- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMeade Howard Horton Jr.
- Nickname
- Bob
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- Robert Horton was born on July 29, 1924 into a Mormon family in Los Angeles, California as Meade Howard Horton Jr. He began his contract career at MGM in 1952 and adopted the acting name of Robert Horton.
Following his final role (as a guest star on Murder, She Wrote (1984)), Horton retired from acting in 1989. He had appeared in films, musical theatre, and many television series in both starring and guest roles, including Apache War Smoke (1952), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), Wagon Train (1957), The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1960), Matinee Theatre (1955), As the World Turns (1956), and The Green Slime (1968).
Horton was thrice married: to Mary Catherine Jobe, to Barbara Ruick, and to Marilynn Bradley, who survived him. He died on March 9, 2016, aged 91, in his native Los Angeles.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Robert Sieger (updated)
- SpousesMarilynn Bradley(December 31, 1960 - March 9, 2016) (his death)Barbara Ruick(August 22, 1953 - April 27, 1956) (divorced)Mary Catherine Jobe(June 27, 1946 - 1950) (divorced)
- Nice rugged voice.
- Roles in Westerns.
- Hairy chest, frequently bared for "beefcake" appeal
- Made the list of the Ten Best Dressed Men in 1963, along with President John F. Kennedy, James Garner, and Joey Bishop.
- With Terry Wilson's death on March 30, 1999, Horton became the last original surviving cast member of Wagon Train (1957).
- Prior to their marriage, his wife Marilynn Bradley, 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". The couple met while appearing in a production of the musical "Guys and Dolls" in Ohio. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 31, 2010. They remained married until his death in 2016.
- Horton made his stage debut at age 23, and was featured in 34 musicals.
- Owned his own plane, a Piper Comanche 250, from 1957 to 1998.
- Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Persistence and determination are omnipotent.
- I don't show my cars, I drive them. The two don't go together. My hobby is my cars, and they keep me very busy.
- [Regarding the future of Wagon Train (1957)]: I have one more season to go with Wagon Train (1957), and I have every intention of carrying out my contract. They asked me to sign on for another five years, but I won't do it. That makes me 10 years in 1 series-half my professional life. I can't see it.
- [About a new series' lead who replaced 'Ward Bond (I)', whom he had a feuding relationship]: Twice last year, before Mr. Bond passed away, I suggested for parts in the show, I have long admired him as a talent; we work very much the same way.
- No doubt about it, I was in another series---'King Row,' for Warner Brothers. It did nothing for me: in fact, it died after 13 weeks. But Wagon Train (1957) is the best thing that has happened to me. Fortunately, I held out against an exclusive contract. I'm able to do outside TV once a month. And I can do different things so I won't be typed as a Western actor.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content