biography

Richard Egan Born in San Francisco on July 29, 1921, actor Richard Egan graduated from the University of San Francisco and later served in the Army during World War II. Following the war, Egan taught school and earned a master's degree in theatre history at Stanford before making his debut in films. Egan's first film was in the Warner Bros. film noir drama The Damned Don't Cry (1950; with Joan Crawford). After acting in supporting roles in films for various studios, Egan signed with 20th Century Fox where he starred in film noir thrillers, action flicks, and westerns. Some of his best film noir titles include Undercover Girl (1950; with Scott Brady), Split Second (1953; with Jan Sterling), and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957; with Julie Adams and Jan Sterling).

Richard EganRichard EganRichard EganRichard Egan

Various 1950s shots of Richard Egan

While Egan starred in a string of 'A' and 'B' pictures in the 1950s, with the demise of the studio system his film career began to slide, especially after his contract with Fox lapsed in the late 1950s. In the 1960s he acted in such films as Disney's Pollyanna (1960; with Jane Wyman and Hayley Mills) and Mario Bava's Esther and the King (1960; with Joan Collins). Egan shifted his focus to television with his series Empire as well as his appearances in a number of made-for-television films including Fanfare for a Death Scene (1964; with Dee Hartford and Tina Louise ), Valley of Mystery (1967; with Peter Graves and Julie Adams), and The House That Would Not Die (1970; with Barbara Stanwyck).

the films of richard egan

Undercover Girl (1950)

Scott Brady and Richard EganRichard Egan, Connie Gilchrist, and Alexis Smith

From the Universal-International film noir thriller Undercover Girl. LEFT: With Scott Brady. RIGHT: With Connie Gilchrist and Alexis Smith

Up Front (1951)

Richard Egan

From the Universal-International release Up Front, one of Egan's few comedies

Underwater! (1955)

Gilbert Roland, Richard Egan, and Jane RussellGilbert Roland, Richard Egan, and Jane Russell

With Gilbert Roland and Jane Russell in the racy adventure flick Underwater!

Seven Cities of Gold (1955)

Richard Egan and Michael Rennie

With Michael Rennie in the 20th Century Fox adventure Seven Cities of Gold

The View from Pompey's Head (1955)

Richard Egan and Dana WynterRichard Egan and Dana Wynter

With Dana Wynter in the 20th Century Fox drama The View from Pompey's Head. A few prints of this difficult-to-find film are now circulating

Violent Saturday (1955)

Richard Egan and Margaret Hayes

With Margaret Hayes in Violent Saturday

Tension at Table Rock (1956)

Richard Egan and Dorothy Malone

With Dorothy Malone in the RKO western Tension at Table Rock

Love Me Tender (1956)

James Drury, Elvis Presley, Debra Paget, and Richard Egan

With James Drury, Elvis Presley, and Debra Paget in Love Me Tender, Presley's first film

Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957)

Richard Egan and Julie Adams

With Julie Adams in the crime drama Slaughter on Tenth Avenue

Voice in the Mirror (1958)

Richard Egan and Julie LondonArthur O'Connell, Richard Egan, and Julie LondonArthur O'Connell and Julie London

From Voice in the Mirror. LEFT: Richard Egan as the alcoholic Jim Burton whose wife Ellen (Julie London) helps him recover and reform. CENTER: Tense scene with Arthur O'Connell and Julie London. RIGHT: With Julie London

A Summer Place (1959)

Dorothy McGuire, Troy Donahue, Constance Ford, Arthur Kennedy, Sandra Dee, and Richard Egan

Scene from A Summer Place with Dorothy McGuire, Troy Donahue, Constance Ford, Arthur Kennedy, and Sandra Dee

Esther and the King (1960)

Richard Egan and Joan Collins

With Joan Collins in the 20th Century Fox costume drama Esther and the King

Pollyanna (1960)

Hayley Mills and Richard Egan

With Hayley Mills in Disney's Pollyanna

Empire, aka Redigo (1962-1964 TV series)

Richard EganRichard Egan

From Egan's contemporary western series Empire. During the show's second season, its title was changed to Redigo

The Destructors (1968)

Patricia Owens and Richard Egan

With Patricia Owens in the low budget science fiction flick The Destructors

Chubasco (1968)

Richard Egan

From the Warner Bros. drama Chubasco

The Big Cube (1969)

Richard Egan and Karin Mossberg

With Karin Mossberg in the Lana Turner vehicle The Big Cube

later years

In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Egan took occasional film roles and guest spots on popular television series, such as The Streets of San Francisco and Police Story. Egan also taught acting and encouraged young hopefuls. In 1982, he took a recurring role on the TV soap Capitol and remained with the series until illness forced him off the show. Sadly, Richard Egan succumbed to prostate cancer on July 20, 1987, at the age of 65. He was survived by his wife, actress Patricia Hardy (1931-2011), whom he married in 1958, and four daughters and a son.

filmography

FILM
The Sweet Creek County War (1979) with Nita Talbot and Slim Pickens
The Amsterdam Kill (1977) with Robert Mitchum, Bradford Dillman, and Leslie Nielsen
Mission to Glory (1977) with Ricardo Montalban, Rory Calhoun, John Ireland, John Russell, Cesar Romero, and Aldo Ray
Throw Out the Anchor (1974) with Dina Merrill and Alison Arngrim
Shootout in a One-Dog Town (1974) with Richard Crenna and Stefanie Powers
Day of the Wolves (1973) with Martha Hyer, John Lupton, and Jan Murray
Moon Fire Trucker (1973) with Richard Bull
Left Hand of Gemini (1972) with Ian McShane
The House That Would Not Die (1970) with Barbara Stanwyck
The Big Cube (1969) with Lana Turner and George Chakiris
Chubasco (1968) with Susan Strasberg, Ann Sothern, and Christopher Jones
The Destructors (1968) with John Ericson, David Brian, and Patricia Owens
Valley of Mystery (1966) with Julie Adams, Peter Graves, Lisa Gaye, and Lois Nettleton
Fanfare for a Death Scene (1964) with Tina Louise, Ed Asner, and Telly Savalas
The 300 Spartans (1962) with Ralph Richardson, Barry Coe, Diane Baker, and Kieron Moore
Esther and the King (1960) with Joan Collins and Rik Battaglia
Pollyanna (1960) with Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, and Agnes Moorehead
A Summer Place (1959) with Troy Donahue, Sandra Dee, Constance Ford, and Dorothy McGuire
These Thousand Hills (1959) with Don Murray, Lee Remick, Stuart Whitman, and Patricia Owens
The Hunters (1958) with Robert Mitchum and May Britt
Voice in the Mirror (1958) with Julie London, Troy Donahue, Walter Matthau, and Max Showalter
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) with Julie Adams, Jan Sterling, Mickey Hargitay, and Walter Matthau
Love Me Tender (1956) with Elvis Presley, Debra Paget, Bruce Bennett, Barry Coe, and William Campbell
Tension at Table Rock (1956) with Dorothy Malone, Cameron Mitchell, and Angie Dickinson
The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956) with Jane Russell, Agnes Moorehead, and Sally Todd
The View from Pompey's Head (1955) with Dana Wynter and Cameron Mitchell
Underwater! (1955) with Jane Russell, Gilbert Roland, and Lori Nelson
Seven Cities of Gold (1955) with Jeffrey Hunter, Michael Rennie, Rita Moreno, and Anthony Quinn
Violent Saturday (1955) with Victor Mature, Virginia Leith, Margaret Hayes, and Tommy Noonan
Untamed (1955) with Tyrone Power, Susan Hayward, and Agnes Moorehead
Khyber Patrol (1954) with Raymond Burr and Dawn Addams
Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) with Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Debra Paget, and Michael Rennie
Gog (1954) with Herbert Marshall
Wicked Woman (1953) with Beverly Michaels
The Kid from Left Field (1953) with Dan Dailey, Lloyd Bridges, and Anne Bancroft
The Glory Brigade (1953) with Victor Mature, Lee Marvin, and Alvy Moore
Split Second (1953) with Jan Sterling, Alexis Smith, Stephen McNally, and Keith Andes
Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) with Linda Darnell, Keith Andes, William Bendix, and Irene Ryan
The Devil Makes Three (1952) with Gene Kelly and Pier Angeli
One Minute to Zero (1952) with Ann Blyth and Robert Mitchum
Cripple Creek (1952) with George Montgomery and Karin Booth
The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) with Jeff Chandler, Susan Cabot, Hugh O'Brian, William Reynolds, and James Best
The Golden Horde (1951) with Ann Blyth and Peggie Castle
Up Front (1951) with David Wayne and Tom Ewell
Flame of Araby (1951) with Jeff Chandler, Maureen O'Hara, Susan Cabot, Lon Chaney Jr., and Dewey Martin
Hollywood Story (1951) with Julie Adams, Richard Conte, and Jim Backus
Bright Victory (1951) with Julie Adams, Arthur Kennedy, Peggy Dow, and Jim Backus
Undercover Girl (1950) with Scott Brady, Gerald Mohr, and Alexis Smith
Highway 301 (1950) with Steve Cochran, Virginia Grey, and Gaby Andre
Kansas Raiders (1950) with Audie Murphy, Scott Brady, Brian Donlevy, Richard Arlen, Tony Curtis, James Best, and Dewey Martin
Wyoming Mail (1950) with Alexis Smith and Stephen McNally
The Good Humor Man (1950) with Jack Carson, George Reeves, Lola Albright, and Jean Wallace
The Damned Don't Cry (1950) with Joan Crawford, Steve Cochran, and David Brian

TELEVISION SERIES
Capitol, 1982-1987 CBS daytime TV series. Egan portrayed Samuel Clegg. Also among the regular cast members were Julie Adams, Rory Calhoun, Anthony Eisley, and Julie Parrish
Empire, 1962 TV series. Egan portrayed Jim Redigo. For the 1963 season, the series was shortened from one hour to 30 minutes and retitled Redigo

richard egan trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Richard Egan's 1954 costume epic Demetrius and the Gladiators

richard egan television appearances

Watch Richard Egan in a 1955 episode of the game show Pantomime Quiz

richard egan film now showing

Watch Richard Egan's 1970 made-for-TV horror movie The House That Would Not Die
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This page premiered April 4, 2003.
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