Richard Egan

Square-jawed Richard Egan was a classic leading man in his time, starring in several high-profile films and on the Western show "Empire." Like many from his generation, he served in the army during World War II, acting as a judo instructor. After graduating from college, he taught briefly before getting his first bit part in the 1949 thriller "The Story of Molly X." He gradually built a reputation in the film industry during the 1950s, playing supporting roles in period dramas like "The Golden Horde" and Raoul Walsh's adventure "Blackbeard, the Pirate" in 1952. His part in the 1953 baseball comedy "The Kid from Left Field" earned him attention, and three years later he starred opposite Elvis Presley in the melodramatic romance "Love Me Tender." Several more starring roles followed, most notably "A Summer Place" alongside Dorothy McGuire in 1959. Other key roles came in the family drama "Polyanna" and the sword and sandal epic "The 300 Spartans" in '62. That same year he began starring in the TV Western "Empire" (renamed "Rodigo" during its final season) and spent the rest of his career dividing his time between the big and small screens. His final role came on the daytime drama "Capitol," where he had a recurring role until his death in 1987.