Rockne Tarkington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockne Tarkington
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Rockne Tarkington in The Andy Griffith Show 1967
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| Born |
William Rockne Tarkington, Jr.
May 14, 1932 Junction City, Kansas, United States
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| Died | April 5, 2015 (aged 83) Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1963–1995 |
| Spouse(s) |
Joan Blackman
(m. 1968; div. 1970) |
William Rockne Tarkington, Jr. (May 14, 1932 – April 5, 2015) was an American actor. He worked in theater, movies, and on television. Tarkington was known for his many roles during his long career.
Contents
About Rockne Tarkington
Early Life and Acting Start
Rockne Tarkington was born in Junction City, Kansas. He started his acting journey on stage. Later, he moved into television. He made guest appearances on many popular TV shows.
Some of these shows included The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Mission: Impossible. He also appeared on Bewitched.
Famous TV Roles
Tarkington made history on The Andy Griffith Show. He was the first Black actor to have a speaking part on that show. This was a very important step at the time.
He also had a recurring role as Tao on the TV series Tarzan. Kids might remember him as Elihu Morgan. He played this character on Danger Island. This show was part of Hanna-Barbera's Banana Splits Adventure Hour.
Later, he played "Too Mean" Malone on Matt Houston. He also appeared in shows like MacGyver.
Movie Appearances
Rockne Tarkington also acted in many movies. He played the main character in Black Samson (1974). This was a type of action film popular at the time.
He also appeared in films such as Soldier in the Rain (1963) and Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion (1965). Other movies included The Great White Hope (1970) and The Ice Pirates (1984).
Interestingly, Tarkington was almost cast in the famous martial arts movie Enter the Dragon (1973). However, another actor, Jim Kelly, got the part instead.
Personal Life
For most of his career, Tarkington lived in Los Angeles. He was married to actress Joan Blackman for a few years.
In the 1990s, he moved back to Kansas. He went home to help care for his mother. Later in his life, he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
