Ralph Taeger

Ralph Taeger
Taeger at the age of thirty-one as Hondo Lane (1967)
Born	(1936-07-30)July 30, 1936 Richmond Hill, New York, U.S.
Died	March 11, 2015(2015-03-11) (aged 78) Placerville, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actor
Spouse(s)	Linda Jarrett Taeger (1967-2015; his death)
Children	1

Ralph Taeger (July 30, 1936 – March 11, 2015) was a former American actor who starred in three short-lived television series during the 1960s.

Ralph Taeger was born in Richmond Hill, Queens to German-speaking parents. Taeger's first career choice was professional baseball, and he did play briefly on a farm team for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Knee injuries prompted him to switch his focus from athletics to acting, though he refers to baseball as his "first love." A high school teacher had suggested Taeger try public speaking and acting. In the late 1950s he enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and also worked as a model. Within six months, however, he landed a major role in a production at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. An official at MGM was so impressed by Taeger's performance that the studio signed him to a contract.

Early in his acting career, Taeger was cast on episodes of the syndicated series, Highway Patrol, starring Broderick Crawford and Manhunt, starring Victor Jory. His first television series as the lead was Klondike, a half-hour western adventure series set in Skagway, Alaska, during the 1897-1899 gold rush. Taeger played Mike Halliday, a rugged prospector.

Midway through the 1960-1961 season, NBC dropped Klondike but transferred Taeger and co-star James Coburn to the replacement series, Acapulco, set in the Mexican resort. In Acapulco, Taeger played Patrick Malone, a Korean War veteran-turned-beachcomber; both Taeger and Coburn's characters providing the security for a lawyer, played by Telly Savalas.