Clu Gulager


Clu Gulager

Biography

A first cousin of storied humorist Will Rogers, Clu Gulager never equaled his well-known relative's fame but instead made his mark as an obscure Method actor. Gulager debuted on television alongside Paul Newman in "Bang the Drum Slowly," a 1956 episode of "The United States Steel Hour" drama anthology adapted from the novel of the same name. The native Oklahoman's early career was spent ...

Biography

A first cousin of storied humorist Will Rogers, Clu Gulager never equaled his well-known relative's fame but instead made his mark as an obscure Method actor. Gulager debuted on television alongside Paul Newman in "Bang the Drum Slowly," a 1956 episode of "The United States Steel Hour" drama anthology adapted from the novel of the same name. The native Oklahoman's early career was spent playing heavies in crime dramas like "The Untouchables" and "The Lawless Years." And while film work led to parts as Lee Marvin's hitman partner in 1964's "The Killers" and as a mechanic in the 1969 Newman racing film "Winning," it would be weekly Westerns that made Gulager a familiar television face. His sympathetic portrayal of Billy the Kid on the 1960 NBC series "The Tall Man" led to his being a series regular on "Whispering Smith" and eventually playing Emmett Ryker through 103 episodes of 1963's "The Virginian." He took a brief stab at moviemaking as the writer/director/producer of the 1969 short film "A Day With the Boys" (which earned him a Cannes Film Festival award nomination), but Gulager's most notable subsequent movie role was in "The Last Picture Show." Most of his 1970s working was in guest shots on numerous television crime dramas. He enjoyed a brief comeback in the 1985 cult horror film "The Return of the Living Dead" and by the 2000s, Clu Gulager was playing a supporting role in son John Gulager's "Feast" film series.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Tangerine (2015)
Piranha 3DD (2012)
Feast II: Sloppy Seconds (2008)
Feast (2006)
Gunfighter (1998)
In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco (1993)
Eddie Presley (1992)
The Killing Device (1991)
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991)
The Willies (1990)
Teen Vamp (1989)
Tapeheads (1988)
Uninvited (1988)
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
The Offspring (1987)
Summer Heat (1987)
Will
Hunter's Blood (1987)
Mason Rand
The Hidden (1987)
Lies (1986)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
Into The Night (1985)
Terror at London Bridge (1985)
Peter Dawson
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Prime Risk (1985)
Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984)
Sam
The Initiation (1983)
Dwight Fairchild
Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story (1983)
Kenny Rogers as the Gambler (1980)
Touched By Love (1980)
Don Fielder
Skyward (1980)
Willa (1979)
Joe Welch
This Man Stands Alone (1979)
A Force of One (1979)
Ski Lift To Death (1978)
Marv Gillman
Sticking Together (1978)
Cuda Weber
Question Of Love (1978)
Mike Guettner
Charlie Cobb: Nice Night For A Hanging (1977)
Charlie Cobb
The Other Side of Midnight (1977)
The Killer Who Wouldn't Die (1976)
Smile Jenny, You're Dead (1974)
Milt Bosworth
Hit Lady (1974)
Gangsterfilmen (1974)
Houston, We've Got a Problem (1974)
Lou Matthews
McQ (1974)
Call to Danger (1973)
Emmet Jergens
The Mystery in Dracula's Castle (1973)
Keith Raynor
Molly and Lawless John (1972)
Deputy
The Glass House (1972)
Brian Courtland
Footsteps (1972)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Abilene
Company of Killers (1970)
Frank Quinn
Winning (1969)
Larry Morechek
Sullivan's Empire (1967)
Juan Clemente
... And Now Miguel (1966)
Johnny
The Killers (1964)
Lee

Cast (Special)

Bang the Drum Slowly (1956)
Coker

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Dan Turner, Hollywood Detective (1990)
North and South: Book II (1986)
James A. Michener's "Space" (1985)
King (1978)

Life Events

Bibliography