biography
Born Norman Eugene Walker in Hartford, Illinois, on May 30, 1927, actor Clint Walker served his country during the waning days of World War
II. After his release from the service, Walker held various jobs until deciding to give acting a try. Standing 6'6" tall and weighing about
230 pounds, rugged 28-year-old Clint Walker was signed in 1955 to play the title role in the Warner Bros. TV show Cheyenne. Prior to
his signing, he had made only one film, the comedy Jungle Gents (1954; with Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall) in which he portrayed
Tarzan. While most people remember Walker as primarily an actor in westerns, Walker made a number of comedies
during his career such as Send Me No Flowers (1964; with Doris Day and Rock Hudson), Sam Whiskey
(1968; with Burt Reynolds), The Great Bank Robbery (1969; with Kim Novak), and The Phynx (1970). Of course, some of these
comedies were also westerns.    
LEFT: Walker works out with Sugarfoot star Will Hutchins. CENTER A: Working out at home during his hiatus from Cheyenne. CENTER B: Walker on his motorcycle in the early 1960s. RIGHT: Beefcake photosWalker was instantly catapulted to stardom but, after two years in the role, he realized that the long-term contract he signed with Warner Bros. was too professionally and financially restrictive. Walker and the studio could not reach an agreement on contract negotiations, so Walker walked out on the show in mid-1958. His contract would not allow him to do any other work, so he was forced to remain idle until the two sides finally agreed on a contract in February 1959. The settlement reached between Walker and Warner Bros. was not ideal, and Walker's appearances in film were limited by his contract. Walker wished for the show's end, but its high ratings kept the show going through the end of 1962, when it was canceled. For Cheyenne's final season, from September to December 1962, the show was finally aired on a week-to-week basis, since Sugarfoot and Bronco had been pulled. ABC brought back reruns of Cheyenne on Friday nights in the summer of 1963. It would be more than ten years before Walker would agree to another TV series. |
the films of clint walkerJungle Gents (1954)
In his first film, Clint Walker, as Tarzan, stalks Huntz Hall in Jungle GentsCheyenne (1955-1962 ABC TV Series) 
Walker in the role of Cheyenne BodieFort Dobbs (1958)
From Fort Dobbs with Virginia MayoYellowstone Kelly (1959)Gold of the Seven Saints (1961)  
From Gold of the Seven Saints. Also pictured are Roger Moore and Leticia RomanSend Me No Flowers (1964)
Portrait of Clint Walker from Universal's hilarious comedy Send Me No FlowersNone But the Brave (1965)
With Tommy Sands in None But the BraveMaya (1965)
From the MGM adventure MayaThe Night of the Grizzly (1966)  
LEFT and CENTER: Shots from Paramount's The Night of the Grizzly. RIGHT: Walker slaps Ron Ely aroundThe Lucy Show
From Walker's 1966 appearance on The Lucy ShowThe Dirty Dozen (1967) 
LEFT: Walker as Samson Posey in The Dirty Dozen. RIGHT: Walker mixes it up with Lee Marvin in a scene from the filmMore Dead Than Alive (1969) 
From the offbeat western More Dead Than Alive. LEFT: With love interest Anne Francis. RIGHT: With con man Vincent PriceSam Whiskey (1969) 
From Sam Whiskey. LEFT: With Burt Reynolds. RIGHT: With Burt Reynolds and Ossie DavisYuma (1970)
An ABC "Movie of the Week" produced in 1970, Yuma was for Walker a return to television in a role not unlike that of Cheyenne Bodie. Edgar Buchanan served as Walker's co-star in the 75-minute westernHardcase (1971)
Scene from ABC's made-for-TV western Hardcase with Alex KarrasThe Bounty Man (1972) 
From the ABC made-for-TV western The Bounty Man. LEFT: With Margot Kidder and John Ericson. RIGHT: With Margot KidderKodiak (1974 TV Series)
From Walker's 1974 TV series Kodiak, produced by Warner Bros.Killdozer (1974)
From ABC's made-for-tv horror flick Killdozer with Carl Betzlater yearsIn May 1971, Walker experienced a near-fatal accident while skiing with his daughter at Mammoth Mountain. After a fall, his ski pole pierced his chest and injured his heart, necessitating open-heart surgery. After his recovery, his career pace slowed somewhat. He returned to television in a number of made-for-TV films, including The Bounty Man (1972; with Richard Basehart and John Ericson), Scream of the Wolf (1974; with Peter Graves and Philip Carey), and Killdozer (1974; with Carl Betz and Neville Brand). After the theatrical release of Deadly Harvest (1977; with Kim Cattrall), he went into semi-retirement, accepting only occasional acting jobs into the 1990s. Sadly, Clint Walker passed away from congestive heart failure on May 21, 2018, at age 90, just a week shy of his birthday. Divorced from his first wife and a widower following his second wife's death, Walker was survived by his third wife, Susan, and a daughter, Valerie, from his first marriage.the clint walker gallery              |
filmographyFILM
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This page premiered August 23, 1999.
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