Gary Clarke

Gary Clarke
Clarke as Steve Hill on The Virginian.
Born	Clarke Frederick L'Amoreaux (1936-08-16) August 16, 1936 (age 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor: Michael Shayne and The Virginian
Spouse(s)	Marilyn (1954-?) Pat Woodell (1964-1985) Jerrene (1991-present)
Children	5

Marilyn (1954-?) Pat Woodell (1964-1985)

Gary Clarke (born Clarke L'Amoreaux, August 16, 1933) is an American actor best known for his role as Steve Hill in the NBC western television series The Virginian with James Drury and Doug McClure.

Clarke was born in Los Angeles, California, of French and Mexican heritage, and grew up in the predominantly Chicano neighborhood of East Los Angeles. While in high school, he began pursuing the idea of an acting career, and after graduation won a role in a community theater play in San Gabriel, California. This led to work in a series of plays in Glendale, California. During this time, Clarke was working as a machinist in San Gabriel, as well as a newspaper deliveryman.

Clarke began his screen career with the 1958 film Dragstrip Riot, recalling that agent Byron Griffith, who had seen him perform in Glendale, arranged for an audition that eventually led to his filling the lead role. Clarke recalled:

I drove from San Gabriel to Hollywood and read for the part, and I got in as a member of the good gang. I went back to work the next day and my agent called me again and he said, 'Gary, they have just lost the lead in the movie. Can you get down here?' Yes! So I ... went home [from work] and changed and went down, and I read every day for five days. I didn't go back to work, I just kept calling in sick.

He went on to work in other films, including How to Make a Monster, and Missile to the Moon (both 1958), Date Bait (1960), and Passion Street, U.S.A. (1964). He has said he was a contract player at Universal Pictures.