Hugh O'Brian
Hugh O'Brian | |
---|---|
Born | Hugh Charles Krampe April 19, 1925 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
Died | September 5, 2016 | (aged 91)
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of California |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1948–2000 |
Spouse |
Virginia Barber (m. 2006) |
Children | Hugh Donald Etkes |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1943–1949 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Website | hughobrian |
Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles Krampe; April 19, 1925 – September 5, 2016) was an American actor and humanitarian, best known for his starring roles in the
He created the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, a nonprofit youth leadership-development program for high-school scholars. It has sponsored more than 500,000 students since O'Brian founded the program in 1958, following an extended visit with physician and theologian Albert Schweitzer.
Life and career
Early life and military service
O'Brian was born Hugh Charles Krampe in Rochester, New York, the son of Hugh John Krampe, who served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, and Edith Lillian (née Marks) Krampe. O’Brian once described his father as “one of the toughest men I ever knew”; this inspired his interest in the military.[1]
O'Brian moved with his parents to
After the move to the Chicago area, Krampe and his family lived in Winnetka, Illinois, where he attended New Trier High School. He transferred to the Kemper Military School (closed in 2002) in Boonville, Missouri, where he lettered in football, basketball, wrestling, and track.
After one semester at the University of Cincinnati, Krampe dropped out to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II. At 17, he became the youngest Marine drill instructor on record.[3][4][5][6]
Career start and name change
After World War II ended, Krampe planned to become a lawyer and had been accepted at
Krampe changed his name after the program incorrectly listed him as "Hugh Krape". He later said, "I decided right then I didn't want to go through life being known as Huge Krape, so I decided to take my mother's family name, O'Brien, but they misspelled it as 'O'Brian' and I just decided to stay with that."[2][8]
Lupino signed him to Never Fear, a film she was directing. O'Brian gained a contract with Universal Pictures.[10]
Wyatt Earp and television career
He was chosen to portray legendary lawman
O'Brian appeared regularly on other programs in the 1950s and 1960s, including
In 1971, he filmed a television pilot titled
Film career
The actor appeared in a number of films, among them
While onstage, Elvis Presley introduced O'Brian from the audience at a performance at the Las Vegas Hilton, as captured in the imported live CD release "April Fool's Dinner". O'Brian was a featured actor in the 1977 two-hour premiere of the television series Fantasy Island. He played the last character whom John Wayne ever killed on the screen in Wayne's final movie, The Shootist (1976). O'Brian appeared in fight scenes with a Bruce Lee lookalike in Lee's last – partially completed – film, the controversial Game of Death. O'Brian recreated his Wyatt Earp role for three 1990s projects: Guns of Paradise (1990) and The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991), with fellow actor Gene Barry doing likewise as lawman Bat Masterson for each, as well as the independent film Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone (1994). He also had a cameo as the father of Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the comedy Twins (1988).
Personal life and death
On June 25, 2006, at age 81, O'Brian married his girlfriend of 18 years, Virginia Barber (born circa 1952); it was his first and only marriage. The ceremony was held at
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation
O'Brian dedicated much of his life to the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY), a nonprofit youth leadership-development program for high-school scholars. HOBY sponsors 10,000 high school sophomores annually through its over 70 leadership programs in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its inception in 1958, over 500,000 young people have participated in HOBY-related programs.[19]
One high-school sophomore from every high school in the United States, referred to as an "ambassador", is welcome to attend a state or regional HOBY seminar. From each of those seminars, students (number based on population) are offered the opportunity to attend the World Leadership Congress. In 2008, over 500 ambassadors attended from all 50 states and 20 countries. The concept for HOBY was inspired in 1958 by a nine-day visit O'Brian had with famed humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa. Dr. Schweitzer believed, "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves."[17]
O'Brian's message was explained in an essay on the topic:
I do NOT believe we are all born equal. Created equal in the eyes of God, yes, but physical and emotional differences, parental guidelines, varying environments, being in the right place at the right time, all play a role in enhancing or limiting an individual's development. But I DO believe every man and woman, if given the opportunity and encouragement to recognize their potential, regardless of background, has the freedom to choose in our world. Will an individual be a taker or a giver in life? Will that person be satisfied merely to exist or seek a meaningful purpose? Will he or she dare to dream the impossible dream? I believe every person is created as the steward of his or her own destiny with great power for a specific purpose, to share with others, through service, a reverence for life in a spirit of love.
— Hugh O'Brian, The Freedom to Choose.[20]
Filmography
Awards
For his contribution to the television industry, Hugh O'Brian has a star on the
Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1953 | The Man from the Alamo | Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer — Male | Won |
1956 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | Primetime Emmy for Best Continuing Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Series | Nominated |
1960 | Himself | Hollywood Walk of Fame Star — Television | Honored |
1973 | Golden Plate Award – Television[21]
|
Honored | |
1991 | Golden Boot Award | Honored | |
1992 | Hall of Great Western Performers | Inducted |
References
- ^ Endrst, James (September 5, 2016). "Hugh O'Brian Dies; Dashing TV Star of 'Wyatt Earp' Was 91". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Brubaker, Jack (September 9, 2016). "The Scribbler: 'Wyatt Earp' star spent his early years in Lancaster". LNP. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ "Hugh O'Brian profile". Filmreference.com. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ "Marshaling His Forces for the Future". Los Angeles Times. June 16, 1996.
- ^ "Hugo J. Krampe". Family Search. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "Hugh C. Krampe: United States Census 1930". Family Search. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ McKirdy, Ewan (September 5, 2016). "'Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp' Star Hugh O'Brian Dies at Age 91". CNN. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b McLellan, Dennis (September 5, 2016). "Hugh O'Brian, actor who played Wyatt Earp, dies at 91". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Pool, Bob (July 8, 2013). "Hugh O'Brian reflects on journey from Hollywood window washer to star". Los Angeles Times.
- ISBN 978-1557509499.
- ^ Parke, Henry C. (December 2016). "The Life and Legend of Hugh O'Brian". TrueWest. 63 (12): 22–24.
- ^ "Movies". Screened.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ "Hugh O'Brian weds for the first time". USA Today. Associated Press. June 26, 2006. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- Fox News Channel. Associated Press. August 21, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ^ "Hugh O'Brian Declared Father". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. March 31, 1971. p. 7.
- ^ "Hugh O'Brian, square-jawed actor who played Wyatt Earp on TV, dies at 91". The Washington Post. September 6, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Dagan, Carmel (September 5, 2016). "Hugh O'Brian, Star of TV's 'The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp', Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ Kelley, Christina (September 6, 2017). "Oh baby! Four allege 'childless' Wyatt Earp star Hugh O'Brian was daddy". MyNewsLA.
- ^ "History of HOBY". HOBY Leadership. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ "Who Are We?". Hoby Arizona. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ "1961-1976 Golden Plate Recipients". Academy of Achievement. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.