Richard Webb (actor)
| Richard Webb | |
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Richard Webb with actress Mari Aldon in Florida for the premiere of Distant Drums (1951)
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| Born |
John Richard Webb September 9, 1915 Bloomington, Illinois, United States |
| Died | June 10, 1993 (aged 77) Van Nuys, California, USA |
| Cause of death | Suicide by firearm |
| Years active | 1941–1965 |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Sterns (1942–?) (divorced) 2 children Florence Webb (?–1993) (his death) 2 children |
Richard Webb (born John Richard Webb; September 9, 1915 – June 10, 1993) was a film, television and radio actor, originally from Bloomington, Illinois the son of John Renner Webb and Laura Gail Gunnett.
He appeared in more than fifty films, including many westerns and films noir including Out of the Past (1947), Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948), I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951) and Carson City (1952). Today, he may be best remembered as the star of the 1950s television series, Captain Midnight, based on a long-running radio program of the same name and Border Patrol.
Leaving Brown University theological school in 1936 when he realised he was not meant to be a Methodist minister, Webb enlisted in the US Army and was stationed with the First Coast Artillery Regiment in Panama for three years when he decided to go to Hollywood· attending the Bliss Hayden School of Acting.
Webb began his film career when he was discovered by Paramount Pictures in 1940 where he was soon engaged as a contract player appearing in such films as I Wanted Wings, Sullivan's Travels and This Gun for Hire . During World War II he reenlisted at Fort Ord in 1942, then was commissioned in the US Army at Fort Benning ending the war as a Captain; he remained in the Army Reserve rising to the rank of Major. Four months after leaving the Army he was back at Paramount in O.S.S.. After leaving Paramount Webb was originally offered a leading role in Sands of Iwo Jima. After receiving his salary and costume he was told that "powers that be" wished John Agar in the role and asked him if he would like another part in the film, that Webb accepted.
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