Robert Horton (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Horton
Horton in Police Woman (1976)
Born	Mead Howard Horton Jr. (1924-07-29)July 29, 1924 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	March 9, 2016(2016-03-09) (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	UCLA
Occupation	Television film stage actor singer
Years active	1945–1989
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Jobe ​ ​ (m. 1946; div. 1950)​ Barbara Ruick ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1956)​ Marilynn Bradley ​ (m. 1960)​

Horton in Wagon Train, 1957

Horton and Ward Bond in Wagon Train, 1957

Horton in A Man Called Shenandoah, 1965

Horton and Jill St. John in The Spy Killer (1969)

Horton, Angie Dickinson and Earl Holliman in Police Woman, 1976

Robert Horton (born Mead Howard Horton Jr. on July 29, 1924 – died March 9, 2016) was an American actor and singer. He is best known for playing the character Flint McCullough in the TV show Wagon Train from 1957 to 1962.

Early Life and First Steps

Robert Horton was born Mead Howard Horton Jr. on July 29, 1924, in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Mead Howard Horton Sr. and Chelta McMurrin. He had one brother.

As a child, Robert had several surgeries. He attended California Military Institute, where he played football. After finishing school in 1943, he joined the Coast Guard. However, he was medically discharged because of a kidney issue.

In 1945, a lucky meeting with a talent scout led to his first small movie role. He studied acting at the University of Miami and later graduated from UCLA.

Acting Career

Robert Horton started his acting career on stage in New York City. He then signed a contract with MGM Studios and appeared in many films. His first big TV role was in Ford Theatre in 1954.

Wagon Train and Beyond

For six decades, Horton was known for his voice and acting on television. His most famous role was Flint McCullough, the frontier scout in the TV series Wagon Train. He starred in the show from 1957 to 1962. His co-stars included Ward Bond and John McIntire.

Horton left Wagon Train to focus on a career in musical theater. Another actor, Robert Fuller, took over his role as the scout. Interestingly, Fuller looked like Horton, and they even shared the same birthday, though they were born nine years apart.

Other TV Shows and Movies

Horton appeared in many movies and TV shows between 1951 and 1989. He played Drake McHugh in the TV version of Kings Row (1955). This show was part of the Warner Bros. Presents series.

He also had a small role in the film Bright Road with Dorothy Dandridge. Horton appeared in seven episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a popular mystery show. He also appeared on The Barbara Stanwyck Show and The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Singing and Stage Work

In the 1960s, Horton released two songs on Columbia Records: "The Very Thought of You" and "King of the Road". He also released an album called "The Very Thought of You".

For many years, Horton performed as a singer in theaters and nightclubs across America and in Australia. In 1963, he starred as the main male lead in the Broadway musical 110 in the Shade. The show ran for 330 performances.

Later Roles

Horton is also remembered for his unique role as a man who lost his memory in the 1965–1966 TV series A Man Called Shenandoah.

In 1966, he starred in The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones. This was one of the first Westerns made specifically for TV and also shown in cinemas in Europe.

In 1968, Horton co-starred in The Green Slime. This was a science fiction film made in Japan with American and European actors. His character, Jack Rankin, led a space station crew fighting against strange aliens.

From 1983 to 1984, Horton also acted in the daytime soap opera As the World Turns, playing the part of Whit McColl.

Personal Life

Robert Horton was married three times. He was married to Mary Jobe from 1946 to 1950, and to Barbara Ruick from 1953 to 1956. Both of these marriages ended in divorce. In 1960, he married Marilynn Bradley, and they stayed together until his death in 2016.

After his 85th birthday in 2009, Horton announced that he would no longer make public appearances because he was tired of traveling.

Horton was also a licensed pilot and owned his own aircraft. He said his three greatest thrills were his first solo flight, performing for Queen Elizabeth II, and being featured on the TV show This Is Your Life. His French poodle, Jamie, often flew with him.

He was a Republican and supported Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.

Awards

Robert Horton received several awards for his work in television. These included the Golden Boot in 2004 and the Cowboy Spirit Award at the National Festival of the West. On his 90th birthday, he received the Western Legend Award.

Death

In November 2015, Horton was injured in a fall. He passed away on March 9, 2016, at the age of 91. He died in a rehabilitation clinic in Los Angeles.

Filmography