Clu Gulager starred in two NBC Westerns
BY R.D. Heldenfels Akron Beacon Journal (MCT)
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Q. What was the Western Clu Gulager used to
be in? I believe he played Billy the Kid. He
was famous for other shows, too, but this was
the one I watched constantly.
A. Gulager played Billy the Kid on “The Tall
Man,” an NBC Western that aired from 1960
to 1962. It looked at the friendship between
Billy and lawman Pat Garrett, played by Barry
Sullivan, even though they were at legal odds
– and, in real life, Garrett eventually killed
Billy.
Other viewers may remember Gulager from
NBC’s “The Virginian,” where he played
Ryker for several seasons, in movies (including
several horror titles), miniseries and a host
of TV guest appearances.
Q. I have been watching “The Jeffersons” and
“Amen” back to back in the mornings on cable
and have noticed a lot of similarities between
George Jefferson and Deacon Ernest Frye. Did
the creators of “Amen” try to make the
Deacon much like a George Jefferson kind of
guy, knowing Sherman Hemsley was playing
the part?
A. There’s no question that “Amen” aimed to
draw viewers who enjoyed Hemsley on “The
Jeffersons,” and the book “The Complete
Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable
TV Shows” notes that Frye was “a similar
character” to George Jefferson. “The
Jeffersons,” after all, had run for 10 years,
ending about a year before “Amen” premiered.
And even before “Amen” arrived, NBC had
taken inspiration from the older comedy, premiering
“227,” with “The Jeffersons’” Marla
Gibbs.
Send your questions about TV to: The
Akron Beacon Journal, 44 East Exchange
St., Akron, Ohio, 44309 or by email to:
rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com. Sorry, no
personal replies.
