Hugh O'Brian

Hugh O'Brian

Acting

April 19, 1925 — September 5, 2016Rochester, New York, USA

Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles Krampe) was a prominent American actor and humanitarian best known for starring as the legendary frontier lawman in the ABC Western television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp from 1955 to 1961 and the NBC action television series Search (1972–1973), as well as films, including the Agatha Christie adaptation Ten Little Indians (1965) and a notable supporting role in John Wayne's last film, The Shootist (1976). Known for his athletic, square-jawed build and quick-draw skills, he became one of television's definitive early Western heroes. Beyond acting, he left a massive global legacy as the founder of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY), a nonprofit organization that has trained over 500,000 high school scholars in leadership and service.

Known for

Twins

Twins

1988

Game of Death

Game of Death

1978

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984

The Shootist

The Shootist

1976

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

1976

D.O.A.

D.O.A.

1949

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

1977

In Harm's Way

In Harm's Way

1965

Ten Little Indians

Ten Little Indians

1965

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

Acting101

Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

2021

Self

ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration

ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration

2003

Self

The Shootist: The Legend Lives On

The Shootist: The Legend Lives On

2001

Self (uncredited)

Television: The First Fifty Years

Television: The First Fifty Years

1999

Self (archive footage)

Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone

Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone

1994

Wyatt Earp

The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw

The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw

1991

Wyatt Earp

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache

1990

Gen. Nelson Miles

Twins

Twins

1988

Granger

Paradise

Paradise

1988

Wyatt Earp

Doin' Time on Planet Earth

Doin' Time on Planet Earth

1988

Richard Camalier

L.A. Law

L.A. Law

1986

Raymond Holtz

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984

Fred Keppard

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

James Mason: The Star They Loved to Hate

1984

Self - 'Lolita' premiere (uncredited)

Bruce Lee, the Legend

Bruce Lee, the Legend

1984

Self

Matt Houston

Matt Houston

1982

Thomas 'Buck' McCune

The Seekers

The Seekers

1979

Andrew Piggot

Game of Death

Game of Death

1978

Steiner

Cruise Into Terror

Cruise Into Terror

1978

Captain Andy

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

1977

Gabriel

Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover

Benny & Barney: Las Vegas Undercover

1977

Jack Davis

Fantasy Island

Fantasy Island

1977

Paul Henley

Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

1976

Tony Mann

The Shootist

The Shootist

1976

Jack Pulford

Killer Force

Killer Force

1976

Lewis

Murder on Flight 502

Murder on Flight 502

1975

Detective Daniel Myerson

Search

1972

Hugh Lockwood

Probe

Probe

1972

Hugh Lockwood

The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World

The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World

1971

Self

Harpy

Harpy

1971

Peter Clune

Wild Women

Wild Women

1970

Killian

Swing Out, Sweet Land

Swing Out, Sweet Land

1970

Thomas Jefferson

Strategy of Terror

Strategy of Terror

1969

Matt Lacey

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

1968

Self - Guest

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1968

Self

The Movie Orgy

The Movie Orgy

1968

Wyatt Earp (archive footage)

Dial M for Murder

Dial M for Murder

1967

Mark Halliday

Africa: Texas Style!

Africa: Texas Style!

1967

Jim Sinclair

Ambush Bay

Ambush Bay

1966

Sgt. Steve Corey

Ten Little Indians

Ten Little Indians

1965

Hugh Lombard

Assassination in Rome

Assassination in Rome

1965

Dick Sherman

In Harm's Way

In Harm's Way

1965

U.S. Army Air Corps Major (Liz Eddington's Lover) (uncredited)

Love Has Many Faces

Love Has Many Faces

1965

Hank Walker

Kraft Suspense Theatre

Kraft Suspense Theatre

1963

Detective Matt Lacey

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

1963

Mig Semple / Quinton Morrow

The Greatest Show on Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth

1963

Garve

Come Fly with Me

Come Fly with Me

1963

First Officer Ray Winsley

The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

1962

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

Self

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

1962

Christopher Martin

The Virginian

The Virginian

1962

Paul Taylor

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Self - Co-Host / Self

Feathertop

Feathertop

1961

Feathertop

Alias Jesse James

Alias Jesse James

1959

Wyatt Earp (uncredited)

The Bell Telephone Hour

The Bell Telephone Hour

1959

Self - Host

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

1958

Lt. Lee Baker

The Fiend Who Walked the West

The Fiend Who Walked the West

1958

Daniel Slade Hardy

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

Bruce Jason

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

Tonight Starring Jack Paar

1957

Self

Invitation to a Gunfighter

Invitation to a Gunfighter

1957

Matt Jeffers

The Brass Legend

The Brass Legend

1956

Sheriff Wade Addams

The Twinkle In God's Eye

The Twinkle In God's Eye

1955

Marty Callahan

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

1955

Wyatt Earp

White Feather

White Feather

1955

American Horse

There's No Business Like Show Business

There's No Business Like Show Business

1954

Charles Gibbs

Broken Lance

Broken Lance

1954

Mike Devereaux

Studio 57

Studio 57

1954

Giff Dillard / Allen Herrick

Drums Across the River

Drums Across the River

1954

Morgan

Moby Dick

Moby Dick

1954

Starbuck

Fireman Save My Child

Fireman Save My Child

1954

Smitty

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

1954

Carl Smith

Back to God's Country

Back to God's Country

1953

Frank Hudson

Letter to Loretta

Letter to Loretta

1953

Duke Cole / Walter Wallington / Sam Hendricks / Larry Brown

The Stand at Apache River

The Stand at Apache River

1953

Tom Kenyon

The Man from the Alamo

The Man from the Alamo

1953

Lt. Lamar

Seminole

Seminole

1953

Kajeck

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

1953

Sam Sharp

Meet Me at the Fair

Meet Me at the Fair

1953

Chilton Corr

The Lawless Breed

The Lawless Breed

1952

Ike Hanley

The Raiders

The Raiders

1952

Hank Purvis

The Ford Television Theatre

The Ford Television Theatre

1952

Matty Curran

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

1952

Self

Son of Ali Baba

Son of Ali Baba

1952

Hussein

Sally and Saint Anne

Sally and Saint Anne

1952

Danny O'Moyne

The Red Ball Express

The Red Ball Express

1952

Wilson

The Battle at Apache Pass

The Battle at Apache Pass

1952

Lt. Robert Harley

The Cimarron Kid

The Cimarron Kid

1952

Red Buck

Cave of Outlaws

Cave of Outlaws

1951

Garth

The Red Skelton Show

The Red Skelton Show

1951

Count Mustache

On the Loose

On the Loose

1951

Dr. Phillips

Little Big Horn

Little Big Horn

1951

Pvt. Al DeWalt

Fighting Coast Guard

Fighting Coast Guard

1951

Tom Peterson

Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas

Buckaroo Sheriff of Texas

1951

Ted Gately

Vengeance Valley

Vengeance Valley

1951

Dick Fasken

The Return of Jesse James

The Return of Jesse James

1950

Lem Younger

Beyond the Purple Hills

Beyond the Purple Hills

1950

Jack Beaumont

Rocketship X-M

Rocketship X-M

1950

Harry Chamberlain

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

1950

Self - Mystery Guest

Never Fear

Never Fear

1950

Len Randall

D.O.A.

D.O.A.

1949

Jazz Fan (uncredited)

Kidnapped

Kidnapped

1948

Sailor (uncredited)

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

Self