Richard Kelton

Richard Duane Kelton (April 29, 1943 – November 27, 1978) was an American actor.

Life and career Kelton was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. After briefly attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in 1963, he transferred to the University of Kansas, earning his bachelor's degree in drama 1966, and then his masters' two years later, in 1968. He returned briefly in 1973 to appear in a campus production. He made his way to California where he made his debut playing "Bud" in an episode of Gunsmoke. In 1967, he made his film debut with a small part in the movie In Cold Blood (1967) as Nancy's boyfriend. Soon after arriving in California with his wife in 1970, he got guest-starring roles in The Young Rebels and The Waltons.

Soon afterwards, he made his TV movie debut as Lieutenant Charring in Wild Women (1970). He continued in numerous other guest starring roles and movie roles. He also played the role of Nick in the Broadway revival of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? in 1976.

After returning to California in 1976, he had a guest-starring role on ABC-TV's Charlie's Angels. He played the role of alien science officer Ficus Pandorata on the short-lived NBC-TV science fiction series Quark (1978). Later that year he was invited back to The University of Kansas to give a short seminar on films.

Death Kelton died of accidental carbon monoxide asphyxiation due to a faulty heater in his trailer while filming the NBC-TV miniseries Centennial, in which he was to have co-starred. Universal Studios, which produced the TV miniseries, was fined $720 for the failure to provide a proper ventilation system for the trailer to which Kelton had retreated to rehearse his lines.

Legacy His alma mater, KU, established the Richard Kelton Memorial Fund in December 1978 to aid student actors in their professional acting aspirations.

Filmography YearTitleCharacterNotes 1967 In Cold Blood Bobby Rupp Uncredited, film role 1970 Wild Women Lt. Charring TV movie Heroic Mission Nancy's Boyfriend TV series, uncredited role The Young Rebels Edward Brockton TV series 1970-1973 Gunsmoke Bud / Clayt Colter / Ab Craddock / Rick Wilson 5 episodes 1971 Mission: Impossible Billy Walsh in episode "Takeover" The F.B.I. Chuck Davis in episode "The Hitchhiker" Cade's County Paul Jeffries TV series 1972 The Waltons Anson Collier in episode "The Foundling" Hawaii Five-O Lt. Carter in episode R & R & R Room 222 Reverend Mike Holloway in episode "Where Is It Written?" 1973 Hawkins Don Morrison Episode: "Blood Feud" 1974 McQ Radicial Film Harry O Bill Dempsey in episode "Guardian at the Gates"The Lives of Benjamin Franklin TV mini-series Kung Fu Graham in episode "My Brother, My Executioner"" Nakia Uncredited role 1 episode Silence Al Film The Cowboys Carl Rivers 1 episode The Streets of San Francisco Stuttering Kidnapper in episode "Chapel of the Damned" 1975 Joe Forrester Uncredited role 1 episode Medical Story Uncredited role in episode "Us Against the World" Matt Helm Jed Larson in episode "Murder on Ice" The Ultimate Warrior Cal Feature film Barbary Coast Cad Shugrue TV series; in episode "The Ballad of Redwing Jail" Archer Ernest Richter 1 episode 1976 Logan's Run Sanctuary Man Voice, Uncredited 1977 The Feather and Father Gang Colby TV series; in episode "The People's Choice" Charlie's Angels Hubie in episode "Pretty Angels All in a Row" 1978 Dallas Taylor "Guzzler" Bennett in episode "Fallen Idol" A Guide for the Married Woman Everett Hemming-Fantasy Man TV movie Go West, Young Girl Griff TV movie Quark Ficus 7 episodes The Incredible Hulk Carl in episode "The Beast Within"Police Woman Ron Chamberlin in episode "Sixth Sense" 1979 The Rockford Files Norman Wheeler in episode "The Deuce" How the West Was Won Trey Hollingsworth ABC-TV Miniseries, in episode "Hillary", (final appearance)