[eastforker]

After Eric's discharge, he took acting lessons, and went into theatre, appearing on stage in Chicago and Broadway, followed by a ten year stint in New York. He then diversified into film and TV, moving to Hollywood and appearing in several low-budget films, including "Fright", "Curse of The Undead" and the cult classic "Queen Of Outer Space", starring Zsa Zsa Gabor.

"Rawhide was a huge success, but by 1965, the CBS hierarchy had grown tired of Fleming's critical statements and openly voiced opinions, about the show's producers, writers and directors, and his repeated threats to quit the show. He was fired, along with other cast regulers. Eastwood took over the main starring role, but the ratings dropped, and the show was cancelled in 1966.

Eric signed up to do "High Jungle" in Peru. During the final stages of shooting, his dugout canoe overturned in The Huallaga River, and he was swept away. His body was found downstream about three days later. Eric Fleming died on September 28th 1966. He was only 41.

[Dalberg-Acton]

I always thought he was on a trajectory to bigger successes in the movies, until that accidental drowning sunk his career.

[PAR35]

First one of these I’ve run across where I can say that I’ve never heard of the guy.

So at the age of 17, he was in the Merchant Marines, the U.S. Navy, working in a foundry in Seattle, and having 4 rounds of surgery? Sounds like a very busy year for him.

[Figment]

I recall hearing as a kid that he was one of the “Marlboro Men” was that just urban myth?

[Inyo-Mono]

Worth a watch of the opening title and closing credits of “Rawhide”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3LeEeD6Ulc