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery
Other names	Richard Eagan
Education	University of San Francisco Stanford University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1949–1987
Spouse(s)	Patricia Hardy ​ (m. 1958)​

Richard Egan (born July 29, 1921 – died July 20, 1987) was an American actor. He started his acting career in 1949. He won a Golden Globe Award for his roles in the films The Glory Brigade (1953) and The Kid from Left Field (1953).

Richard Egan starred in many popular movies. Some of these include Underwater! (1955), Seven Cities of Gold (1955), and Love Me Tender (1956). He also appeared in A Summer Place (1959) and The 300 Spartans (1962).

Early Life and Education

Richard Egan was born and grew up in San Francisco, California. His family was of Irish descent. He went to St. Ignatius College Preparatory high school.

In 1938, he won a public-speaking contest. This made him very interested in performing. His brother, who was a priest, supported his dreams.

Egan loved drama and studied it at the University of San Francisco. In 1943, he joined the United States Army during World War II. He taught judo and knife fighting. He served for a year in the Philippines and left the army as a captain.

He later said that the war gave him time to think about what he really wanted to do. He decided he wanted to be an actor.

After the war, Egan went back to school. He earned a master's degree in theater history from Stanford University. He used the G.I. Bill to help pay for his studies. After that, he taught public speaking at Northwestern University.

While teaching, he acted in many plays at the university. A talent scout from Warner Bros saw him perform. The scout encouraged him to try acting in Hollywood.

Acting Career Highlights

Richard Egan's journey to becoming a movie star took some time. At first, he had several screen tests that did not go well.

He finally got a small part in a 1949 movie called The Story of Molly X. He then had other small roles in films like The Good Humor Man (1950) and The Damned Don't Cry (1950). In The Damned Don't Cry, he played Joan Crawford's husband.

Rising in Hollywood

Richard Egan playing tennis (1956)

In 1950, Egan signed a contract with Universal Studios. He played supporting roles in many films there. He often played characters who said short lines like, "Charlie, the horses are ready!"

A big moment came when a casting director told him to take off his shirt. This led to a small but important role in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954). He played a gladiator who fought against actor Victor Mature.

This role helped him get his first main part in the movie Wicked Woman (1953). He also starred in the science fiction film Gog (1954).

Egan then co-starred with Jane Russell in the adventure film Underwater! (1955). This role made him more famous. A well-known Hollywood writer, Hedda Hopper, even called him one of the most promising actors of 1954.

Becoming a Star

In 1954, Richard Egan signed a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. He was a major star in their films.

He was a main actor in Seven Cities of Gold (1955). He also starred in The View from Pompey's Head (1955), which was very popular.

Egan worked with Jane Russell again in The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956). He then starred in the Western movie Love Me Tender (1956). This film was a huge success.

However, much of the film's popularity was due to the third-billed actor, Elvis Presley. It was Elvis's first movie. Even so, the film's success helped Egan become very popular. An audience poll ranked him as the 13th biggest star in the U.S.

Egan continued to star in films like The Hunters (1958) and A Summer Place (1959). A Summer Place was another big hit.

In 1960, he appeared in Disney's Pollyanna with Jane Wyman and Hayley Mills. He also played King Ahasuerus in Esther and the King (1960).

Richard Egan was the first choice to narrate the TV show The Twilight Zone. The show's creator, Rod Serling, liked Egan's unique voice. But due to contract problems, Serling narrated the show himself.

Egan played the lead role of Leonidas I in the historical film The 300 Spartans (1962).

Television Roles

Richard Egan starred in the NBC western TV series, Empire. It aired from 1962 to 1963. In its second season, the show was renamed Redigo after Egan's character, Jim Redigo.

After the series ended, Egan appeared in TV movies like Valley of Mystery (1967).

In 1966, he explained why he wasn't doing as many films. He said that movies were looking for "anti-heroes" at the time. He preferred to play strong, positive characters who stuck to their beliefs. He wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem.

Egan continued to act in films like Chubasco (1968) and The Big Cube (1969). He also co-starred with Barbara Stanwyck in the TV movie The House That Would Not Die (1970).

Later Career

In the 1970s, Egan started appearing as a guest star on TV shows. These included The Streets of San Francisco and Police Story.

From 1974, he spent eight years touring in stage plays. He performed in shows like No Hard Feelings and Hanky Panky.

He also starred in the TV movie Mission to Glory: A True Story (1977). In 1982, Egan joined the TV soap opera, Capitol, as a regular character.

Personal Life

Richard Egan met his wife, Patricia Hardy, in 1956. They got married in June 1958.

Richard Egan passed away in Santa Monica, California, on July 20, 1987. He was 65 years old and died from prostate cancer. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Partial Filmography

Images for kids

• 

  Egan in 1949

• 

  Richard Egan playing tennis (1956)

See also

In Spanish: Richard Egan para niños