Born: June 27, 1907 – Died: January 30, 1991
John McIntire was a rugged and versatile actor, known for his captivating performances in both television and film. Born in Spokane, Washington in 1907, he grew up in Montana where he learned the skills of bronco riding on his family's homestead. With his craggy features and steely-eyed countenance, McIntire became one of the most enduring supporting players in western settings. He gained a strong following as a radio announcer on the popular "March of Time" broadcasts before venturing into entertainment and the stage. McIntire's significant contributions to the entertainment industry include memorable roles in classic western series such as "Wagon Train" and "The Virginian," where he portrayed characters known for their integrity and no-nonsense approach to life. Born on June 27, 1907, McIntire's acting career spanned several decades until his death on January 30, 1991, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the world of entertainment.
Early Life and Career
John McIntire had a humble upbringing in Montana, where he learned the skills of bronco riding on his family's homestead. He attended the University of Southern California for two years before embarking on a career in entertainment. McIntire first gained a following as a radio announcer on the popular "March of Time" broadcasts.
His first professional acting role came in the late 1940s, when he migrated to Hollywood and found his niche in rugged westerns and crime films. McIntire's deep, resonant voice also made him a sought-after narrator for documentaries and narratives.
One of McIntire's major successful roles came in 1961 when he won the role of Christopher Hale in the television series "Wagon train." This role further established his reputation as a dependable and versatile character actor in the western genre.
While McIntire never achieved the level of superstardom, he became a beloved and familiar face in Hollywood through his numerous supporting roles, winning three awards for his performances. He was married to actors Jeanette Nolan for 56 years until his death in 1991. They had a son, who also pursued a career in acting but passed away before his parents.
McIntire's impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry was significant. His steady presence and versatile performances in western settings made him a respected and enduring supporting player. McIntire is considered a legend and icon in the world of western films and has left behind a remarkable legacy in the entertainment industry.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Turner & Hooch | Amos Reed |
| 1989 | Dream Breakers (TV Movie) | Cardinal Angelo |
| 1988 | Aaron's Way (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1988 | The Slap Maxwell Story (TV Series) | Stan Maxwell |
| 1986 | As Summers Die (TV Movie) | Judge Dudley McCormack |
| 1986 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) | Harry Cragen |
| 1978–1985 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | George Hastings | George Hancock |
| 1985 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) | Mr. Hunter |
| 1985 | Night Court (TV Series) | Daddy Bob Elmore |
| 1984 | The Cowboy and the Ballerina (TV Movie) | Doc |
| 1984 | Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series) | Diner Patron |
| 1984 | Cloak & Dagger | George MacCready |
| 1984 | The Yellow Rose (TV Series) | Man |
| 1983 | Lone Star (TV Movie) | Luther McCollum |
| 1983 | Hotel (TV Series) | Donald Blackwell |
| 1983 | Quincy M.E. (TV Series) | Roy Brackett |
| 1982 | Honkytonk Man | Grandpa |
| 1981 | All the Way Home (TV Movie) | John Henry, Jay's Father |
| 1981 | Goliath Awaits (TV Mini Series) | Sen. Oliver Bartholomew |
| 1981 | The Fox and the Hound | Badger (voice) |
| 1981 | American Dream (TV Series) | Sam Whittier |
| 1980 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) | Preston DeKalb |
| 1979–1980 | Shirley (TV Series) | Dutch McHenry |
| 1979–1980 | Young Maverick (TV Series) | Vernon Maywood |
| 1979 | Mrs. R's Daughter (TV Movie) | Paul Underwood |
| 1979 | Dallas (TV Series) | Sen. Sam Culver |
| 1979 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) | Victor Holly |
| 1979 | Charlie's Angels (TV Series) | Paul Danvers |
| 1978 | The Jordan Chance (TV Movie) | Jasper Colton |
| 1978 | Lassie: A New Beginning (TV Movie) | Dr. Spreckles |
| 1978 | Crisis in Sun Valley (TV Movie) | Hubbard |
| 1977 | Aspen (TV Mini Series) | Owen Keating |
| 1977 | The Rescuers | Rufus (voice) |
| 1976 | The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe (TV Movie) | Sheriff Joshua Cabe |
| 1975 | Challenge to Be Free | Narrator (voice) |
| 1975 | Rooster Cogburn | Judge Parker |
| 1974 | The Healers (TV Movie) | Dr. Ernest Wilson |
| 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | Mr. Judson |
| 1974 | Dirty Sally (TV Series) | Orkie Sump |
| 1973 | Linda (TV Movie) | Marshall Journeyman |
| 1971–1972 | Longstreet (TV Series) | Dr. Dan Stockton |
| 1971 | Love, American Style (TV Series) | (segment "Love and the Old Cowboy") |
| 1965–1971 | The F.B.I. (TV Series) | Michael 'Doc' Lacy | Tom Rule | Max Wood |
| 1971 | Bearcats! (TV Series) | Cyrus Davenport |
| 1966–1971 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Father Boudreau | Whit White |
| 1971 | The Boy from Dead Man's Bayou (TV Movie) | Boudreau |
| 1967–1970 | The Virginian (TV Series) | Clay Grainger |
| 1967 | Dundee and the Culhane (TV Series) | Sheriff Moss |
| 1967 | Rough Night in Jericho | Ben Hickman |
| 1961–1966 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Old Charlie Conners | Sheriff Mike Latimer |
| 1966 | A Man Called Shenandoah (TV Series) | Simon Hadley |
| 1966 | The Fugitive (TV Series) | Lester Kelly |
| 1965 | Slattery's People (TV Series) | Andy Stevens |
| 1965 | Daniel Boone (TV Series) | Timothy Patrick Bryan |
| 1965 | My Brother the Angel (TV Series) | Ben Harper |
| 1959–1965 | Wagon Train (TV Series) | Christopher Hale | Levi Hale | Cain Transfuga ... |
| 1964 | Summer Playhouse (TV Series) | Mr. Duveen |
| 1963 | Arrest and Trial (TV Series) | Anthony Jackson |
| 1961 | Summer and Smoke | Dr. Buchanan |
| 1961 | Two Rode Together | Maj. Frazer |
| 1961 | The Americans (TV Series) | Pa Canfield |
| 1959–1961 | Laramie (TV Series) | Kuba Smith | Judge Barnaby Cade |
| 1960 | The Yank (TV Movie) | Dr. Zebulion Barnes |
| 1960 | Flaming Star | Sam 'Pa' Burton |
| 1960 | The Untouchables (TV Series) | Loren Hall |
| 1960 | Seven Ways from Sundown | Sergeant Henessey |
| 1960 | Elmer Gantry | Rev. John Pengilly |
| 1960 | Psycho | Sheriff Al Chambers |
| 1960 | Overland Trail (TV Series) | Gen. William Palmer |
| 1960 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) | Prof. A. Daemon |
| 1960 | Who Was That Lady? | Bob Doyle |
| 1959–1960 | Wichita Town (TV Series) | Frank Matheson |
| 1958–1960 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Charles Underhill | John Leeds |
| 1960 | Peter Gunn (TV Series) | Wilson Getty |
| 1959 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) | Henry Downey |
| 1959 | The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV Series) | John Marshall |
| 1959 | The Gunfight at Dodge City | Dr. Sam Tremaine |
| 1959 | Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) | Maj. Alex Samuels |
| 1959 | Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series) | Bannister |
| 1959 | Cimarron City (TV Series) | Captain Adairam Judson |
| 1958–1959 | Naked City (TV Series) | Lt. Daniel Muldoon | Lt. Dan Muldoon |
| 1958 | Father Knows Best (TV Series) | Mr. Whitcomb |
| 1958 | The Light in the Forest | John Elder |
| 1958 | Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) | Dr. Edwards |
| 1958 | Matinee Theatre (TV Series) | Father |
| 1958 | Studio 57 (TV Series) | Sheriff Sternweister |
| 1955–1958 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | John Marshall | Ebeneezer Scrooge | Lane McKersher |
| 1958 | Sing Boy Sing | Rev. Farley Walker |
| 1957 | The Mark of the Hawk | Bruce Craig |
| 1957 | The Tin Star | Dr. Joe McCord |
| 1957 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Joshua |
| 1955–1956 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) | John Chapman aka Johnny Appleseed | Newspaper editor |
| 1956 | Away All Boats | Old Man | Film Intro Voice-over |
| 1956 | I've Lived Before | Dr. Thomas Bryant |
| 1956 | Star Stage (TV Series) | Judge Cardiff |
| 1956 | Front Row Center (TV Series) | Joe Adams |
| 1956 | Backlash | Jim Bonniwell aka William Slater |
| 1956 | World in My Corner | Dave Bernstein |
| 1955 | The Spoilers | Dextry |
| 1955 | To Hell and Back | Narrator (voice, uncredited) |
| 1955 | The Scarlet Coat | Gen. Robert Howe |
| 1955 | The Kentuckian | Zack Wakefield |
| 1955 | The Phenix City Story | Albert L. 'Pat' Patterson |
| 1955 | Stranger on Horseback | Josiah Bannerman |
| 1954 | The Yellow Mountain | Bannon (as John Mc.Intyre) |
| 1954 | Four Guns to the Border | Dutch (as John Mc.Intire) |
| 1954 | The Far Country | Gannon |
| 1954 | Apache | Al Sieber |
| 1953 | War Arrow | Col. Jackson Meade |
| 1953 | A Lion Is in the Streets | Jeb Brown |
| 1953 | The President's Lady | John Overton |
| 1953 | The Mississippi Gambler | Kansas John Polly |
| 1952 | The Lawless Breed | J.G. Hardin | John Clements |
| 1952 | Horizons West | Ira Hammond |
| 1952 | Sally and Saint Anne | Alderman Percival Xavier 'Goldtooth' McCarthy |
| 1952 | The World in His Arms | Deacon Greathouse |
| 1952 | Glory Alley | Gabe Jordan |
| 1951 | Westward the Women | Roy E. Whitman |
| 1951 | The Raging Tide | Corky Mullins |
| 1951 | That's My Boy | Dr. Benjamin Green |
| 1951 | You're in the Navy Now | Cmdr. W. R. Reynolds |
| 1951 | Under the Gun | Sheriff Bill Langley |
| 1950 | Walk Softly, Stranger | Morgan |
| 1950 | Saddle Tramp | Jess Higgins |
| 1950 | Winchester '73 | Joe Lamont |
| 1950 | Shadow on the Wall | Pike Ludwell |
| 1950 | The Asphalt Jungle | Police Commissioner Hardy |
| 1950 | No Sad Songs for Me | Dr. Ralph Frene |
| 1950 | Francis | Lt. General Stevens (as John McIntyre) |
| 1950 | Ambush | Frank Holly |
| 1949 | Top o' the Morning | Inspector Fallon |
| 1949 | Scene of the Crime | Fred Piper |
| 1949 | Johnny Stool Pigeon | Nick Avery |
| 1949 | Red Canyon | Floyd Cordt |
| 1949 | Down to the Sea in Ships | Thatch |
| 1948 | Command Decision | Maj. Belding Davis |
| 1948 | An Act of Murder | Judge Ogden |
| 1948 | The Street with No Name | Cy Gordon |
| 1948 | River Lady | H.L. Morrison |
| 1948 | Black Bart | Clark |
| 1948 | Call Northside 777 | Sam Faxon |
| 1947 | The Hucksters | Radio Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Ramparts We Watch | narrator, 'Baptism of Fire' footage (uncredited) |
