John Milford

John Milford (September 7, 1927 – August 14, 2000)

Early years Born in Johnstown, New York, Milford studied civil engineering at Union College

After making his film debut in Marty in 1955, Milford went on to act in dozens of film and TV roles, especially in Westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Fugitive, The Big Valley, The Rifleman(S3 E4, S5 E7), and The Virginian. In 1959 he appeared on Wagon Train S2 E36, "The Rodney Lawrence Story" as Pete Galt, who tries to rob the wagon train, with Theodore Marcuse in the role of Keller.

From 1959 to 1960, Milford was cast in ten episodes as the historical figure Ike Clanton on the ABC/Desilu series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian as Wyatt Earp. Milford's last episode was S5 E41 "Wyatt's Bitterest Enemy" which aired 6/7/1960.

From 1959 to 1968, Milford appeared in three episodes of Bonanza: on "Vendetta" as Ned Morgan, "Half a Rogue" as Cal Stacy and "A World Full of Cannibals" as Rodgers.

Milford guest-starred in four episodes of Mannix from 1969 to 1974: on "Deathrun" as Sheriff George Hale, "Portrait of a Hero" as Col. Edgar Ewing, "Cry Danger" as Stan Forrester and "The Survivor Who Wasn't" as Harry.

In 1965, Milford had a recurring role as Cole Younger in the ABC series The Legend of Jesse James, starring Christopher Jones. In the same year, Milford appeared in the third-season episode "Billy the Kid" as Sergeant Stoner on the World War II drama Combat!, as well as in an episode of Gunsmoke titled “Winner Take All” (S10E22).

Throughout his career Milford continued to work in the theater. He founded the Chamber Theater at 3759 Cahuenga Blvd, pioneering Equity Waiver productions in Los Angeles, and helped launch the careers of actors such as Richard Chamberlain and Vic Morrow.

Milford's Los Angeles Times obituary credits him with using his engineering background to help create the original design for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Death Milford died of skin cancer in 2000.

Filmography