Clu Gulager was an actor known for starring roles in “The Virginian” and “The Return of the Living Dead.”
- Died: August 5, 2022 (Who else died on August 5?)
- Details of death: Died at his son’s home in Los Angeles of natural causes at the age of 93.
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Acting career
Gulager’s career began with small roles on TV series including “Playhouse 90” and “Have Gun – Will Travel.” He starred as Billy the Kid on “The Tall Man” before landing his role as Deputy Emmett Ryker on “The Virginian.” Gulager was a regular on “The Virginian” for four seasons. He had his first major film role in 1964’s “The Killers,” playing accomplice to a professional killer played by Lee Marvin. Gulager played roughneck Abilene in “The Last Picture Show” and field deputy Frank Thomas in the John Wayne film “McQ.” He appeared in several horror movies, beginning with the lead role in “The Return of the Living Dead” and also including “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” and “Piranha 3DD.” Gulager’s many TV appearances included “Hawaii Five-O,” “Falcon Crest,” “Knight Rider,” and “Murder, She Wrote.” His final credit was in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” playing a bookstore owner.
Notable quote
“I wasn’t interested in acting until I was in the Marine Corps. One day I was running, exercising on the back lot of Camp Pendleton. Suddenly I said, ‘Hey, I think I want to act.’” —from an interview for getTV
Tributes to Clu Gulager
Full obituary: The New York Times
