Richard Eastham

A talented singer-turned-actor for both stage and screen, Richard Eastham is best remembered for his many guest spots in TV shows and a regular part on the Western series "Tombstone Territory." Born Dickinson Swift Eastham in Opelousas, Louisiana, he attended Washington University in St. Louis and brought his rich baritone voice to the St. Louis Grand Opera before serving in the army in World War II. After the war, he was the understudy to opera singer Ezio Pinza at the American Theatre Wing in New York City and later replaced him as the lead in "South Pacific" on Broadway. He first appeared on TV in 1949 on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and later changed his name and gave up singing for his big-screen debut in 1954's "There's No Business Like Show Business," featuring stage companion Ethel Merman. His biggest regular role came soon after, as a newspaper editor and costar to Pat Conway on "Tombstone Territory," followed by numerous guest spots on series where his serious expression lent itself to both distinguished authority figures and less than savory characters. He also filled supporting parts in films such as the Disney family comedy "That Darn Cat!" and the science fiction sequel "Battle for the Planet of the Apes," both featuring Roddy McDowall. He landed a few late-career recurring roles in the '70s and '80s, as a general on "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman" and a doctor on the primetime soap "Falcon Crest."