The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHappy 73rd birthday, Johnny Crawford.
Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2019, 01:32 PM - Edit history (3)
{Edited: it's 2019. He's 73. Thanks.}
73? Johnny Crawford? Mark, from "The Rifleman?" Yep.
I know: "how did that happen?"
Johnny Crawford in The Rifleman (1961)
Born: John Ernest Crawford
March 26, 1946 (age 73), Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Relatives: Robert L. Crawford, Jr. (brother)
Website: Johnny Crawford fansite
Johnny Crawford and Chuck Connors in The Rifleman (1960)
John Ernest Crawford (born March 26, 1946) is an American actor, singer, and musician. At age 12, Crawford rose to prominence playing Mark McCain, the son of Lucas McCain (played by Chuck Connors), in the popular ABC Western series, The Rifleman, which aired from 1958 to 1963. Crawford first performed before a national audience as a Mouseketeer.
Family life
Crawford was born in Los Angeles, the son of Betty (née Megerlin) and Robert Lawrence Crawford, Sr. His maternal grandparents were Belgian; his maternal grandfather was violinist Alfred Eugene Megerlin. In 1959, Johnny, his older brother Robert L. Crawford, Jr., a co-star of NBC's Laramie series, and their father Robert, Sr., were all nominated for Emmy Awards (the brothers for acting and their father for film editing).
Career
One of The Walt Disney Company's original Mouseketeers, in 1955, Crawford has acted on stage, in films, and on television.
Disney started out with 24 original Mouseketeers. However, at the end of the first season, the studio reduced the number to 12, and Crawford was released from his contract. His first important break as an actor followed with the title role in a Lux Video Theatre production of "Little Boy Lost", a live NBC broadcast on March 15, 1956. He also appeared in the popular Western series The Lone Ranger, in 1956, in one of the few color episodes of that series. Following that performance, the young actor worked steadily with many seasoned actors and directors. Freelancing for 2 1/2 years, he accumulated almost 60 television credits, including featured roles in three episodes of NBC's The Loretta Young Show and an appearance as Manuel in, "I Am an American", an episode of the syndicated crime drama Sheriff of Cochise. By the spring of 1958, he had also performed 14 demanding roles in live teleplays for NBC's Matinee Theatre, appeared on CBS's sitcom, Mr. Adams and Eve, in the Wagon Train episode "The Sally Potter Story" (in which Martin Milner also appeared) and on the syndicated series, Crossroads, Sheriff of Cochise, and Whirlybirds, and made three pilots of TV series. The third pilot, which was made as an episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, was picked up by ABC and the first season of The Rifleman began filming in July 1958.
Crawford was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor, at age 13, for his role as Mark McCain, the son of Lucas McCain, played by Chuck Connors, in the American Broadcasting Company's series produced by Four Star Television, The Rifleman. Throughout The Rifleman's five seasons, a remarkable on-screen chemistry existed between Connors and Crawford in the depiction of their father-son relationship. They were still close friends when Connors died on November 10, 1992, and Crawford gave a eulogy at Connors' memorial service.
....
While enlisted in the United States Army for two years, Crawford worked on training films as a production coordinator, assistant director, script supervisor, and occasional actor. His rank was sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge in December 1967.
....
The Resurrection of Broncho Billy was a USC student film Crawford agreed to do as a favor to his close friend, producer John Longenecker. It won the 1970 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Subject.
....
Here he is at age 10:
As a Mouseketeer:
MickeyMouseClubChannel
Published on Feb 3, 2017
This is the recycled roll call segment featured every Friday on the first season (1955-1956) for Talent Round-Up Day. According to Annette Funicello's autobiography, "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes", this was the first number she ever took part in with the mouseketeers.
Featuring:
Karen Pendleton
Cubby O'Brien
Doreen Tracey
Mark Sutherland (in for Lonnie Burr for some reason)
Darlene Gillespie
Johnny Crawford
Nancy Abbate
Mike Smith
Annette Funicello
Don Underhill
Sharon Baird
Bobby Burgess
Roy Williams
and Jimmie Dodd.
WARINING: THIS CHANNEL IS NOT AFFILIATED OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY IN ANY WAY. ALL CONTENT ON THIS CHANNEL IS OWNED BY THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY.
They grow up so fast:
davekcomics
Published on Oct 24, 2008
kim darby and johnny crawford
The Resurrection of Broncho Billy:
Fianally, even though "The Rifleman" shows up every Saturday afternoon on TV, don't expect to see these scenes anytime soon:
Danny B
Published on Jul 31, 2014
Classic
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)I did hear some sad news about Mr. Crawford recently via friends who know him. He is now confimed to an Alzheimer's ward..not sure if it's at the Motion Picture Home or elsewhere. Paul Petersen and his organization (A Minor Consideration) have an online fundraiser going for him to raise money for his care.
rsdsharp
(9,177 posts)he's 73 today.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,446 posts)I should have caught that. Edits made. Thanks.
CurtEastPoint
(18,644 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,446 posts)Village of the Giants is a 1965 American comedy science fiction film produced, directed and written by Bert I. Gordon. Based loosely on H.G. Wells's book The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth, it has elements of the beach party film genre. The story concerns a gang of rebellious youngsters who gain access to a chemical substance called "Goo", which causes living things to grow to gigantic proportions. The cast is comprised almost entirely of teenaged actors and young adults portraying teenagers. Also making musical guest appearances are The Beau Brummels, Freddy Cannon, and Mike Clifford.
j peoplemover
Published on Jun 30, 2011
In this obviously heroin-fueled scene from the classic 1965 Bert I. Gordon film, "Village of the Giants", the monstrously ginormous Beau Bridges and his bodacious bunch of bikini-clad teenage girls decide to terrorize the town of Hainesville by dancing. Eventually, Tommy Kirk come along, and can't stand it any longer. Hilarity ensues.
Category
Comedy
Movie
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Village Of The Giants
calguy
(5,309 posts)I used to love watching The Rifleman when I was a young boy. Too bad it only lasted a couple seasons.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,446 posts)It was on from 1958 until 1963
keith sw
(45 posts)Still watch it on ME TV. Sadly, I just read recently that Johnny is suffering from Alzheimers
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,394 posts)It was on late in the afternoon. And I often watch the older shows, too. Most of them are better than the new ones on now - or is it just me?
MuseRider
(34,109 posts)My first was Alfalfa (I know, I cannot figure that out either) the second was Johnny Crawford because I loved The Rifleman. I was 5 years old but I thought he was just the best and so cute.
I occasionally will watch that show when I scroll around and see it somewhere. I still like it even though it is far from my normal interests.
I am sorry to read in the middle of the thread of his recent health problems.
samnsara
(17,622 posts)...the father son chat at the end of each episode and that beautiful music always makes my BP go down..
TexasBushwhacker
(20,190 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,446 posts)Born May 13, 1944 (age 74), Quantico, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation Actor, producer
Relatives: Johnny Crawford (brother)
Robert Lawrence Crawford Jr. (born May 13, 1944) is an American actor who portrayed the character Andy Sherman on the NBC television series Laramie in 1959 and 1960. He was cast as the younger brother of Slim Sherman, portrayed by John Smith, owner of the fictitious Sherman Ranch and Relay Station some twelve miles east of Laramie, Wyoming. Their co-star was Robert Fuller in the role of former gunfighter Jess Harper. Crawford's role on Laramie ended in 1960, when Andy Sherman was shipped off to boarding school. Crawford is sometimes credited as Bobby Crawford Jr., or without the generational suffix as Bobby Crawford or Robert L. Crawford.
His father, also named Robert L. Crawford and occasionally referred to as Robert Crawford, Sr., was a well-known, Emmy-nominated film editor and occasional actor, who portrayed Detective Phil Burns on the syndicated television series, Manhunt.
Before and after Laramie, Crawford appeared in some two dozen film and television productions. His television guest appearances included Walt Disney family adventure series Zorro, The Californians, The Donna Reed Show, National Velvet, Jack Webb's crime drama Dragnet, Combat!, Mr. Novak, Rawhide, Cheyenne, and Gunsmoke.
....
(L to R) Hoagy Carmichael, Robert Fuller, and Robert Crawford Jr. in Laramie (with John Hoyts back)
Perhaps best forgotten:
Okay, I'm not that big a fan. But someone is:
oasis
(49,387 posts)Robert U
(6 posts)I am 72 years old. And Johnny has been my hero since I was 8 and watched him on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1955. I loved him then. I love him now. Ill love him till I die. Happy birthday and all the best to you.