Clint Walker was an American actor, born May 30, 1927 in Hartford, Illinois USA. He is known for his appearances in various western films and series, although he was particularly recognized for his leading role in the long-running television series “Cheyenne”.
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Early life
Norman Eugene Walker was born the son of Czech-born Paul Arnold Walker and Gladys Schwanda. Norman, who has a twin sister named Neoma Lucy, loved westerns and admired actors and personalities such as Roy Rogers, Buck Jones and Gene Autry as a child.
Clint Walker in Hardcase, 1972
Posted by Clint Walker on Monday May 8th, 2017
Despite his love for fiction, young Norman didn’t have much time to devote to television shows and other types of entertainment, as he started working at the age of nine, as he revealed in an interview with Classic Images: “I would go to carnivals and circuses and get various jobs. I would either haul water, or set up milk bottles, or bring back the baseballs. I would find jobs at the grocery store to clean up. As I got older, I shoveled snow in the winter, mowed the lawns and framed the golfers in the summer.
His entry into the workforce at such a young age permanently prevented him from enjoying the basic experiences of his childhood: “People are surprised when I tell them that I did not play football in high school with my size and my strength.” I could not. I was still working.
Career
Time as Marine and other jobs
Walker dropped out of high school as a teenager to work full-time at a paper mill. Then he gets a job loading boxes that he will keep until he is 18 years old, when he enlists in the American merchant navy. However, even during his service, he got various odd jobs to support himself.
His time in service to the country was not long, as World War II ended soon after he joined, and Norman found himself looking for ways to support himself once more. That’s how he got jobs as a door-to-door salesman of a variety of things, such as vacuum cleaners, insurance, and cars.
Already familiar with Los Angeles due to his time in the Navy, Norman quit his previous job and moved to town to work in a construction operation, although he did not last in that job and again moved, this time to Texas where he started working as a carpenter for a large company.
Things didn’t work out for him once again, and he found himself changing his field of work and moving back to California: “I started to realize what was the best thing I had to offer . I decided on my size. So, I entered the game of the forces of order”.
That’s how he got a job with a private detective agency by day and as a club bouncer by night in Long Beach. With the experience gained during this time, he went to Las Vegas to work as a security guard at the Sands Hotel.
It was during the year and a half he worked there that various people suggested he try for a role in a Hollywood production.
Although at first Norman ignored these ideas, he eventually looked at things from a different perspective. Deciding that his current profession was too dangerous and didn’t offer him many opportunities in life, he quit his job and moved back to California.
Acting debut
Once in Hollywood, Norman’s height and overall well-built appearance helped him land his first small role in the 1954 film “Jungle Gents.” Advised to change his first name to another industry fitting, Norman acquired a name he admittedly hated: Jet Norman.
He then meets Henry Wilcoxon, an actor already experienced in the industry, who advises him on the basics of Hollywood operation, and helps Norman to audition for the film “The Ten Commandments” by Cecil B. DeMille.
Despite the help, Norman’s opportunity to land his first major role was nearly wasted, when on his way to the studio he stopped to help a woman change her tire, arriving late for her appointment. with DeMille: “I knew my career might be over before I even started”.
An apology was unnecessary, however, as an unexpected turn of events awaited Norman when he finally met the man.
The stranger happened to be the director’s secretary, so Norman was not passed over for the role, but instead was cast as the Sardinian captain. Unfortunately, his character was pulled from the stage for standing out from the other actors on set.
Cheyenne
Norman’s time in “The Ten Commandments” was not wasted, however, as the screen tests he performed during filming caught the attention of producers at Warner Bros, who were looking for new talent to produce. a new series.
It was then that Norman finally adopted his stage name, Clint Walker, and auditioned for the network: “The first day, I was very, very nervous.
RIP Clint Walker 😔 Have you watched this show??
Posted by Retro Wifey on Tuesday May 22nd, 2018
I could see all these people that I had seen in photos over the years and I thought to myself, “I have no chance. On the second day, I thought, “I won’t get the job anyway, so why not just relax and enjoy it?”
His intuition was indeed correct, and within days of his audition, Clint Walker was informed that he had landed the role of Cheyenne Bodie, the iconic protagonist of the western series “Cheyenne”, which not only made him famous but also became one. of Warner Bros.’ largest and most profitable series, from 1955 until its end in 1962.
The end of “Cheyenne” was caused by Walker’s decision to leave the show, as he felt his contract was preventing him from getting other professional opportunities. Years after the show ended, Clint confessed he regretted his decision: “I should have been wiser financially.
I would have done what Jim Arness did with “Gunsmoke”. They would have given me the show back then. They would have given me just about anything I wanted.
Other Important Roles
His professional career after the end of “Cheyenne” was not over, and he landed various roles in many productions. Some of Clint’s most memorable characters were in the movies “The Night of the Grizzly” and “The Dirty Dozen.” He also starred in “Baker’s Hawk” and was the villain of “Scream of the Wolf.”
The last production he participated in was “Small Soldiers”, an adventure-themed animated series created in 1998, in which he voiced the character of Nick Nitro.
Private life
Romantic relationship
Clint Walker first married in 1948 to Verna Garver. The couple had a daughter named Valerie and shared two decades together until their divorce in 1968.
Six years later, Clint married Giselle Hennessey, and their marriage also lasted 20 years until his death in 1994.
In 1997, Clint married Susan Cavallari and became stepfather to her three children. They remained together until his death.
Health
Although Clint Walker enjoyed good health for most of his life, he had a life-threatening experience when in 1971 he fell from a ski lift, partially piercing his heart with a post in the unfortunate event.
However, he recovered quickly and was back to work within two months.
Death
On May 21, 2018, Clint Walker died of heart failure at age 90 at his home in Grass Valley, California.
Net value
Clint Walker had an estimated net worth of $4 million as a result of his long career as a Hollywood actor.
Physical appearance
Clint Walker was a very handsome man, which was definitely one of the reasons he was considered for many of his Hollywood roles. His athletic build gave him a tough appearance, and his most distinctive physical characteristics were his slim waist, deep voice, and attractive features. Although his weight is unknown, he was 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) tall.
Interesting facts
His twin sister Neoma tried to defend him against bullies when they were 12, although the episode didn’t end well for them as she accidentally punched Clint: “I rolled over on the floor and kicked him. saw her sitting on the floor crying. That ended the fight right there.
Neoma died in 2000, aged 73.
Clint’s daughter, Valerie, worked as a commercial pilot.
Clint was often described as a “mountain man” for his tough and strong appearance.
In 1960, Clint received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also received a Golden Boot Award in 1997.
