Clint Walker

In his nearly three-hour interview, Clint Walker (1927-2018) talks about the many odd jobs he held before embarking on a film and television career. He tells how he ventured out to Hollywood and landed a role in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments, and how the role led to other film projects and eventually a contract with Warner Bros. Walker then details the series for which he's best know, Cheyenne, in which he played the title character, "Cheyenne Bodie." He describes auditioning for the role, how he kept in shape, and the many stunts he performed on the program. He outlines the show's production schedule, speaks about his co-stars and famous guest stars, and explains the importance of Cheyenne as television's first hour-long Western. He explains why he believes Westerns were so popular in the 1950s and why their popularity waned. Walker then talks of his famous contract dispute with Jack Warner, chronicles how Ty Hardin came to play the lead in Cheyenne, and gives his reasons for returning and then ultimately leaving the program. He talks about other film and television appearances, including those in The Night of the Grizzly, the made-for-television movie Yuma, and the series Kodiak. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on September 21, 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA.