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John Milford

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John Milford
Born(1927-09-07)September 7, 1927
DiedAugust 14, 2000(2000-08-14) (aged 72)
Alma materUnion College
Years active1955 - 2000

John Milford (September 7, 1927 – August 14, 2000)[1] was an American actor in theater, television, and films, playing scores of roles, often as a Western villain. He was estimated to have had about 500 appearances in TV roles.[1]

Early years

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Born in Johnstown, New York, Milford studied civil engineering at Union College[1] but chose to pursue his first love, acting. He "worked for some years with Los Angeles' Bureau of Engineering, Department of Public Works."[2]

Career

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Milford first appeared on television in the 1940s on What's My Name? on KGRB in Albany, New York.[3]

After making his film debut in Marty in 1955, Milford went on to act in dozens of film and TV roles, especially in Westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Fugitive, The Big Valley, The Rifleman(S3 E4, S5 E7), and The Virginian.

From 1959 to 1960, Milford was cast in ten episodes as the historical Ike Clanton on the ABC/Desilu series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian as Wyatt Earp. Milford's last episode was S5 E41 "Wyatt's Bitterest Enemy" which aired 6/7/1960.

From 1959 to 1968, Milford appeared on three episodes of Bonanza: on "Vendetta"[4] as Ned Morgan, "Half a Rogue"[5] as Cal Stacy and "A World Full of Cannibals"[6] as Rodgers.

Milford guest-starred on four episodes of Mannix from 1969 to 1974: on "Deathrun"[7] as Sheriff George Hale, "Portrait of a Hero"[8] as Col. Edgar Ewing, "Cry Danger"[9] as Stan Forrester and "The Survivor Who Wasn't"[10] as Harry.

In 1965 Milford had a recurring role as Cole Younger in the ABC series The Legend of Jesse James, starring Christopher Jones. In the same year, Milford appeared in the third season episode "Billy the Kid" as Sergeant Stoner on the World War II drama Combat!, as well as an episode of Gunsmoke titled “Winner Take All” (S10E22).

Throughout his career Milford continued to work in the theater. He founded the Chamber Theater[2] at 3759 Cahuenga Blvd, pioneering Equity Waiver productions in Los Angeles, and helped launch the careers of actors such as Richard Chamberlain and Vic Morrow.

Milford's Los Angeles Times obituary credits him with using his engineering background to help create the original design for the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.[2]

Milford played the part of Albert Einstein in 1996's Command & Conquer: Red Alert.[11]

Death

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Milford died of skin cancer in 2000.[12]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1955 Marty Minor Role Uncredited
1956 The Ten Commandments Attendant to Trojan Ambassador / Young Father Uncredited
1957 The Persuader Clint
1958 The Heart Is a Rebel Hal Foster
1959 Face of a Fugitive Haley Uncredited
1963 Gunfight at Comanche Creek Bill Peters
1965 Zebra in the Kitchen Sgt. Freebee
1966 For Pete's Sake
1967 The Last Challenge Turpin
1969 Support Your Local Sheriff! Gunman McCullough Throws Rocks At Uncredited
1979 Joni Dr. Sherrill
1981 Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge Professor Dent
1986 Say Yes Sailor
1987 Student Confidential Mr. Warshetsky
1998 Primary Colors Uncredited
1998 Show & Tell Mr. Mahler

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Actor John Milford dies at 72". Santa Cruz Sentinel. California, Santa Cruz. Associated Press. August 16, 2000. p. 8. Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c "Actor takes out theatre insurance". Dixon Evening Telegraph. Illinois, Dixon. Newspaper Enterprise Association. March 25, 1977. p. 16. Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "John Milford". Toledo Blade. Ohio, Toledo. Times-Post News Service. August 18, 2000. p. Section B, Page 5. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  4. ^ Bonanza : Vendetta (1959) - Joseph Kane | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved February 14, 2023
  5. ^ Bonanza : Half a Rogue (1963) - Don McDougall | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved February 14, 2023
  6. ^ Bonanza : A World Full of Cannibals (1968) - Gunnar Hellstrom | Cast and Crew | AllMovie, retrieved February 14, 2023
  7. ^ Mannix: Deathrun | TVmaze, retrieved February 14, 2023
  8. ^ Mannix: Portrait of a Hero | TVmaze, retrieved February 14, 2023
  9. ^ Mannix: Cry Danger | TVmaze, retrieved February 14, 2023
  10. ^ Mannix: The Survivor Who Wasn't | TVmaze, retrieved February 14, 2023
  11. ^ Green, Paul (June 9, 2017). Encyclopedia of Weird War Stories: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Film, Television, Games and Other Media. McFarland. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-4766-2874-5.
  12. ^ The Mobility Forum: The Journal of the Air Mobility Command. Chief of Safety, Air Mobility Command. 2009. p. 26.

LA Times biographical article

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