Clint Walker, Towering Western Star, Is Dead at 90

NY Times ^ | 05/22/2018 | John Schwartz

[DFG]

Clint Walker, a former merchant seaman and real-life deputy sheriff who roamed the West as a towering, solitary figure on “Cheyenne,” the first hourlong western on television, died on Monday in Grass Valley, Calif. He was 90.

His death, at a hospital, was confirmed by his daughter, Valerie Walker, who said the cause was congestive heart failure. Mr. Walker lived in Grass Valley, about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento.

Mr. Walker also appeared in the “The Dirty Dozen” and other movies, but he was best known for “Cheyenne,” seen on ABC from 1955 to 1963.

[Ciexyz]

RIP. I remember watching all those old westerns with my family.

[Impy]

RIP to both

I had no idea Campanella died (or that he was still living till last week)

[GOPsterinMA]

“RIP to both.”

Amen.

Clint Walker: The cast of “The Dirty Dozen” loses another. :(

[Bender2]

In the 1964 campaign I was the 17-year old Press Chairman for the Youth for Desmond Barry & Barry Goldwater Campaign in Houston, Texas. Goldwater came to speak that October at the Houston Colt 45s (What the Astros were called back then) stadium located north of where the Astrodome was later built. Also appearing was Clint Walker, all nine foot of him to my way of thinking as I sat beside him to ride to the event in the limousine provided by the campaign. He was having an adult beverage and playfully said he would offered me one if I had an ID showing I was over 21. I didn't, so I got a Coke.

Fast forward to 1976 when my writing pard at the time, Sal, and I were pitching a sitcom script at Douglas Cramer Productions in La-La-Land. While waiting, Clint Walker came in and walked over to say Hi to Sal as they had worked together previously on "Killdozer!"

When Sal introduced me, I said, "Do you remember being in Houston in 1964 to speak at a Goldwater rally?"

Clint looked at me for a sec, then said he recalled me from the ride to the stadium and ask with a smile, "You ever get that ID?"

Rest in peace, Clint--

[ABN 505]

Hey, I have the same dimensions! Except its a 32” chest and a 48” waist. Hollywood here I come!

[nesnah]

Nice story. Thanks for posting.

Obviously, he was a great guy.

[big'ol_freeper]

Nice

[SoCal Pubbie]

Were you 6’-6” tall with shoulders as wide as the doorway?

[freedumb2003]

Heroes & Icons channel.

They feature great old shows like “Cheyenne,” “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” “Have Gun Will Travel” and even “The Cisco Kid.”

They also have other shows from the 70s and 80s like “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blue.”

A great place for great classic TV.

[mountn man]

Were you 6’-6” tall with shoulders as wide as the doorway?

No...5'-11-1/2"

STILL get comments on my shoulders.

Still get asked by strangers, who did I play football for.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I think that’s what made Walker so unusual. There are tons of built guys at average height, even up to about 6’-4” or so. Above that and most are pretty lanky. LeBron James comes to mind as someone today who’s pretty bulky and tall. Walker was massive long before body building got really sophisticated, and as another poster mentioned, before steroids.

[Starstruck]

6’-6” and living to just shy of 91 is an accomplishment.

[NFHale]

Sad to hear. But making it into your 90s is a good run.

Will always remember Clint Walker in “None But The Brave” and “The Dirty Dozen”. Two of my favorite movies when I was a kid.

He was one big dude, for sure.

[NFHale]

“...all nine foot of him ...”

Haha... Yeah, he was a big ol’ boy, wasn’t he. Still love his interaction with Lee Marvin in “The Dirty Dozen”.

Good actor. Saw some of the old Cheyenne Bodie series on TV sometime back.

I remember “Night of the Grizzly” too.

[LS]

When I was about 9 or so, “Have Gun Will Travel” rented my dad’s barn in AZ for a fight scene, so Dad took me out to watch Richard Boone film the scene.

When he was finished, he came over and gave me an autographed card, “Have Gun, Will Travel: Wire Paladin, San Francisco” then on the back signed Richard Boone!

[NKP_Vet]

One of the Cheyenne shows guest starred Dan Blocker as a bad guy. In one if the scenes he standing beside Walker and he looked like a midget.

[stephenjohnbanker]

R I P

[Political Junkie Too]

Joseph Campanella died last week, too. Also early 90s.

-PJ

[GOPsterinMA]

https://heartiste.wordpress.com/2018/05/23/the-double-edged-sword-of-identity-politics/

[NFHale]

How cool is that, for a little kid...!! Do you still have that autographed card?

I’ve only seen it in reruns. I love those old shows.

Better days, better ways, and better people...