Hugh O’Brian

Actor

"I’d read a great deal about Wyatt Earp and when I got the role, I decided I to try to become proficient with a Colt 45 pistol. I practiced about 1,000 hours or more on that quick-draw. When we went on the set, they didn’t have to cut away -- they could just stay with me and all of the sudden the gun was out and the other guy was not there. I think it was the authenticity that also made the show go right into the Top 5. It was the first adult western."

About This Interview

Hugh O’Brian was interviewed for three hours plus in Beverly Hills, CA. O’Brian spoke about moving to Los Angeles to embark on an acting career following his service during World War II. He described his early career in films, working with such stars as Gene Autry. He talked about his work in several dramatic anthologies in early television, and the title role in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, the series for which he is most associated. He discussed many aspects of the series including the factual basis for his character, working with his co-stars, and the difficult location shooting. He spoke about his later television and film work and his devotion to HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership), a development organization for tomorrow’s leaders that he formed in 1958. B-roll consisted of stills from various series and films including: The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Return to Tombstone (television movie), Love Has Many Faces (feature film), and Seminole (feature film). The interview was conducted by Jennifer Howard on March 29, 2005.

Highlights

Chapters

Shows

People

Topics

Choose ..
- Clip begins at: 00:00
Historic Events and Social Change > War > WWII
- Hugh O'Brian on his World War II service
  Clip begins at: 05:52, Duration: 03m 36s
Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
- Hugh O'Brian on the real life Wyatt Earp and his marriage to Josie Marcus
  Clip begins at: 12:09, Duration: 07m 11s
TV’s Golden Age (1940s & ‘50s)
- Hugh O'Brian on the challenges and advantages of working in live television
  Clip begins at: 17:53, Duration: 02m 21s
Television Industry > Criticism of TV > Sex & Violence
- Hugh O’Brian on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp's attitude towards violence
  Clip begins at: 11:14, Duration: 02m 43s

Genres

Submitted by johnnycash2669 on Tue, 2011-05-24 22:09.

I like this great man, not only as an actor.

Submitted by poitrenaud on Sat, 2011-04-23 16:21.

@saunders49 Me too! I loved American TV shows from the 50's-
Men were men!

Submitted by dontaylorusa on Tue, 2011-03-01 01:20.

sounds like hugh is a good person.......and his heart is in the right place

Submitted by Baskerville22 on Tue, 2011-01-25 06:59.

He & James Garner look amazingly alike

Submitted by coporal4 on Sun, 2011-01-02 18:09.

Now as a former MArine I really like this interview. He had to move out the House of th 7 Garbels because he lost 40 lbs. since he was around 23 beautiful women. Of course the female interviewing him was so uptight she couldn't get a laugh at what he was implying. My man HUGH...represent the Marine Corps part-ner. What happens on the Rock stays on the ROCK

Submitted by tonysshadow on Sat, 2010-07-31 07:53.

wow!..I love this interview... I had no idea his father was an old "horse Marine". For that matter I had no idea he and his family were such a US Marine family.

Submitted by tonysshadow on Sat, 2010-07-31 07:46.

OOO RAH!... Being a former US Marine I was of course a fan of this gentleman... Particularly since he was a drill instructor...training other US Marines. Dont know if its still true, but when I was in ...Mr Hugh had the distinction of being the youngest drill instructor ever in the USMC.

Capturing Television History, One Voice At A Time