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Biography
Richard Egan (July 29, 1921 - July 20, 1987) was an American actor. In some films he is credited as "Richard Eagan."
Born in San Francisco, California, Egan served in the United States Army as a judo instructor during World War II. A graduate of the University of San Francisco (B.A.) and Stanford University (M.A.), he studied and taught at Northwestern University for a time. Having studied theatre, he took a bit role in the 1949 Hollywood film "The Story of Molly X". This start would lead to his signing of a contract with 20th Century Fox where his rugged physique and good looks made him an early 1950s leading man in mainly B-movies. In 1956, he starred as Elvis Presley's older brother in Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, and in 1959 was the male lead opposite Dorothy McGuire in A Summer Place. In 1960, Egan appeared in such films as Pollyanna and with Joan Collins in Esther and the King.
During the decade of the 60s, Richard Egan worked extensively in television, starring in the western drama series, Empire from 1962 to 1964. After his series ended, he made guest appearances on other television shows as well as acting in several motion pictures for the big screen plus in films made specifically for television. In 1982 he joined the cast for the new daytime television political drama "Capitol" with which he worked until being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1987.
Richard Egan died in Los Angeles, California and was interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in suburban Culver City, California.
A devout Roman Catholic, with a brother who was a priest, Egan was married to the former Patrica Hardy for thirty years until his death; they had five children.
Egan was well respected within the acting community for having helped a number of young actors get their first real break in the film industry. His best films include "Undercover Girl" (1950), "Split Second" (1953), "A View from Pompey's Head" (1955) and "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" (1957).
