Video Footage of The Virginian Cast Reunion

Many thanks to Val for posting extensive video footage of The Virginian cast panel at the 50th Anniversary event. To view the footage click on the Comments section of “Clu Gulager at the 50th Anniversary Autry Event.’ Clu Gulager is in fine form and I’m very pleased to hear him and Don Quine giving credit to producer Frank Price.

Clu Gulager “Star Crossed”

For all you Clu Gulager fans here’s a publicity photograph from my personal collection for The Virginian episode “Star Crossed” (6:04). The blurb on the reverse of the photograph reads :

Deputy Ryker (CLU GULAGER) helps the wife of an old friend (LISABETH HUSH) and her stepson Brian (BRIAN NASH) in this week’s episode of THE VIRGINIAN entitled “Star Crossed.”

Clu Gulager as Emmett Ryker

Clu-GulagerThe enigmatic Clu Gulager played Sheriff Emmett Ryker on The Virginian from 1964-1968 but is best known to modern audiences for his role in the cult horror movie The Return of the Living Dead (1985).

Clu Gulager was a temperamental actor during his time with Universal but like may actors with an edge was also one of their best. He always expressed a desire to direct and found acting in television creatively unsatisfying. He got his wish to direct but still continued with his acting career and became a cult favorite of horror fans later in his career.

Fans of The Virginian will always remember him as Ryker. He was one of my favorite characters and his departure in 1968 marked a turning point for the series. He was impossible to replace.