Marine Corps veteran Clu Gulager, who began his performing profession as a good-looking main man in westerns and located late-career success in horror and comedy, died on Aug. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles at age 93.
Born William Martin Gulager in Holdenville, Oklahoma, in 1928, the actor stated he was nicknamed Clu from “clu-clu,” a Cherokee phrase for the birds that nested at his household residence. Gulager served stateside with the Marines after World Battle II from 1946-1948 and took up performing when attending Oklahoma’s Northeastern State Faculty and Texas’ Baylor College.
Gulager picked up some bit components early on and managed to work steadily till close to the top of his life. He made visitor appearances on dozens of tv reveals, together with “Wagon Prepare,” “The F.B.I.,” “Mannix,” “Hawaii 5-O,” “Knight Rider” and “Homicide, She Wrote.” He moved effortlessly from drama to outrageous comedy and made horror films, together with a number of directed by his son John Gulager.
Listed here are a few of Clu Gulager’s most memorable roles.
1. Sheriff Emmett Ryker — “The Virginian” (1963-1968)
Gulager’s first break in tv was co-starring as Billy the Child alongside Barry Sullivan as Pat Garrett in “The Tall Man,” a half-hour present concerning the western legends. He actually broke out when he joined the solid of “The Virginian,” a 90-minute weekly program the place every episode was extra like a film than a tv episode.
Gulager performed a gunslinger-turned-lawman beginning in season three and caught round for greater than 100 episodes earlier than leaving the Wyoming-set drama. When he left the present, his plan was to interrupt into films.
2. Lee — “The Killers” (1964)
Gulager co-stars with fellow Marine vet Lee Marvin as a pair of contract killers who’re confused when their goal does not resist once they come to rub him out. The 2 hitmen examine and study the tragic story of race automobile driver Johnny North (John Cassavetes).
Gulager is among the few actors who can maintain his personal with Marvin, a performer who dominated nearly each scene he ever performed. They’re one of many nice tough-guy pairings in film historical past.
“The Killers” is a full-color remake of the 1946 movie noir that starred World Battle II Army vet Burt Lancaster. Each movies are loosely primarily based on a brief story by WWI ambulance driver Ernest Hemingway, and the 1964 movie was made by future “Soiled Harry” director Don Siegel.
One actual spotlight of the movie is the WWII Army veteran and future President Ronald Reagan’s menacing efficiency as a villain in what would show to be his ultimate film function. Reagan was stated to remorse taking the function, particularly the scene the place he slugged Angie Dickinson’s character, however the Gipper shows some actual performing chops enjoying reverse some nice performers.
3. Bookstore proprietor — “As soon as Upon a Time… In Hollywood” (2019)
Gulager’s ultimate movie function was solely two traces in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 Hollywood epic, however his presence is a pleasant tribute from a director who reveres all of the Hollywood legends from Gulager’s era. When she’s in Westwood, Sharon Tate (performed by Margot Robbie) steps into the bookstore to select up a first-edition copy of Thomas Hardy’s novel “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” that she’s ordered for her husband, Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha).
There’s a few good tributes occurring right here. After Tate’s dying in actual life, Polanski would go on to make a film primarily based on the novel in 1979. Extra importantly to our functions right here, the film’s lead character, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is strictly the form of ’60s tv star that Gulager was. Dalton appears headed for a meltdown, however Gulager proved himself adaptable to the fashionable world and would ultimately make a giant profession comeback.
4. Burt Wilson — “The Return of the Dwelling Lifeless” (1985)
Not many actors from Gulager’s era had the adaptability and humor to embrace the brand new sorts of films that turned in style within the ’70s and ’80s. After a decade of visitor spots on tv reveals (precisely the profession Rick Dalton wished to keep away from), Gulager got here roaring again because the star of the horror comedy “The Return of the Dwelling Lifeless.” It takes actual ability to maintain a straight face and promote the menace from the ridiculous zombie invasion.
5. Abilene — “The Final Image Present” (1971)
Gulager’s function within the Oscar-nominated basic is not a giant one, however it’s positively some of the memorable. He performs Abilene, the roughneck foreman who works for the daddy of Jacy Farrow (Cybill Shepherd), the teenage lady on the heart of the image. Abilene has a factor for her mother (Ellen Burstyn, Oscar-nominated for her efficiency) and ultimately makes a reference to younger Jacy.
You have heard of performing along with your eyes? Gulager can act together with his eyes even once they’re hidden behind a pair of flier sun shades.
6. Norman Mart — “Tapeheads” (1988)
“Tapeheads” is an underground basic produced by Air Pressure vet and former Monkee Michael Nesmith. John Cusack and Tim Robbins (each very younger) play a pair of younger hustlers who need to break into the music video trade.
Gulager performs Norman Mart, a totally corrupt politician who goals to be elected president and is joined within the film by his “The Virginian” co-star, Doug McClure, attempting to get a few of that Gulager comedy magic to rub off on his personal midlife profession. “Tapeheads” goals for satire, typically finally ends up being purely foolish and represents an superior time capsule of that decade’s most cheesy sensibilities.
It is a good distance from “The Killers” to “Tapeheads,” however Clu Gulager was one of many few actors who may bridge that divide. Semper Fi, Marine.
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