Gene Evans

'Gene Evans' (qv) was born in Holbrook, Arizona, on July 11, 1922, and was raised in Colton, California. He served in the Army during World War II as a combat engineer, and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for bravery in action. He began his acting career there, performing in a theatrical troupe of GIs in Europe. After the war, he went to Hollywood, where he made his film debut in 1947's _Under Colorado Skies (1947)_ (qv). The rugged, red-headed character actor was a familiar face in such westerns as _Cattle Queen of Montana (1954)_ (qv), _The War Wagon (1967)_ (qv), _Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)_ (qv), _The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)_ (qv) and _Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)_ (qv). He also starred in the war films _The Steel Helmet (1951)_ (qv) and _Fixed Bayonets! (1951)_ (qv) and co-starred with future first lady 'Nancy Reagan' (qv) (before she became 'Nancy Reagan' (qv)) in _Donovan's Brain (1953)_ (qv). His other major films include _Park Row (1952)_ (qv), _The Giant Behemoth (1959)_ (qv), _Operation Petticoat (1959)_ (qv) and _Walking Tall (1973)_ (qv). He became well known in the 1950s on television, playing the father in _My Friend Flicka (1955)_ (qv). He remained active in films and television through the 1980s. Evans subsequently retired to a farm near Jackson, Tennessee. He was a popular guest at the Memphis Film Festival for the past decade.::Harris Lentz III