John McIntire

John Herrick McIntire (June 27, 1907 – January 30, 1991) was an American character actor known for replacing Ward Bond in NBC's Wagon Train and Charles Bickford in The Virginian. Born in Spokane, Washington, of Irish descent, McIntire grew up mainly in Eureka, Montana. His early exposure to ranchers inspired his roles in numerous film and television westerns. McIntire began his acting journey on radio, establishing his name in Tarzan and the Diamond of Asher. He made his big-screen debut at the age of 40 in 1947 in The Hucksters. Subsequently, McIntire played various roles, often portraying police figures, doctors, judges, or western characters. His most memorable roles were in westerns such as The Far Country (1955) and The Tin Star (1957).

In the mid-1950s, McIntire moved on to television, appearing in anthology series, sitcoms, and dramas. His most notable and longest-running role was in the series Wagon Train where he played trail master Chris Hale. McIntire, later on, replaced Charles Bickford in The Virginian, where he portrayed Clay Grainger. He also voiced the cat Rufus in Disney's animated film The Rescuers. He married actress Jeanette Nolan, and the couple had two children - one of them was actor, Tim McIntire. John Herrick McIntire passed away from emphysema and lung cancer at the age of 83.