Tom Skerritt

Tom Skerritt Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: August 25, 1933

Age: 90 years old

Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan

Audiences have seen actor Tom Skerritt in roles as a soldier, police officer, father and villains in prominent features and television series over several decades. After first gaining attention as the irreverent Southern doctor Duke Forrest in Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H" (1970), Skerritt went on to an accomplished career that was marked with intelligent, penetrating performances. Perhaps most identified with the thoughtful gentleness he brought to his role as Shirley MacLaine's husband in "The Turning Point" (1977), Skerritt went on to score memorable film roles in Ridley Scott's sci-fi film "Alien" (1979), the Tony Scott blockbuster "Top Gun" (1986), and old friend Robert Redford's "A River Runs Through It" (1992). Switching gears to the small screen after years of big screen success, Skerritt starred as the perplexed town sheriff of an odd, fictional community on the hit series "Picket Fences" (CBS, 1992-96), a role that earned him an Emmy Award. After the show was cancelled, Skerritt remained busy with roles on "Huff" (Showtime, 2004-06) and "Brothers and Sisters" (ABC, 2006- ), solidifying his place as one of the most prolific character actors working in Hollywood.

Born on Aug. 25, 1933 in Detroit, MI, Skerritt was raised by his father, Roy, the owner of a small business, and his mother, Helen, a homemaker. Spending his entire youth growing up in the Motor City, he graduated from David Mackenzie High School in 1951. Skerritt heard the call of duty right after high school and spent the next four years of his life in the United States Air Force. By the time he was 21, he had married his first wife and had his first child. Though he tried his hand at acting while attending Wayne State University in Detroit, Skerritt moved across the country to matriculate at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he continued to train as an actor. Spotted while performing in a production of "The Rainmaker," he made his feature debut in "War Hunt" (1962), an independently-made film about the Korean War that was notable for marking the first time both Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack also appeared on screen. That same year, Skerritt made his television debut in the World War II series, "Combat!" (ABC, 1962-67), which led to prolific work in episodic television during the early years of his acting career.

On the small screen, Skerritt landed episodes of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" (CBS, 1962-65), "My Three Sons" (ABC, 1960-1972), "Bonanza" (NBC, 1959-1973) and the "The Fugitive" (ABC, 1963-67), while appearing in longer-running arcs on "Gunsmoke" (CBS, 1955-1975), "Twelve O'Clock High" (ABC, 1964-67), "The FBI" (ABC, 1965-1974) and "The Virginian" (NBC, 1962-1971). Skerritt appeared in one of his first recurring roles on "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Disney" (ABC, 1954-1990). He went on to appear in nine episodes of the series, which aired between 1965 and 1967. Three years later, Skerritt landed his first notable film role in Robert Altman's Korean War comedy "M*A*S*H." (1970). Portraying Capt. Augustus Bedford 'Duke' Forrest in the film, Skerritt's role was reportedly pared down considerably by the irascible director. It did help garner him attention, however, and Skerritt went on to appear in the cult classic "Harold and Maude" (1971) and once again in an Altman project with "Thieves Like Us" (1974). In 1977, Skerritt portrayed Shirley MacLaine's husband, Wayne, in the Academy Award-nominated drama "The Turning Point." Winning his first career accolade for his thoughtful performance in "Point," Skerritt was named Best Supporting Actor by the National Board of Review.

Skerritt next landed the starring role of Dallas, ill-fated captain of the doomed spaceship Nostromo in Ridley Scott's classic sci-fi flick, "Alien" (1979). After meeting his maker in the crawl space of the Nostromo, Skerritt went on to star as Dr. Thomas Ryan in the short-lived, but critically-acclaimed medical drama "Ryan's Four" (ABC, 1983). He followed up by landing a role in his biggest film to date, playing Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf, who helps train Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) in "Top Gun" (1986). Skerritt and the rest of the cast had no idea the film would become the pop cultural phenomenon that it eventually became - aside from inspiring boys to become U.S. Navy fighter pilots, the film catapulted Cruise into the biggest movie star in the world and raised the profile of all involved, including Skerritt, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer. Skerritt's participation in the hit film would even help land the rugged, mustachioed actor a Guess? Jeans ad campaign. An adept comedic actor, Skerritt surprised fans by appearing in a hilarious recurring role on "Cheers" (NBC, 1982-1993), playing multi-millionaire Evan Drake, love interest of Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), starting in 1988.

Taking up residence behind the camera, Skerritt directed the after-school special, "A Question of Sex" (ABC, 1990), which addressed the topic of teaching birth control in high school. As an actor, Skerritt continued to impress with supporting roles in the films "Steel Magnolias" (1989), "The Rookie" (1990), "Poison Ivy" (1992) and Robert Redford's "A River Runs Through It" (1992). Returning to television as a leading man, Skerritt earned his biggest acclaim with a starring in the Emmy Award-winning "Picket Fences" (CBS, 1992-96), created by David E. Kelly. Portraying Sheriff Jimmy Brock, who struggled to maintain order in the odd community of a fictional Wisconsin town, Skerritt won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993. A high point in Skerritt's career, the series also offered him the opportunity to direct a number of episodes before the series was cancelled in 1996. Moving on, Skerritt went on to direct the television movie "Divided by Hate" (USA, 1997), in which he also starred as a manipulative, neo-Nazi preacher. Returning primarily to acting, Skerritt appeared alongside Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in the Robert Zemeckis film "Contact" (1997), portrayed an over-protective father in "The Other Sister" (1999), and co-starred opposite Bruce Willis in Antoine Fuqua's "Tears of the Sun" (2003).

Returning to the small screen, Skerritt costarred in "The Grid" (Fox/BBC, 2004), an epic four-part miniseries about British and American anti-terrorism units banding together to root out an al-Qaida cell that perpetrated an attack on London. In 2006, after playing a retired admiral called back to duty after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in "Homeland Security" (NBC, 2004), Skerritt joined the cast of Showtime's acclaimed drama "Huff" (2004-06), portraying Hank Azaria's neglectful father, Ben Huffstodt. Though the role was originally played by Robert Forster, Skerritt was brought in during the second season to carry on the role. Skerritt also appeared as John Edward Marinville in the Stephen King miniseries "Desperation" (ABC, 2006). In a bit of slight-of-hand, Skerritt appeared in the pilot episode of "Brothers & Sisters" (ABC, 2006-11), playing the patriarch of a family that owns a successful produce distributor who dies from a heart attack. Though killed off in the first episode, Skerritt's character appeared from time to time in flashbacks over the course of the popular show's run. Meanwhile, he co-starred in several made-for-television movies, including "Killer Wave" (ION, 2007), "Vinegar Hill" (CBS, 2008) and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (ION, 2008), which he followed by co-starring opposite Kate Beckinsale in the big screen bomb, "Whiteout" (2009).

Credits

Going HomeStream

Actor
Series
2022

East of the Mountains

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Ben Givens
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2021

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Executive Producer
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2021

Lucky

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Fred
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2017

Day of Days

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Walter
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2017

A Hologram for the King

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Ron
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2016

Journey Back to ChristmasStream

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Tobias Cook
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2016

The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway

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2014

Madam SecretaryStream

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Patrick McCord
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2014

Wings: Sky Force Heroes

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Colonel
Movie
2014

Field of Lost Shoes

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Ulysses S. Grant
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2014

Return of the River

Voice
Grant Humes
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2014

Redwood Highway

Actor
Pete
Movie
2013

At Middleton

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Dr. Roland Emerson
Movie
2013

Wings

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Colonel
Movie
2012

Soda Springs

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Walt Jackson
Movie
2012

TedStream

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Himself
Movie
2012
69%

TedStream

Self
Movie
2012
69%

The Artist Toolbox

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2011

A Valentine's Date

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Jack Conners
Movie
2011

The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club

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2010

Black, White and Blues

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Santa
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2010

White CollarStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
96%

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
James Paisley
Series
2009
93%

The Velveteen Rabbit

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Horse
Movie
2009

WhiteoutStream

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Dr. John Fury
Movie
2009
7%

LeverageStream

Guest Star
Jimmy Ford
Series
2008
92%

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Actor
Gabe Utterson
Show
2008

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

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Gabe Utterson
Movie
2008

The Trojan Horse

Actor
Movie
2008

Beer for My Horses

Actor
Sheriff Landry
Movie
2008

Killer Wave

Actor
Show
2007

Killer Wave - Tsunami des Todes - Teil 1

Actor
Victor Bannister
Movie
2007

Killer Wave - Tsunami des Todes - Teil 2

Actor
Victor Bannister
Movie
2007

Brothers & SistersStream

Guest Star
William Walker
Series
2006
79%

Mammoth

Actor
Simon Abernathy
Movie
2006

FallenStream

Actor
Miniseries
2006

Bonneville

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2006

Fallen III: The Destiny

Actor
Zeke
Movie
2006

Stephen King's Desperation

Actor
John Edward Marinville
Movie
2006

Gefallene Engel 2

Actor
Movie
2006

Category 7: The End of the WorldStream

Actor
Colonel Mike Davis
Miniseries
2005

The CloserStream

Guest Star
Det. Joey "O" Olin
Series
2005
83%

Vinegar Hill

Actor
Fritz Grier
Movie
2005

Homeland Security

Actor
Admiral Ted McKee
Movie
2004

Swing

Actor
George Verdi
Movie
2003

Tears of the SunStream

Actor
Captain Bill Rhodes
Movie
2003
34%

The Dead ZoneStream

Actor
Herb Smith
Series
2002

Path to WarStream

Actor
Gen. William Westmoreland
Movie
2002
100%

Changing Hearts

Actor
Johnny Pinkley
Movie
2002

Texas RangersStream

Actor
Richard Dukes
Movie
2001
2%

Greenmail

Actor
Tom Bradshaw
Movie
2001

An American Daughter

Actor
Walter
Movie
2000

High Noon

Actor
Will Kane
Movie
2000

Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis

Actor
Joseph P. "Joe" Kennedy
Movie
2000

Confundida por los Medios

Actor
Movie
2000

Aftershock: Earthquake in New York

Actor
Show
1999

The West WingStream

Guest Star
Senator Chris Carrick
Series
1999
81%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Judge Oliver Taft
Series
1999
78%

The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer

Actor
Fred Maddux
Show
1999

Into the Wild Blue: The World's Best Flight Teams

Host
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1999

The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer

Actor
Fred Maddux
Movie
1999

The Other Sister

Actor
Radley Tate
Movie
1999

Aftershock: Earthquake in New York

Actor
Movie
1999

Two for TexasStream

Actor
Sam Houston
Movie
1998

Smoke SignalsStream

Actor
Police Chief
Movie
1998
83%

ContactStream

Actor
David Drumlin
Movie
1997
68%

Divided by Hate

Actor
Steve Riordan
Movie
1997

Divided by Hate

Director
Movie
1997

What the Deaf Man Heard

Actor
Norm Jenkins
Movie
1997

Over America

Narrator
Show
1995

Chicago Hope

Guest Star
Series
1994

Picket FencesStream

Actor
Sheriff Jimmy Brock
Series
1992
82%

Picket FencesStream

Director
Series
1992
82%

Mala Hierba

Actor
Movie
1992

In Sickness and in Health

Actor
Jarrett Mattison
Movie
1992

Poison Ivy

Actor
Darryl Cooper
Movie
1992
39%

Knight Moves

Actor
Capt. Frank Sedman
Movie
1992

Getting Up and Going Home

Actor
Jack Montgomery
Movie
1992

SinglesStream

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Mayor Weber
Movie
1992
79%

A River Runs Through ItStream

Actor
Rev. Maclean
Movie
1992
80%

Rzeka Zycia

Actor
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1992

Wild Orchid 2: Two Shades of Blue

Actor
Ham McDonald
Movie
1991

The China Lake Murders

Actor
Sheriff Sam Brodie
Movie
1990

Child in the Night

Actor
Bass
Movie
1990

I'll Take Romance

Actor
Judge Warren Danvers
Movie
1990

The Rookie

Actor
Eugene Ackerman
Movie
1990

Big man on campus

Actor
Movie
1989

Big Man on Campus

Actor
Dr. Webster
Movie
1989

The Heist

Actor
Ebbet Berens
Movie
1989

Steel MagnoliasStream

Actor
Drum Eatenton
Movie
1989
67%

Red King, White Knight

Actor
Stoner
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1989

Moving Target

Actor
Joseph Kellogg
Movie
1988

Nightmare at Bitter Creek

Actor
Ding
Movie
1988

Poltergeist IIIStream

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Bruce Gardner
Movie
1988
16%

Terror en la Montaña

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1988

La randonnée tragique

Actor
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1988

Bitter Creek

Actor
Ding
Movie
1988

Maid to Order

Actor
Charles Montgomery
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1987

The Big Town

Actor
Phil Carpenter
Movie
1987

Poker Alice

Actor
Jeremy Collins
Movie
1987

Opposing Force

Actor
Logan
Movie
1986

Los Días que me Quedan

Actor
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1986

Juego de Gemelas II

Actor
Movie
1986

Campamento Espacial

Actor
Movie
1986

Le Camp de l'enfer

Actor
Movie
1986

Parent Trap II

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Bill Grand
Movie
1986

Top GunStream

Actor
Cmdr. Mike "Viper" Metcalf
Movie
1986
57%

SpaceCamp

Actor
Cmdr. Zach Bergstrom
Movie
1986

Miles to Go

Actor
Stuart Browning
Movie
1986

Wisdom

Actor
Lloyd Wisdom
Movie
1986

Danger Bay

Director
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1985

Danger Bay

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1985

The Twilight Zone

Actor
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1985

The Calendar Girl Murders

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Lieutenant Dan Stoner
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1984

A Touch of Scandal

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Father Dwelle
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1984

L'Ombre d'un scandale

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1984

The Hitchhiker

Actor
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1983

Ryan's Four

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Dr. Ryan
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1983

Zona de Muerte

Actor
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1983

Historia de Médicos

Actor
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1983

The Dead ZoneStream

Actor
Sheriff Bannerman
Movie
1983
89%

CheersStream

Guest Star
Evan Drake
Series
1982
87%

A Dangerous Summer

Actor
Howard Anderson
Movie
1982

Fighting Back

Actor
John D'Angelo
Movie
1982

La Calada del Norte

Actor
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1981

Silence of the North

Actor
Walter Reamer
Movie
1981

Savage Harvest

Actor
Casey
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1980

AlienStream

Actor
Captain A.J. Dallas
Movie
1979
98%

Ice CastlesStream

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Marcus Winston
Movie
1979
44%

Up In SmokeStream

Actor
Strawberry
Movie
1978
47%

Maneaters Are Loose!

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John Gosford
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1978

The Turning Point

Actor
Wayne
Movie
1977
63%

La madama

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JackInes Pellegrini: Irma
Movie
1976

The Last Day

Actor
Bill Powers
Movie
1975

The Devil's Rain

Actor
Tom Preston
Movie
1975

Kolchak: The Night StalkerStream

Guest Star
Series
1974
100%

Arrivano Joe e Margherito

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Marguerito
Movie
1974

Big Bad MamaStream

Actor
Fred Diller
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1974
75%

Thieves Like Us

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Dee Mobley
Movie
1974

Barnaby JonesStream

Guest Star
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1973

Fuzz

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Det. Bert Kling
Movie
1972

Cannon

Guest Star
Toby Hauser
Series
1971

Wild RoversStream

Actor
John Buckman
Movie
1971
60%

Escape of the Birdmen

Actor
Orville `'Fitz'` Fitzgerald
Movie
1971

Men From Shiloh

Guest Star
Bobby Allen
Show
1970

M*A*S*HStream

Actor
Duke Forrest
Movie
1970
84%

Lancer

Guest Star
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1968

The Name of the Game

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1968

MannixStream

Guest Star
Morgan Carpenter
Series
1967

Cimarron Strip

Guest Star
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1967

A Bell for Adano

Actor
Trapani
Movie
1967

The Felony Squad

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Tony Breer
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1966

12 O'Clock High

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1964

Those Calloways

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Whit Turner
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1964

My Favorite MartianStream

Guest Star
Series
1963

The FugitiveStream

Guest Star
Neely Hollister
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1963

Combat!

Guest Star
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1962

Alfred Hitchcock HourStream

Actor
Series
1962

War Hunt

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Sgt. Stan Showalter
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1962

My Three SonsStream

Guest Star
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1960

LaramieStream

Guest Star
Price
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1959

BonanzaStream

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1959

Wagon TrainStream

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1957

GunsmokeStream

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Edmund Dano
Series
1955

Death Valley DaysStream

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Dennis Driscoll
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1952

Death Valley DaysStream

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Sam Clemens/Mark Twain
Series
1952