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1 | Despite being nine years apart, both Horton and Robert Fuller celebrated their own birthdays, every July 29 of each year, for 61 years, until Horton's death in 2016. |
2 | His beloved residence of Encino, as well as several pieces of notable furniture in the home, was built by the actor and woodworker, George Montgomery. |
3 | Upon his death, he was cremated, his ashes were given to his family. |
4 | His hobbies were: flying and collecting and driving, vintage, and mid-century automobiles. |
5 | When he became an actor, his parents were not pleased. |
6 | According to himself, he never felt he fit into the appropriate Mormon household, for being the hotheaded child that he was. |
7 | As a little boy, he survived many surgeries such as: hernia and an enlarged kidney. |
8 | Just before his death, he suffered a fall. |
9 | On his 90th Birthday, the Presentation of the Western Legend Award was bestowed to him. [29 July 2014]. |
10 | He was widely known to be a very private person. |
11 | He was one of two sons. |
12 | Received the Cowboy Spirit Award at the 16th Annual Bison Homes Festival held in Phoenix for "embodying the integrity, strength of spirit, and moral character depicted by the American cowboy." [March 2006] |
13 | Had resided in the same house for 55 years, between 1960 and 2016. |
14 | Met Robert Fuller and James Drury when the three were all under contract with MGM in 1954. |
15 | Friends with Robert Fuller, they share the same birthday. |
16 | Friends with: Robert Fuller, James Drury, Doug McClure, John Smith, Julie London, Bobby Troup, Claude Akins, John McIntire, Terry Wilson, Dale Robertson, James Best, Mickey Rooney, Ellen Corby, Ronald Reagan, Harry Morgan, Ernest Borgnine, Denny Miller, Dean Stockwell, Leonard Nimoy, Dan Duryea, Jocelyn Brando, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Burns, Jon Locke, Morgan Woodward, Whit Bissell, Steve Allen, Morgan Woodward, James Arness, Angie Dickinson and Cloris Leachman. |
17 | Beat out John Smith for the role of Flint McCollough in Wagon Train (1957). |
18 | Was a longtime friend of future president Ronald Reagan. Horton said that years later, when Reagan was the Governor of California, he and Marilynn were scheduled to perform in Man of LaManche in Sacramento. They received the nicest note from Reagan, apologizing that he and Nancy wouldn't be able to attend the performance since they would be out of town, but he wished them well and said he knew they'd give a great performance. |
19 | He was an uncredited extra in Lewis Seiler's The Tanks Are Coming (1951). |
20 | Created the character of Flint McCollough on Wagon Train (1957), which was based on 'The Jean LeBec Story'. |
21 | With Terry Wilson's death on March 30, 1999, Horton became the last original surviving cast member of Wagon Train (1957). |
22 | Before his future Wagon Train (1957) co-star, Frank McGrath would co-star in the series with Horton, he was Robert's stuntman, who did some of the work for him in his movies Pony Soldier (1952) and Apache War Smoke (1952). |
23 | Prior to starring on Wagon Train (1957), he was also a nightclub singer. |
24 | Went to the same school with Gloria Grahame, Jason Robards and Judy Garland. |
25 | Made his stage debut at 23. |
26 | After his final guest-starring role on Murder, She Wrote (1984), he retired from acting at 65. |
27 | Acting mentors were Ward Bond and John McIntire. |
28 | Owned his own plane, a Piper Comanche 250, from 1957 to 1998. |
29 | Missed 20 episodes of his final season of Wagon Train (1957), due to his work in musical theater. |
30 | Did not have a very good relationship with Ward Bond on Wagon Train (1957). Horton said Bond constantly spread rumors about his sexuality. |
31 | Had to cancel his appearance at the Williambsurg Film Festival in Williamsburg, Virginia, due to health problems. [7 March 2007]. |
32 | Was regarded as one of the busiest actors in Hollywood, who would either work in television, movies or on the stage. |
33 | Began his contract career at MGM in 1952. |
34 | Prior to Horton's marriage, his wife, Marilynn limited her professional appearances to performing with her husband in such shows as 'Brigadoon,' 'Showboat,' 'Carousel,' '1776,' 'Kismet,' 'Man of LaMancha,' 'The Odd Couple,' 'Same Time Next Year,' '6 Rooms Riv Vu,' 'Under the Yum-yum Tree,' 'Pajama Game,' 'I Do, I Do,' and 'Oklahoma,' to name a few. |
35 | Attended the funeral of Ward Bond when the actor passed away in 1960. |
36 | Shortened his name from Meade Howard Horton Jr. to Robert Horton to become an actor. |
37 | Since his passing in March 2016, Hugh O'Brian is the oldest surviving Western star. |
38 | Is a Republican. |
39 | Moved to New York City in the 1980s, prior to filming As the World Turns (1956). |
40 | Was featured in 34 musical plays. |
41 | Had worked with James Best in episodes of two different series: Wagon Train (1957) and The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960). |
42 | Met his future wife, Marilynn Bradley, in the play 'Guys and Dolls,' at a theater in Ohio. |
43 | Celebrated his 50th Wedding Anniversary to Marilynn Bradley. [31 December 2010]. |
44 | Graduated, Sum Laude at University of California-Los Angeles. |
45 | Best known by the public for his role as Flint McCollough on Wagon Train (1957). |
46 | Did all of his own riding and stunts on most of the Wagon Train (1957) and A Man Called Shenandoah (1965) series, and he owned the Appaloosa horse he often rode in both series. |
47 | Made the list of the Ten Best Dressed Men in 1963, along with President John F. Kennedy, James Garner, and Joey Bishop. |
48 | Graduated from Hollywood High School, in Hollywood, California, in 1942. |
49 | Just 1 week after his 80th birthday, he was awarded the Golden Boot Award. [7 August 2004]. |
50 | Recorded an album of pop songs on Columbia, "The Very Thought of You," in 1964. |
51 | His wife was originally from Boston, Massachusetts. |
52 | Attended the Festival of The West alongside fellow actors, Robert Fuller and James Drury, from 2003 to 2011. |
53 | Robert Horton received the Cowboy Spirit Award at the 16th Annual Bison Homes Festival in Phoenix, Arizona, for "embodying the integrity, strength of spirit, and moral character depicted by the American cowboy." [18 March 2006]. |
54 | A cowboy buff. |
55 | Had worked with Harry Morgan in three movies: Apache War Smoke (1952), Arena (1953) and Prisoner of War (1954). |
56 | Honorary Marshal of Tombstone, Arizona. [6 July 2002]. |
57 | Born at 12:07pm-PDT |
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