Hugh O’Brian, TV’s ‘Wyatt Earp,’ dead at 91

O’BRIAN

Actor, Hugh O’Brian is shown in this Sept. 19, 1964, photo.

Hugh O’Brian, who starred in the classic TV series “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp,” died on Monday. He was 91.

The veteran actor died peacefully at his Beverly Hills home, according to a statement from Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership.

O’Brian starred as Earp in the 1955-1961 television series, which ran for 221 episodes.

So popular and so much a part of popuculture was O’Brian that he showed up as Earp, uncredited, in the 1959 Bob Hope Western comedy “Alias Jesse James,” as well as in the 1960 TV movie “The Secret World of Eddie Hodges”; when the actor guested on “Make Room for Daddy” in 1956, the episode was entitled “Wyatt Earp Visits the Williamses,” according to Variety.

His big screen credits included “The Lawless Breed,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “In Harm’s Way” and “Ten Little Indians.” He co-starred in John Wayne’s final film, “The Shootist,” and was the last man to be killed onscreen by Wayne.

O’Brian was born Hugh Charles Krampe on April 19, 1925, in Rochester, New York, to United States Marine Corps officer Hugh John Krampe and his wife, Edith.

After graduating high school, O’Brian enrolled at the University of Cincinnati to pursue a career in law. After only one semester, at the age of 17, he left the University and enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II, where he then became the youngest drill instructor in the Corps’ history.

His acting career began inadvertently in 1947 while attending a performance of Somerset Maugham’s play “Home and Beauty.” The leading actor fell ill and O’Brian agreed to take his place on stage. Inspired by great reviews, he decided to pursue a career on stage, which led to his first contract with Universal Studios.

In 1958, O’Brian journeyed to Africa to spend nine days with Nobel prize winner Albert Schweitzer. upon his return, he founded  the  Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership.

O’Brian is survived by his wife, Virginia O’Brian, his brother Don Krampe and isister-in-law Jean Krampe, his sister-in-law Wendy Stumpf Hughes, and seven nieces and nephews.